5 things to do for tomorrow

1)Go Back to School

Kevin Gallagher cringes when CIOs complain that recent computer science grads aren't exposed to business principles. "I have to say: 'Ahem, I teach information systems in a business school'," says Gallagher, assistant professor of Management of Information Systems at Florida State University's College of Business. "We teach students about project management, communication and leadership."

CIOs need to quit complaining about university IT programs and get involved in shaping their future workforce, says Stephen Pickett, SIM president and CIO and VP of trucking company Penske. "I encourage any CIO to work with their local university to make sure they're developing the kind of individuals they need," he says. Pickett himself helped introduce new business classes to the technical programs of two universities. He suggests CIOs get involved in undergraduate computer science as well as in master's programs in information systems and IT divisions of business schools.

CIO support is the key to such efforts. For example, GM's Szygenda sits on the board of Carnegie Mellon University. He also helped create an online master's program there to offer technology training to business professionals including GM employees. "The model we're trying to create everywhere is to turn out professionals who have both the technical and the business training," he says.

In an international twist, Szygenda is jump-starting similar efforts with universities in countries where GM does business, such as China, India, Russia and Brazil. Technical programs in these countries are top-notch, says Szygenda, but business education within them is practically non-existent. So he's introduced GM IT's Skills for Success business training in local languages.

2)Spread the Gospel of IT Careers

Connecticut's Wallace values business savvy in her employees. However, "not everyone in IT has those skills", she says. So she actively recruits from the business community. "I know IT can be a very attractive place for them if I market it correctly," says Wallace. "I tell them that the great thing about IT is that it's one of the few places in any organization - from state government to the private sector - that touches every important project going on in the business."

Wallace pitches business recruits on the chance to get involved with large, strategic projects across all the state's divisions instead of working on one initiative in a non-IT department. Her marketing mantra? "You don't need to know how to code."

Smart CIOs are also preaching to the next generation of workers. It's not just a goodwill effort. Hands-on marketing by technology leaders is critical to counteract the bad rap IT jobs have got. "Students think all IT jobs are being offshored, and they make the mistake of thinking that outsourcing and offshoring are synonymous," says Pickett. "You can clear that up, and it's very exciting."

Wallace also goes on campus in her efforts to get the word out. "I encourage students to take certain courses - project management, negotiating, communications - that will help them straddle the IT-business fence," she says.

Spreading the good news of technology opportunities may have to start even younger. "There's much more work to do in the K-12 environment to encourage maths and science," says Phil Zwieg, VP of IS of Northwestern Mutual. "The numbers there are depressing, particularly with girls."

For some years now, Zwieg's IT HR team has worked with a local high school to set up IT career days and help with class development. "HR organizations know there are challenges coming in the next five to 10 years," he says. "It's important to continue to reach out to high school communities."

He worked on an initiative last month cosponsored by Marquette University, the Wisconsin chapter of SIM and the city of Milwaukee. Nearly 500 juniors and seniors from local public high schools who were summer interns for area firms and the city itself were treated to a day on campus, including lunch. More than 20 companies and colleges set up booths and interactive exhibits to encourage student interest in IT degrees and jobs. It's a new effort, but Zwieg believes it will result in more enrolment in science, technology, engineering and maths programs.

CIOs may be disinclined to spend their already limited time with young students because there's no near-term ROI, says Marquette University's Kaiser. But long-term benefits could be big. "You can get to some of these kids who would never even think about going to college, let alone go into IT, and open up their eyes to the possibilities," says Kaiser.