The Evolution of the IT Decision Maker: How have training views changed in the last decade?
What do you think your boss thinks of you?
It’s a simple question that has a complex answer. Many of us spend part or all of our workdays worrying about our supervisors, regardless of industry.
Are your opinions aligned? What about your goals?
It would be amazing if they could see their thoughts.
You can do it now. Recently, our 2019 IT Skills and Salary Report has been released. This is the 12th consecutive year we have surveyed IT professionals at all levels, from staff to managers, about everything from IT certifications to job satisfaction.
We discovered interesting trends in the opinions of IT decision-makers after analysing data for more than a decade. Training is a passion that has elicited some the most honest opinions and reverberating opinions throughout our history.
Opinions have changed since 2008’s initial report. When we started our survey, many in the tech industry believed that training was a luxury, not a necessity. Even though IT budgets are shrinking today, decision-makers recognize the importance training.
How does your training perspective compare to that of your boss? Let’s find out.

Budgets can be a barrier to success
According to the IT Skills and Salary Report (IT Skills and Salary Report), even with the financial challenges, certification and training still have high value. Global IT decision-makers believe certified employees add more value than certification costs. 2011 saw 21% IT decision-makers report “no changes” in staff effectiveness following certification. 2011 saw less than 10% of IT decision-makers consider certifications “very important”.
This could be due to a variety reasons. Because technology hasn’t evolved as quickly as it does now, employees can adapt quicker to technological advances in the workplace.
Professional development is now possible in many ways. In the past, classroom training was the only way to teach staff. Managers had to adapt to employees working from home. While classroom training is still important, informal and on-demand learning options allow for continuous learning. This helps to fill in the knowledge gaps left by formal training.
Managers are more inclined to see certified professionals as certified and trained professionals. 63% of IT decision-makers believe certification has an economic value exceeding $10,000 per year. Twenty-two percent say it exceeds $30,000. This proves that certifications are worth the investment.
If all of this is not enough to convince your staff to obtain a certification, take look at our list for the 15 highest-paying certifications 2019 which breaks down the highest-paid credentials across the United States. Our list of 2019 New and Emerging IT Certifications will help you stay ahead of the rest.
Despite the difficulty of funding, IT professionals have been steadily increasing in number. 66% of survey respondents had completed training in 2010; 86% did so in 2019. This number has risen significantly to 86% in 2019.
Our reports cover 12 years worth of data. We have seen the changes in training needs over the past 20-years firsthand. We offer training formats that are suitable for all learning styles. These options have made it easier for decision-makers to focus on the employees’ progress rather than worrying about the future. It is easier to set plans when staff are trained.

Managers are being asked more with fewer resources. This is leading to skills shortages
Eighty-one percent of North American IT decision-makers reported a shortage in their teams’ skills. This is six percentage more than the previous year.