Information technology refers to the application of science and technology to improve the way things are done, either in the private and public sectors or within a company itself. Technologists are involved in a wide variety of occupations in all fields of the IT sector, although positions in computer programming, telecommunications, and information technology are more common. Technology is the collective term for many technologies, practices, and methods used in the creation of products or services or in their successful achievement of certain goals, for example, scientific research. In addition, technology also covers computer systems, hardware and software, networks, and documentation.
In contrast to the more traditional technical area of engineering, information systems have been the driving force behind many technological advances. Within the IT field, however, information technology has developed as a discrete discipline, distinct from computer science, telecommunications, and software engineering. One major difference between the two disciplines is that information systems are concerned with the practical aspects of information, while computer science deals only with the theoretical aspects. Another difference concerns the focus of research. Computer science usually seeks to discover the essence of technology, while information technology usually looks for practical applications.
Information technology, however, encompasses a wide range of activities. The most obvious forms are computer systems, which are the fundamental building blocks of modern information technology. They include computer software, personal computers, servers, networks, operating systems, and the hardware components of those systems. Hardware is almost always involved in information technology, including computers, memory devices, hard drives, printing equipment, circuits, and wireless adapters. Even the Internet itself has evolved through the development of network equipment.
The governance of information technology is achieved through the whole-system level, through the activities of its users, and through the maintenance of the infrastructure. At the very beginning of any enterprise, it takes the form of a planning and coordinating activity between the top management and the service providers. The governance process starts at that point and goes on to define the technical policies that will govern the maintenance of the system. It also involves a careful evaluation of the technology’s operational impact on the organization and the kinds of consequences that could occur if it is neglected.
Information technology refers to a number of career paths based on the application of information systems theory. The most common fields are networking, information technology, computer sciences, and engineering. Networking encompasses all the practices that make the Internet work and includes protocols, computer networks, and service standards. This includes voice and data networks as well as e-business. Computer sciences mainly deal with the design and implementation of the various networks and the applications that use those networks, like embedded systems, desktop servers, client-server and web services.
Engineering describes the field of computer systems and is closely related to computer science and is one of the most popular career paths among IT specialists. IT engineers design and develop information systems and computer systems. They can specialize in particular areas like systems, networks, software, digital signal processing, and mobile devices.
Another interesting career path in information technology is database management software engineering, which combines information technology and database management software development environment. Database management software deals with information systems’ technical components, like servers, storage systems, networks, and user applications. These systems are generally developed using programming languages like Java, C, MATLAB, Python, R, and SQL. The database management software also usually includes a development environment, an integrated information technology platform, and a web browser.
Information technology careers have numerous and varied employment options. According to the latest census, there are more than 8 million job opportunities in information technology, including many subcategories like computer systems analysts, network administrators, information technology marketers, and business analysts. Many companies are looking for people with an information technology background, because it is believed that the demand for professionals in this field will continue to grow over the next few years. This is one of the fastest growing fields in today’s economy, so it should not be surprising that there will be plenty of job openings for qualified individuals in the near future. If you are interested in this fast-paced career path, consider information technology as your first career choice.
