Hot Skills 2012

According to several industry reports, the critical shortage of Information Technology (IT) skills continues with IT salary increases faster than any other skills. The highest demands are in Mobile application development, Cloud computing management, and Database administration. Last few years, web development was hot but with the number of mobile phone, especially smart phone increases, the need to have more mobile apps accelerates the industry demand toward mobile app development. (It is estimated that the world has over 4.5 billion phone users with a third of them are smart phones). These reports analyze growth patterns for technology skills and IT hiring trends in 15 countries, including the U.S., UK, France, Germany, Japan, Finland, China, Norway, Italy, and S. Korea etc. and list the IT skills in greatest demand as: 

1) Mobile application development: - iPhone/iPad, Android, Window 8, HTML 5, JavaScript, and UI design.

2) Cloud Computing management: - Salesforce, Google Apps, Amazon Web services, Azure and Eloqua.

3) Database Administration: - My SQL, Oracle, Cognos, Hbase, and Informatica

Among those skills, iPhone/iPad and Android development skills are among those in greatest demand, as companies are paying the highest salaries to obtain those skills. Companies are also paying top salaries for Cognos and Informatica expertise. HTML 5 and JavaScript skills are next and little higher than people with MySQL skills. 

The reason why so many companies cannot hire workers with these skills is currently no formal training of these skills in any college so most workers are self taught or learn these skills on their own. According to a source from NASSCOM, only India has these skills in their training programs at some universities. That may explain why many companies are looking to India as the main source for their skilled workers today and in the future. One executive said: “On the average it takes about two years for U.S schools to develop new course for a new technology but India can do that in less than a year. Their trainings are flexible and always response to industry needs. That is why they are ready whenever we need skilled workers. That may explain why even in a slow economy, their IT outsourcing industry is still doing well.”

Prof John Vu    

Carnegie Mellon University

Original source: 

Cloud computing

Some of you have asked me about Cloud Computing and where could you learn more about it? Cloud computing is often taught in the Information System Management (ISM) program as it is focusing on the management of Information Technology (IT) infrastructures (hardware, software, network etc). I have also written several articles on Cloud computing previously in this blog.

Basically Cloud Computing is a computing model, not a technology. In this model, all the infrastructures such as servers, networks, applications and other elements related to IT data centers are provided to users via the Internet by an external cloud service company. Instead of having its own IT organization, a company can buy IT services and connect to the "cloud" for infrastructure services (Network, servers etc), platform services (operating system), or software services (Software as a Service application). Cloud computing makes an entire IT infrastructure look like a “Virtual cloud” to users and let them pay exactly the amount of storage, computing power, security and other functions that they need. 

Information System Management career

To college students, Information Technology (IT) is a field full of promising. The issue is choosing which area of this vast field to build a career and which program to enroll in. Basically, IT is the common name for several areas including Computer Science (CS), Software Engineering (SWE), Computer Engineering (CE), and Information System Management (ISM). According to the view among college students, Computer Science is focusing mostly on mathematical theories, data structures, algorithms, logic, and programming languages. Software Engineering is more practical and better alignment with the industry than CS as it focuses more on process, methods and tools. Computer Engineering is suitable for students who like to study both hardware and software so they can enter specialization in robotics, automation machinery, electronic devices, and semiconducting area. Information System Management is focusing more on the data, information, storage, network and the management aspect of them.

According to industry report in 2011, roughly 150,000 jobs in IT industry were unfilled in the U.S. This gap may go much higher in the next few years because high demand and less supply. There are high demand for CS and SWE graduates in the IT industry but the largest demand today is in ISM for jobs such as Database Administration, Cloud Computing, Service Management, Network Administration, Web Development, Web management and Search Engine Optimization (SEO). Many companies, both large and small are moving into online business or to use the intranet for disseminate internal information, and they urgently need ISM graduates. Today ISM newly graduates can make from $87,000 to $98,000 a year in the U.S and with experience they can get much more as many will be paid according to management level rather than technical level. An ISM senior manager or Chief Information Officer can make from $250,000 to $450,000 a year.

