technology outlook 2011-12

http://www.bluewolf.com

2011-2012 technology

outlook


State of the Industryand Top Bluewolf Placements

02Industry PerspectiveFin Serv, Retail, High Tech, Media

08

WorkForce InsightThe Agile WorkForce

13

About Bluewolf16

Trends at a Glanceand Bluewolf’s Top 5 Tech Trends

04

Techs In Demand Index06

tableof

contents

pg.02

pg.04

pg. 06

pg. 16

pg.13

pg.08

2 Bluewolf Technology Outlook

IT is in the midst of another revolution that

was kicked off with Web-based applications

in the middle of the last decade, and

exploded with the introduction of the

iPhone in 2007.

Businesses are under pressure to adopt

mobile technologies and to be more

collaborative in order to reach their

customers and employees, while dealing

with the challenges and implications of

adopting these tools in the workplace.

Rapidly changing business cycles and the

flood of cutting edge technologies demand

that companies adapt faster. This forces IT

and the business to converge. In the past, IT

was seen as a support role, disconnected

from the rest of the business. Now,

companies see technology and information

as competitive differentiators.

Taking advantage of these trends is not only a

great opportunity for innovative companies

to be more agile, collaborative, and relevant,

but also to attract and retain the highly

sought after Agile Workforce of the future.

Trend reports and budgets are typically

predicted at the end of the year, but, as

every CIO knows, both are just that—predictions. As one of the leading Agile

consulting and information technology

staffing firms in the US and Europe, Bluewolf

is uniquely positioned to offer a broad range

of technology and workforce insight based

on the thousands of IT staffing placements

we manage each year. Through our Annual

Technology Outlook, we are happy to share

our findings with you.

Sincerely,

Michael Kirven

state ofthe industry

“As technology moves from the basement to the front line, CIOs are in the spot to demonstrate business ideas — not just technology-focused ideas.”

Michael Kirven, Co-Founder, Bluewolf

bluewolf.com/people/michael-kirven

http://www.bluewolf.com/people/michael-kirven


Ever find yourself wondering how your

peers in the industry are really spending

their IT dollars? Want to see which

technologies are hot and what the market

is moving away from? Using our extensive

database of actual technology specific

placements, year-over-year change, and

analyzing market trends, we have prepared

an index of the Top Technologies in

demand for 2011.

What is a Top Technology?

Bluewolf defines a Top Technology as a skill

set that is either dominant or quickly growing

in IT hiring. Some technologies have been

key elements for so long that it’s difficult to

remember when they weren’t dominant—consider SQL technologies and ERP. Other

top technologies have burst onto the scene

more recently. Many CIOs still remember

the first time they encountered Java, .NET,

or Salesforce. In the last 18 months,

Bluewolf has seen pent-up demand for IT

resurface and previously frozen IT budgets

begin to thaw. Brand new skill sets have

emerged in the staffing landscape (HTML5,

iPhone, iPad, and Android developers

among others are in high demand) as

the enterprise continues to take steps to

embrace new media technologies.

trendsat a glance

Bluewolf’s Annual Technology Outlook examines the thousands of tech placements managed by Bluewolf between Q3 2010 and Q3 2011 to show where IT staffing dollars are being spent and where the market is going.


Bluewolf’s Top 5 technology trends

Mobile

Mobile as a distribution system

is remaking entire industries. The latest

and fastest growing phase of mobile

technology, defined by HTML5, iPhone

/iPad and Android, is toppling incumbents

such as RIM and Flash. The Media

industry is leading the pack for mobile

almost to the point of ubiquity, while

other industries are just beginning

to experiment.

User Engagement

Companies are increasingly seeing

the ability of user experience to aid in

user adoption and success of internal and

external facing technology projects. New

IT systems are being designed with user

engagement as a core value. In addition to

the classic suite of front-end technologies,

advances in development frameworks such

as HTML5, .NET, and Java, are allowing UX

systems to be applied beyond web front-

end and more broadly to back-end legacy

systems and mobile applications.

Big Data

With the innovation in data

management, storage, and visualization,

IT is breaking deep into the data and

providing new insights into the business.

Demand for Big Data technologies covers

everything from data storage, warehousing,

and integration to Business Intelligence

Where there were once silos in the data,

we are now seeing a new stream

of insights.

Consumerization of IT

Recent innovations in the tech

space have largely been consumer driven.

IT Pros not only use personal devices to

increase their productivity, but expect

their workplaces to reflect the technology

innovations as well. “Many-to-many”

interaction is becoming the norm. Along

with mobile technologies, demand for

enterprise technologies like SharePoint

and SAP is increasing as they integrate

consumer driven innovation and

collaboration tools into their offerings .

