repicurus (3/22/2011)
(1) Lack of insight (and ignorance) on the part of the "other business units" (OBU) as to what, exactly, IT people do, how they do it, and WHY it must be done a certain way in order to get good results and that Holy Grail of business: value!
This also works the other way around. Most IT people I've encountered don't really understand the "business" side of business. IE, Sales, Marketing, Accounting, Manufacturing, Operations, "Paying" customers, etc.
You can't just walk in, spend three hours (if that long) talking (listening?) to someone in these departments once a month (year is more likely) and assume you have any clue about what it takes to do their jobs successfully. Yet, that is exactly what many IT people do.
If you really want to help a department spend a week (even better a month) actually doing some or all of the work in that department. You'll be amazed at the knowledge and respect you'll gain.
So, the next time you hear yourself or others complain that "Nobody understands IT." ask your self how much time the complainer actually spent learning and understanding the "business" side of business.