I have never really seen an IT department that was not a fiefdom. Some are run by nice people, making them benevolent dictatorships; but they still hold the keys to the kingdom. Usually they are not that nice.
IT departments are relics of the past in any case. All these employees, they have networks at home. They buy and administer computers, share files and send messages all by themselves. Most even backup their own machines. What do they need me for?
They show up for work and their machine here is far crappier than the one they have at home. An issue that would have cost them a few minutes productivity on their own machine, completely paralyzes them at work. The IT department nowadays is often a net loss for the company.
I have realized that we have just now really entered the information age. People are still all over the place in their levels of technical proficiency, so there is still some need for tech support. But we have (recently) passed a threshold, a point where most people do technical things with computers just fine by themselves.
For the regular type of company, that sells pipe or cleaning supplies; I'm not sure I would even have a company network and company computers. I'd have whatever company servers we need (need means must have this device to sell pipe, not because the IT guy really wants it), and my employees that need access get an account. That server needs to be secure against hackers from China, so hopefully a virus-laden employee owned laptop cant hurt it.
I understand that what I am talking about is easier said than done (no printers in my office? Hm.), but the day is coming soon. Even now, I watch as IT departments begin to unravel around me.