Cloud Computing

Business applications are moving

to the cloud. The big players in cloud

computing are dominated by emerging

technologies such as Amazon Web

Services (AWS) and Google Apps, as

well as more established solutions such

as Salesforce.

While adoption patterns vary by industry, we’ve seen rapid year-over-year growth in five areas.

technologiesin demand


Business Intelligence

ERP

CMS

Operating System

HTML5

AndroidDevelopment

iPhone/iPad

Oracle SQL PostGres Sybase

Legend | As the market heats up again, Bluewolf has seen flat growth in the dominant technologies

(.NET, Java, Oracle, etc.) By analyzing year-over-year growth in placements, we can see which

technologies are Cold, Thawing, Growing, Hot and On Fire.

Mobile

Web Front End

Database

CRM

CloudDevelopment Language

Crystal Reports/ Business Objects

Unix (all) Windows Mac

Java .Net

Lawson JD Edwards

Python/Perl

Blackberry Windows Mobile

Flash/Flex/Actionscript

HTML/CSS Javascript/Ajax Silverlight

DB2

MicrosoftDynamics CRM

Oracle CRM NetSuite

MicroStrategy

PeopleSoft

Objective-C

Pivotal CRM

Cognos Informatica

SAP

Linux (all)

Ruby on Rails

UI Design

Salesforce

MarketoEloqua

HBaseTeamSite Drupal

HTML5

fastest growingtechnology

Colddropped 50+%

Growingincreased 50+%

On Fireincreased by 200+%

Hotincreased by 100%

Thawingremained steady within 25%

VignetteSharepoint

PHP

MySQL Vertica

AWSGoogle AppsSalesforce


Business Intelligence

ERP

CMS

Operating System

HTML5

AndroidDevelopment

iPhone/iPad

Oracle SQL PostGres Sybase

Legend | As the market heats up again, Bluewolf has seen flat growth in the dominant technologies

(.NET, Java, Oracle, etc.) By analyzing year-over-year growth in placements, we can see which

technologies are Cold, Thawing, Growing, Hot and On Fire.

Mobile

Web Front End

Database

CRM

CloudDevelopment Language

Crystal Reports/ Business Objects

Unix (all) Windows Mac

Java .Net

Lawson JD Edwards

Python/Perl

Blackberry Windows Mobile

Flash/Flex/Actionscript

HTML/CSS Javascript/Ajax Silverlight

DB2

MicrosoftDynamics CRM

Oracle CRM NetSuite

MicroStrategy

PeopleSoft

Objective-C

Pivotal CRM

Cognos Informatica

SAP

Linux (all)

Ruby on Rails

UI Design

Salesforce

MarketoEloqua

HBaseTeamSite Drupal

HTML5

fastest growingtechnology

Colddropped 50+%

Growingincreased 50+%

On Fireincreased by 200+%

Hotincreased by 100%

Thawingremained steady within 25%

VignetteSharepoint

PHP

MySQL Vertica

AWSGoogle AppsSalesforce


industry perspectives

“Look seriously at what you can move to the cloud now (processes, applications or infrastructure), otherwise you will be the last in your industry to do so.”

Tom Gooding, Account Director–Fin Serv

bluewolf.com/people/tom-goodingWhat can you learn by observing

technology adoption patterns of various

industries? IT decision makers across all

industries may have more in common

than you’d think, especially when it comes

to New Media, Cloud Technologies, and

Big Data projects they are facing. Many

top technologies are popular regardless

of industry: Java, Oracle, and .NET. Other

technologies are favored by particular

verticals: front-end, web technologies

and SAP.

Overall Observation

Successful enterprises in every industry

should balance two competing demands:

1. Keep the technology portfolio simple

2. Understand the value of user experience.

http://www.bluewolf.com/people/tom-gooding


01 Financial Services

hot technologies year-over-year growth

Financial Service companies use the

fewest number of technologies. Not

surprisingly, these were drawn from the

classics (Java, .NET, Oracle, and SQL). While

many Financial Service companies deliver

sophisticated consumer experiences, their

emphasis is on creating and maintaining back-

end systems, security and data management.

