Comment Re:2 problems here. (Score 1) 697
1. IT is a meritocracy, you are awarded contracts or jobs based upon proven performance.
I have long said one of the reasons I've done well in IT, depsite being of the female persuasion, is this. And it's not just women - if you have face piercings and spiky hair, or come from a different country and speak with a funny accent, but you have the relevant skills and can get the job done then - great! But discussing this theory with a boss once he said to me "yes that's all very well until something goes wrong - then the funny looking person is more likely to end up in the firing line, even if they did nothing wrong themselves".
So while I'd like IT to be a proper meritocracy the fact remains that people will often go for the most familiar looking, non-threatening choice even if it isn;t the "best" one. How else can we explain the success of microsoft?