In the past, most Information System Management (ISM) programs were offered in Business School because of the management aspect. Today this field is offered as a cross between Computer Science School and Business School as it requires students to have strong foundation of technical as well. ISM is a combination of both technical and business where students learn the fundamental of technology to build their knowledge but also learn the business and management so they can manage technology effectively. Most students in ISM must have a technical background but also develop their skills in the area of business and management.

Today, many ISM graduates are managing the intranet and Internet of company where they make decision on information and content, as well as business transaction and how this information is communicated in a company. Today most companies have an intranet as well as access to the internet. These systems are easy to set up but difficult to maintain its efficient as technology often changes quickly. Therefore, every company need to hire ISM people to keep their system updated, operate efficiently and secured. There is high demand for ISM graduates and ISM students can look forward to a bright future in the next ten or twenty years.

Finding jobs may be the easiest thing but choosing among many offers may be more difficult because this area is so vast with so many specialties. Today ISM program is experiencing unprecedented growth with students who selected business and finance areas are now switching to ISM due to the decline in business job market. A student explained: “You study business and hope to get job in the banking industry. Today many banks are using ATM machines and they do not need to hire bank tellers or officers anymore. Most banks are using ERP system, so they do not need accountant and finance anymore. To get into bank management, you need 5 to 10 years of banking experience. If you look for job, you have to compete with thousand of unemployed banking people who were laid-off from the financial crisis few years ago. Most of them have more experiences and skills than you. However, if you switch to ISM and know how to manage the web, the intranet and internet, as well as the database then your chance is completely changed. Bank will beg you to work for them. ISM graduates make more money than Business and Finance graduates because of high demand as more bank are getting into on-line and computing automation now.”

As Information Technology is changing many industries, it also creates a huge opportunity for technically trained students who can solve business problems such as control and manage information systems. Today IT is a major expense to the business and executives want to know whether it is being spent wisely. Consequently, ISM graduates must be able to know what IT services are needed and what the cost is. They must understand how IT impacts the business and the value of IT to help business increase profits. They need to determine which IT services deliver the best value and which deliver little or no value and recommend to executives so they can make IT investment decisions. Since business needs high quality and available IT services, ISM graduates must provide support to the business by selecting the best technology possible. Today business people do not understand IT very well, they do not know whether cloud computing is a technical or business solution, or both. This is where ISM graduates can provide training to keep them up to date on technology area that is why ISM students need to have very strong soft-skills, probably more than CS and SWE graduates.

Prof John Vu    

Carnegie Mellon University

Original source: http://www.segvn.org/forum/mvnforum/viewthread_thread,1419

Mobile apps market - Thị trường app di động

By Prof John Vu
Orignal source : http://www.segvn.org/forum/mvnforum/viewthread_thread,1661

Mobile apps market

Thị trường app di động

Demand for mobile app developers continues to increase all over the world. According to Gartner, an U.S. research group by 2015, mobile app development projects will outnumber PC application projects by 4 to 1. The shortage of mobile app developers could be attributed to the lack of former training in most universities. Even in this “hot” market, few universities are offering mobile apps training. Many professors believe that if you can program, you can work on mobile apps and there is no need to focus on this sector. However, most mobile apps companies believe that some training to mobile apps development is essential to develop skilled graduates. A company owner explained: “Many software developers can develop apps on their own mobile phone for enjoyment but creating apps for a business is different. They have to make sure that the apps will not break or have errors and also be able to work with other apps.” An apps developer agreed: “Anyone who can program can build mobile apps by taking a short online course. They can sell their apps on an Apps store and make some money but building apps for business or company to do complex things require serious training. You have to understand the platform and the technology well enough to do a good job. However platforms and technology often change so you have to continue to learn to keep up and that will guarantee a long career and good salary. Today the iPhone and its iOS operating system are hot but Android and Window 8 are also hot. It is possible that in next few years, something new may happen too. As long as you are learning new thing, you are still be in high demand.” Another apps developer explained: “Today many software development tools for mobile apps are difficult to learn and most computer training classes intimidate students with too much unnecessary information. Many classes are taught by developers who are not good teachers because they often talk about what they know rather than what a new person with limited understanding need to learn. Many apps developers are self-taught so they have no idea on how to teach. It makes learning more difficult. A mobile apps development course taught in university by professors will be much better.” The current average annual salary for apps developers in 2011 at $98,000 but it could go higher as demand is increasing and exceed supply. The current shortage of talent in mobile apps means people with skills can demand much higher salaries.