Our Clients

NYSE Euronext Deutsche Bank

Bank of America

Java

.NE

T

Ora

cle

SQL

Op

era

tin

g S

yste

m

SQL

Serv

er

Oth

er

Sale

sfo

rce

QA

Shar

ep

oin

t

SAP

AT

G

Pe

op

leSo

ft UI

We

bSp

he

re

HT

ML

My

SQL

Aja

x

Mo

bile

Info

rmat

ica

Syb

ase

20%

15%

11%

10%9%

4%

6%

3% 3%

2%1% 1% 1% 1% 1% 1% 1% 1% 1% 1%

5%

top 20 techplacements

.Net 4 10%

Sharepoint 20%

Salesforce 80%


Media

Media is at the opposite extreme, filling

positions in twice as many different

technologies as Financial Services. Media

companies are at the forefront in hiring

front-end developers for their distribution

systems, and are the key markets for cloud

computing, Mobile, Ajax, PHP, Flash, and

UI developers.

Our Clients

Time Warner Cable NBC Universal

Ogilvy & Mather

02

PHP 20%

Ruby on Rails 80%

HTML 5 1200%

11

54

3

44

44

2

4

2

22 2

89

7

1%

Top 20 Tech Placements


11% | Java

9% | .NET

8% | Oracle

7% | Operating System

5% | QA

4% | Analyst, SQL, HTML,

Mobile, MySQL,Salesforce

3% | Ajax

2% | PHP, Flash, SQL

Server, PeopleSoft,

WebSphere

1% | LAMP, Business

Intelligence, Ruby on Rails


Retail

BusinessIntelligence 50%

SAP 73%

ATG 110%

Retail companies are less conservative

than Financial Service companies, and

much heavier users of SAP and Business

Intelligence. With consistent demand

for eCommerce tools such as ATG,

security and database technologies are

increasingly important for retail.

Our Clients

Anne Taylor Giorgio Armani

Bed Bath & Beyond

03


.NE

T

Ora

cle

SQL

Bu

sin

ess

Inte

llig

en

ce

SAP

SQL

Serv

er

Java

Op

era

tin

g S

yste

m

AT

G

QA

Aja

x

HT

ML

PH

P

Flas

h

JD E

dw

ard

s

Ru

by

on

Rai

ls

Shar

eP

oin

t

My

SQL

Info

rmat

ica

10% 10% 10%

9%

7%

6% 6%

4%

3% 3% 3% 3%

2% 2%

1% 1% 1% 1%

13% top 20 techplacements


High Tech

UI Designers 60%

Informatica 65%

Salesforce 85%

High Tech employers rely on the classic

suite of back-end essentials, but fill

out their team with cutting-edge experts

in Cloud, front-end developers and

now Mobile.

Our Clients

Google Zynga

Facebook

04


15

8

6

42

22 2

12

777

4

6

1%

Top 20 Tech Placements

15% | Oracle

12% | .NET

8% | Salesforce

7% | Java,SQL Server,

Operating System

6% | SQL, QA

4% | HTML, SAP

2% | Ajax, Informatica,

ATG, WebSphere

1% | Business Intelligence,

Flash, Mobile, My SQL,

PeopleSoft, SharePoint


With the proliferation of cloud computing,

social media and mobile technologies, the

makeup of the workforce is shifting. In

addition to the “hard skills” in high demand,

the shift we’re beginning to see is rooted

in mindset rather than specific technology

skill. Here are the top 4 skill sets to consider

when hiring for the future, not the past.

Adaptability

Tomorrow’s IT pro will operate within a fast

and erratic business cycle, therefore, one

of the first attributes of the Agile workforce

theagile workforce

the changing face of IT pros

is their ability to adapt. The old school

software implementation took years, cost

millions and was completed come hell or

high water. The new school implementation

will be completed within weeks or months

on pennies-to-the-dollar, and may be

ditched quickly if it proves to be a bad fit for

the business problem it is trying to solve. So

if the traditional hire can be characterized

as a rigid perfectionist, the new hire is

someone who is agile, can go with the flow

of the ever-changing needs of the business,

and can accept that the implementation

“If you are looking to implement cutting edge technology, be realistic about the resources you need and what your’e willing to invest to get them.”

Stephany Samuels, VP Recruiting

bluewolf.com/people/stephany-samuels

http://www.bluewolf.com/people/stephany-samuels


will never really be “finished,” focusing on

continual iteration.

High Business Fluency

New technologies will require an IT

department that is fully integrated into

the flow of the business. The IT pro of the

future will be fluent in the language of

business, and able to talk to the company’s

bottom line alongside any marketing or

sales executive. The new state of business

— in which the average employee relies

increasingly on technology—will require it.

Social and Tech Savvy

Tomorrow’s IT pro is not just tech-enabled,

they are tech-dependent. In addition, they

will function within a communication

landscape in which hierarchy has

disappeared and people, including

employees from all departments and

customers, are talking to each other 24/7

in real time through every possible channel.

