Twenty-five years ago, Apple Inc. launched its first Macintosh with a $1.5-million 1984-themed Super Bowl ad. IBM Corp. countered with the PC Jr. and AT, and launched a cartridge tape storage system to replace reels. C++ was emerging as the dominant programming language. Aldus’s PageMaker heralded the arrival of desktop publishing.
Since, we’ve seen Tandems, PDP 11s and AS/400s; eight-inch, five-and-a-quarter-inch and three-and-a-half inch floppy disks; umpteen Windows operating systems; and a whole lot more.
Since, we’ve seen Tandems, PDP 11s and AS/400s; eight-inch, five-and-a-quarter-inch and three-and-a-half inch floppy disks; umpteen Windows operating systems; and a whole lot more.
We’ve seen hardware manufacturers gobble up competitors, only to be gobbled up in turn. We’ve seen companies spin off divisions, only to see them become more successful than their parents. We’ve seen startups appear out of nowhere and dominate the popular and technological zeitgeist, and entire industries founder overnight.
There’s been a lot of technology under the bridge since ComputerWorld Canada launched in 1984.
In recognition of our 25th birthday, we’ve got a lot planned in the way of celebration. Most significant, though, is a celebration of our readers.
Our IT Leadership Awards will seek out your nominees in a number of categories in recognition of their contribution to the technology landscape in Canada.
Six categories will recognize outstanding achievements.
IT Leader of the Year: This award recognizes senior IT managers reporting to senior level executives. We’re looking for aomeone with a deep understanding of IT issues, excellent people management skills, commitment to training and development, planning ability and financial acumen. We’ll be honouring candidates in both the eneterprise and SME categories.
IT Champion of the Year: This individual is your best friend outside of the IT department — the non-IT advocate who championed a new system implementation, recognized IT issues and supported their solutions, who recognized the value technology adds to the organization — and convinced the organization it was so.
IT Manager of the Year: This award recognizes the mid-level IT manager who makes sure IT delivers value to the organization, delivering error-free systems and applications, increasing capacity without more demand for resources, satisfying end-user needs and driving growth, cost savings and improved functionality.
Rookie of the Year: Recognizing the achievements of an individual in his or her first job in information technology who has made a positive performance impact on the company, demonstrating innovation and problem-solving ability.
IT Mentor of the Year: This award honours and individual who has demonstrated, either through a formal corporate program or on an informal, day-to-day basis, a consistent record of helping to develop individuals in IT.
IT Educator of the Year: Recognizing the outstanding achievements of an acedemic in the computer science, software engineering, management of information systems or interdisciplinary program at a Canadian university, college or institute, applying innovative techniques or new curricula and delivery programs to stimulate learning.
Look around at your colleagues. Does someone you see fit the bill? Nominate him or her at our IT Leadership Awards Web site.
