Computers are reliable. After all they are the very epitomy of mathematical precision, cold logic and the result of more than 2000 years of science. They never sleep, get distracted, go on strike or deviate from their programming. Nice and predictable. As long as there are enough electrons to go about, the laws of physics and mathematics can be relied upon to keep the computers running.
Apart from the odd solar storm, power failures and worn out moving parts, the electrons keep going around, and physics and mathematics does the rest.
This often leads people to believe that IT as a whole should be equally solid and dependable. After all, physics and mathematics can be relied upon, right?
Unfortunately, this is not the whole picture.
Information Techonology consists of more than just technology - people tend to overlook the "information" part or ignore the fact that computers do not understand information. They only understand data. It is the people who turn raw data into information.
As a result, Information Technology cannot be more reliable than the people involved. And people are fallable. Sometimes, not just fallable but sadly incompetent.
The main problem is that people tend to focus on a single area and become experts on their little area, whilst blissfully ignoring other releated areas. For example:
- The system administrator has no interest in what happens in development
- The testers know nothing about business analysis
- The developers know nothing of release management
- The DBAs know nothing about networking
- The system administrator is the only one who cares about security
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