IT generalist or specialist? Thrasher votes for specialist

We're taught in school to be well-rounded. HR wants us to have a wide variety of skills. But IT management consultant Harwell Thrasher says that, in the business world, being a generalist is the ticket to mediocrity. "You’re much more likely to achieve career success if you get really good in one area than if you achieve moderate mastery in a number of different areas," he says in the latest edition of his newsletter. This could be considered either common sense -- if you agree -- or contrarian, given the spate of articles about the need for a broad mix of business and IT and soft skills.

 If it's not already clear what you want to specialize in, Thrasher provides a step-by-step guide to help you figure that out.

Some examples of what he means by specialization:

Building data centers, consolidating them, or optimizing their performance Designing human-engineered information systems for mobile service workers Planning and managing software development projects that implement a technology for the first time Finding and fixing software or system problems that other people have been unable to solve Designing e-commerce web sites for teenagers Putting together a highly-motivated team of competent software developers Understanding the needs of a particular kind of business and determining the best way to utilize IT talent to contribute to the business

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Related:
The IT worker of 2010 won't be a technology guru but rather a 'versatilist.'
Changes in IT careers
The IT generalist makes a comeback
Specialists vs. Generalists
IT Leaders Must Become Specialists in Multiple Technologies

IT generalist or specialist? Thrasher votes for specialist

We're taught in school to be well-rounded. HR wants us to have a wide variety of skills. But IT management consultant Harwell Thrasher says that, in the business world, being a generalist is the ticket to mediocrity. "You’re much more likely to achieve career success if you get really good in one area than if you achieve moderate mastery in a number of different areas," he says in the latest edition of his newsletter. This could be considered either common sense -- if you agree -- or contrarian, given the spate of articles about the need for a broad mix of business and IT and soft skills.

IT generalist or specialist? Thrasher votes for specialist

We're taught in school to be well-rounded. HR wants us to have a wide variety of skills. But IT management consultant Harwell Thrasher says that, in the business world, being a generalist is the ticket to mediocrity. "You’re much more likely to achieve career success if you get really good in one area than if you achieve moderate mastery in a number of different areas," he says in the latest edition of his newsletter. This could be considered either common sense -- if you agree -- or contrarian, given the spate of articles about the need for a broad mix of business and IT and soft skills.

Shark Tank: He probably just scanned it

It's time to replace a wide-format scanner/printer that's been serving this city government office for many years, says a pilot fish in charge of the transition. "It has lived well past its useful life, and we're replacing it with a new, faster machine," fish says. And to make sure the transition goes smoothly, fish prepares an e-mail to send to the heads of all departments that used the old machine. The message tells them that the new equipment is coming in, the date it's arriving, the time installation will begin, the time training will begin and class size limits for training.

Shark Tank: He probably just scanned it

It's time to replace a wide-format scanner/printer that's been serving this city government office for many years, says a pilot fish in charge of the transition. "It has lived well past its useful life, and we're replacing it with a new, faster machine," fish says. And to make sure the transition goes smoothly, fish prepares an e-mail to send to the heads of all departments that used the old machine. The message tells them that the new equipment is coming in, the date it's arriving, the time installation will begin, the time training will begin and class size limits for training.

Shark Tank: He probably just scanned it

It's time to replace a wide-format scanner/printer that's been serving this city government office for many years, says a pilot fish in charge of the transition. "It has lived well past its useful life, and we're replacing it with a new, faster machine," fish says. And to make sure the transition goes smoothly, fish prepares an e-mail to send to the heads of all departments that used the old machine. The message tells them that the new equipment is coming in, the date it's arriving, the time installation will begin, the time training will begin and class size limits for training.