Long-term Considerations

• Technology changes very rapidly
  • Many details, skills become outdated within a few (3-5?) years
  • Principles have longer validity
• People change
  • People change jobs 13-15 times on average over a lifetime (US Bureau of Labor Statistics)
  • Many people change careers frequently
    (4-5 times in a lifetime?)
  • Ability to change careers or progress in same field may require breadth of background, flexibility, problem-solving ability
• Long-term acceptance and usage of software may depend on reliability, efficiency for basic functionality, predictability and simplicity of interface

Short-term Pressures

• On-the-job training for specific skills can be expensive, time consuming
  • Strong incentive for employers to emphasize specific skills
  • Strong incentive for students to focus on popular, specific skills
• Certification in specific hardware, software highlighted
  • May limit liability, risks
  • Assures specific skills with equipment, software packages
  • Emphasizes details of current technology
• First product to market has initial advantage in sales, name recognition, defining expectations
  • Quality/features might be improved later
  • Quick initial release minimizes initial capital investment without revenue
• New/flashy functionality provides product differentiation

created May 6, 2003 last revised May 11, 2003

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