Cloud To Create 14 Million Jobs? Not So Much 264
jfruh writes "Did you hear about the study from Microsoft and IDC (PDF), declaring that adoption of cloud technologies would create 14 million jobs? Well, don't believe the hype. The study posts that, once small and medium business can use cloud products to just eliminate their IT department, they'll use those savings to hire people for their core business. It's a dubious proposition, and one that wouldn't be good news for IT workers even if things do play out that way."
Does not matter. (Score:4, Interesting)
Honestly we fired the Exchange guy when we moved to Google mail for businesses for doing nasty things in the building, Think finding socks with.... DNA in them in the server room. and instead of replacing him management decided that "it's working, we dont need him" That worked for 60 days until Exchange imploded like it always does when left unattended.
I suggested that we move everyone to Google email for business until we can get things sorted. 90 days in, we have far less spam, zero downtime, zero problems, and all android and iphone people can sync everything perfectly everywhere. when that was discovered, management abolished all the crackberries, so now we dont have to run the damned crackberry server. Last department meeting they asked about any luck filling the position, we have had none as we have insane requirements for little to no pay. I mentioned we say screw it and eliminate the position and stay with Google.
Got a $1500 bonus out of that.
Re:Sounds good (Score:3, Interesting)
It's only meaningful progress if the benefits accrue to the average American worker. Otherwise, it's just further lining the pockets of the wealthy.
When productivity gains stop being broadly shared, Luddism starts to make sense. This is why massive concentration of wealth is a bad thing: it pits workers against innovation.
Washer women are also out of work for the most part. Buggy whip makers still survive, but they've moved On line as well [buggy-whips.com]. Things change over time, especially in a relatively new technology. We can't run out and legislate change away.
Your argument, in one form or another, has been raised about every work saving device ever made since the dawn of civilization. It was wrong then, and it hasn't improved in the thousand years since.
Doing the same amount of work cheaper is, by definition, a benefit that accrues to the average worker. Indeed to society as a whole.
We plant with plows, not dibble sticks. We harvest grain with machines, not fifty guys with scythes taking three weeks to cut 100 acres. Less guys. Less time. Cheaper bread.
Why should a small business have to maintain an IT department (even if it is only two guys) if web based services are all they really need?
Yeah, some of that money saved will be concentrated in the hands of the cloud owners. But not nearly as much as maintaining your own data center and IT staff. Money will be saved by the business.
The business will be healthier without that huge outlay of money. They can plow the savings int product development. They can lower their prices. The remaining workers can get a raise. The owner can buy a yacht. An extra few days of vacation can be granted. Christmas bonuses can be declared.
Even that part that (I suspect) you will hate the most, the owner buying a Yacht, will keep the yacht builder afloat (bad pun), and they will employ all sorts of folks, carpenters, engine mechanics, riggers, welders, probably even IT guys installing all the fancy systems on the boat.
Rich people spend their money.