Nhu cầu về người phát triển app di động tiếp tục tăng lên trên khắp thế giới. Theo Gartner, nhóm nghiên cứu Mĩ thì đến 2015, các dự án phát triển app di động sẽ nhiều hơn dự án ứng dụng PC theo tỉ lệ 4 trên 1. Thiếu hụt người phát triển app di động có thể được cho là do thiếu đào tạo trước trong hầu hết các đại học. Ngay cả trong thị trường "nóng" này, ít đại học cung cấp đào tạo app di động. Nhiều giáo sư tin rằng nếu bạn có thể lập trình được, bạn có thể làm việc trên app di động và không có nhu cầu hội tụ vào khu vực này. Tuy nhiên, phần lớn các công ti app di động tin rằng đào tạo nào đó cho phát triển app di động là bản chất để phát triển người tốt nghiệp có kĩ năng. Một người chủ công ti giải thích: “Nhiều người phát triển phần mềm có thể phát triển app trên điện thoại di động riêng của họ để cho vui nhưng tạo ra app cho doanh nghiệp là khác. Họ phải chắc rằng app sẽ không hỏng hay bị lỗi và cũng có khả năng làm việc với các app khác.” Một người phát triển app đồng ý: “Bất kì ai có thể lập trình cũng có thể xây dựng app di động bằng việc học khoá học trực tuyến ngắn. Họ có thể bán app của họ trên cửa hàng Apps và làm được một số tiền nhưng xây dựng app cho doanh nghiệp hay công ti để làm những việc phức tạp yêu cầu đào tạo nghiêm chỉnh. Bạn phải hiểu nền và công nghệ đủ giỏi để làm việc tốt. Tuy nhiên các nền và công nghệ thay đổi thường xuyên cho nên bạn phải liên tục học để theo kịp và điều đó sẽ đảm bảo nghề nghiệp lâu dài và lương tốt. Ngày nay iPhone và hệ điều hành iOS của nó là nóng nhưng Android và Window 8 cũng nóng. Có thể là trong vài năm nữa, cái gì đó mới có thể xảy ra nữa. Chừng nào bạn còn học điều mới, bạn vẫn ở chỗ có nhu cầu cao.” Người phát triển app khác giải thích: “Ngày nay nhiều công cụ phát triển phần mềm cho app di động là khó học và hầu hết các lớp đào tạo máy tính doạ các sinh viên với quá nhiều thông tin không cần thiết. Nhiều lớp được dạy bởi những người phát triển, người không phải là thầy giáo giỏi vì họ thường nói về điều họ biết thay vì điều một người mới với hiểu biết hạn chế cần học. Nhiều người phát triển app là tự học cho nên họ không có ý tưởng về cách dạy. Điều đó làm cho việc học thành khó hơn. Môn phát triển app di động được dạy ở đại học bởi các giáo sư sẽ tốt hơn nhiều.” Lương hàng năm trung bình cho người phát triển app năm 2011 là $98,000 nhưng nó có thể lên cao hơn vì cầu đang tăng và vượt quá cung. Thiếu hụt hiện thời về tài năng trong app di động nghĩa là những người có kĩ năng có thể đòi lương cao hơn nhiều.