Collaborative Outlook

Though we think of great innovators as

individuals, the reality is that innovation in

business is a collaborative process, and it

will become even more so as social media

and other technologies continue to break

down departmental silos. Consumers

and users want specific answers to

specific questions—they don’t want to be

routed and re-routed. The “just Google

it” generation thrives on IT systems that

facilitate collaboration to be more effective

in their jobs.

Looking Forward

What does this mean as you consider

staffing your IT department for the future?

There is no doubt that Technology is

the industry to be in and the makeup of

the workforce is shifting. As hiring top talent

becomes increasingly competitive, CIOs

will need hiring and retention strategies

which go beyond a competitive salary.


Tips to consider when securing the next wave of qualified resources to your pack.

Hire for Today’s Need &

Tomorrow’s Vision

Why? In order to remain up to date with

your needs, you must stay a step ahead

of the trends. New hires should provide

the skills for the future, not just match the

job demands you see today. Envision your

strategic direction for the future and hire

those that will help you achieve it.

Offer a Competitive Salary Why? Salaries are rising every day,

especially for those skilled in the highest

demand areas such as Mobile, Social,

.NET, and Cloud technologies. If you

are not prepared to offer a competitive

salary plus bonuses, you will not land

your candidate of choice. For more

insight, find Bluewolf’s 2011 Salary Guide at

bluewolf.com/11salaryguide

Perks & Bonuses are Back

Why? Signing bonuses and perks

such as the ability to work remotely are a

great way to tip the scales in your favor and

show a candidate how valuable they are to

you. The concerns of telecommuting are

long gone. Be flexible—allowing a person

to work 1 to 2 days from a home office will

make your offer more competitive.

Make Your Decision Swiftly

Why? Speed matters. When deciding

if a candidate fits your requirements,

use 15-minute phone screens to gather

important intelligence about the technical

and soft skills necessary for a good fit.

Also, do not schedule more than two face-

to-face interviews. Candidates expect an

offer before the return for the third round,

so if you’ve found the right person, don’t

wait around.

Sponsor an H1B Visa

Why? If you are looking for a very

specific job criteria, your candidate pool

can increase by 500% if you are open to H1B

sponsorships. Typically, the total filing and

legal fees are less than $5,000 and can be

completed in less than a day.

Bluewolf Top 5 Agile Hiring Tips


The people that handle your mission-

critical systems matter as much as the

systems themselves. We don’t just recruit to

fill short and long-term positions, we qualify

for success.

As technologists and business specialists,

we know first-hand the cutting-edge

software, applications, and technology

trends that are relevant to your specific

industry and staffing needs. Whether it’s

application development, infrastructure, or

mobile resources you need, we guarantee

the best and brightest to help you deliver on

your projects.

Resources for Hiring Managers

In addition to the Annual Technology

Outlook, Bluewolf offers the following

resources to assist you in your Hiring and

Management decisions:

The Annual IT Salary Guide is the go-to

source for salary data and statistics for IT

professionals. Our position in the industry

gives us unique insight into the salary trends

of the IT ecosystem across the US. Each

year we compile a comprehensive report of

projected salary ranges for the year.

bluewolf.com/11salaryguide

Computerworld’s “Agile Business Blog” series

authored by Bluewolf’s co-founders Michael

Kirven and Eric Berridge, addresses how

people and technology connect to create a

new level of business responsiveness within

their organizations.

blogs.computerworld.com/agile

Our Bluewolf Blog provides up-to-date

information on what’s going on in

technology, IT Staffing and Agile Consulting.

bluewolf.com/blog

sta� smarterwith bluewolf

http://www.bluewolf.com/11salaryguide

http://www.blogs.computerworld.com/agile

http://www.bluewolf.com/blog


bluewolf services

Bluewolf is your leading Agile consulting firm. We help to transform organizations to

do more, faster. Since 2000, thousands of businesses have chosen us for their cloud

technology implementation, their top-notch talent, and managed services to ensure

responsiveness and efficiency in any economic climate.

IT Resourcing Bluewolf provides staff augmentation and placement services

to clients that have immediate needs for deep expertise in specific technologies and

software development processes. We can staff any project big or small, with any position-

contract, contract-to-hire, and permanent placement.

Managed Service Bluewolf Beyond will help you tap new value from your existing solution from go-live to ever after. We offer Remote Database Administration, Cloud Application Management (salesforce.com) and System Administration for on-premise and cloud technologies.

Cloud Consulting Bluewolf partners with clients to sync the business and IT to create a new level of responsiveness. From demand generation to close, channel effectiveness to customer care, Bluewolf helps clients attain efficient and responsive business performance, gaining the label of tomorrow's business standard.

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