The Law and IT
Let me not be understood as saying that there are no bad laws, nor that grievances may not arise for the redress of which no legal provisions have been made. I mean to say no such thing. But I do mean to say that although bad laws, if they exist, should be repealed as soon as possible, still, while they continue in force, for the sake of example they should be religiously observed. – Abraham Lincoln
As the dynamic of meeting the demands on IT continues to evolve there is more of an emphasis on workforce planning in a broader sense. What at one time consisted of determining departmental headcount now looks at how to augment this with contractors, consultants, and outsourcing firms. While the workforce plan provides the overall guidance, contracts are where the rubber meets the road. This is where you precisely define the products and services required, and the terms and conditions which go along with the acquisition. Knowing how to negotiate these contracts and the obligations of the parties is a core skill in the delivery of Information Technology.
Employment Law is another challenging area for IT management. This is an area which has undergone a fair bit of change recently. Getting smart in this area will help keep you out of trouble. For larger organizations with sites in different states / provinces the challenge compounds as each state will have its own set of employment laws. For international firms the challenge is that much greater.
Regulatory Compliance has always been a necessary part of doing business. The complexity and scope of regulations seems is increasing in response to socio-economic events and conditions. SOX, HIPAA, HITECH, PCI, Patriot Act, etc are all present and accounted for in the US. Other countries have their own set of regulations. Depending on the specific industr(ies) and geographies your company operates in will determine the specific set of regulations which apply to your company, in what situations, and by association how you deliver IT services.
Understanding and application of the laws cannot be left to the attorneys. There is a heavy dose of legal affairs in IT. Getting this right is critical to IT. The job of CIO depends on it.
