IT analysts tripped over the "business case" (Score 2)

The Big Six (or was it Big Five) consulting/ accounting firms (Andersen, etc.) and a bunch of others all peddle advice in the broader business areas, from "new product concepts" to "enterprise software deployment". This is a training ground for pre-MBAs and a dumping ground for post-PhDs tired of their specialization. The goal is to make a business case for IT.

I think in a proprietary software world, all these IT pundits cheering Windows were probably right from a business sense. Microsoft was giving them just what they needed: a "good enough" solution that a predictable amount of dollars and that drone employees could handle, far better than a "quality" solution by a techie who might ask for a raise!

BUT, Microsoft pushed the aesthetic limits of the techies way too far. The Open Source Code Development Model and related business models based on it are a direct result, I believe, of people's frustrations with Microsoft's inferior products, destruction of standards, "unfair" destruction of competition, etc. The best evidence is Judge Jackson's findings of fact. Open Source is for many of us, including the VCs, SGI, etc., is a revolt against the monopoly.

IT analysts have to be business-minded, offering formularic "solutions" based on case histories. They could not have seen the Open Source revolt coming. The business case history wasn't there. Once open source models become an accepted business formula, the IT analysts will be out there peddling them as well.

If all these info-brokers, and sites like Slashdot etc. continue in their way, I think the IT analysts might find themselves hard pressed for a job in the future as opinion, successful practice, etc., starts to permiate from the web itself. Karma!