The results come surveys of both IT professionals and end users conducted by SolarWinds with the aim of exploring user attitudes about IT professionals' role in business and the technology they support.
The results found 61 per cent of end-users believed that their company’s IT department going on vacation for a month would have a greater impact on their daily work life than if their company’s C-suite did.
The study also revealed the value Australian end users place on technology in the workplace over personnel. Sixty-two per cent of end users placed greater importance on the technology (phone, software and computers) supported by IT professionals in the workplace compared to 28 per cent who placed importance on personnel.
Results also showed that 65 per cent of Australian end users felt it would take more time to complete a typical day’s work without the use of the technology maintained by IT professionals.
According to 33 per cent of respondents, one day’s work would take an additional business day or longer to complete without that technology, and 12 per cent said it would not be possible to carry out their daily work without it.
However, 62 per cent of end users said they do not understand at all, or only understand a little, he role of IT professionals in business beyond resolving their technology issues.
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From an IT professional perspective, results showed 62 per cent felt at most moderately valued by their employer for their unique contribution to business, with 27 per cent feeling only slightly valued to not valued at all.
Additionally, the study showed 83 per cent of respondents felt they are worth more than they are currently compensated, with one-third of respondents (35 per cent) admitting they felt worth at least 21 per cent more.
According to 61 per cent of IT professionals, job security is a concern. Just below half of respondents (42 per cent) suggested that a lack of understanding from company leadership around the importance of IT is a key reason for this.
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SolarWinds chief executive and president, Kevin Thompson, said the results demonstrate that business leaders and end users can do a lot more to show IT pros how appreciative they are of the value they provide to business.
“The technology we rely on to keep business running smoothly is absolutely critical to success, but the level of recognition and reward IT pros receive for the part they play in enabling and supporting it may not match it,” he said.
In response, SolarWinds has established IT Professionals Day as an official holiday beginning September 15, 2015.
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The holiday will fall on the third Tuesday of every September onward for the purpose of business leaders and end users to recognise and honour IT professionals value in modern business.