Forecast 2006: Security, wireless and BI projects will be hot

Computerworld just came out with its 2006 forecast special report, based on a survey of 338 IT execs. They said the No.1 management challenge they expect this year is an oldie-but-goodie: Project management. Projects will get more complex, more global -- in a word, riskier. (Plus, there's that pesky backlog.) What sort of IT projects are on tap?

The top IT project priorities for 2006

1. Security
2. Mobile/wireless rollouts
3. Data management & business intelligence
4. ERP installations
5. Network management
6. Web services
7. CRM

The technologies most over-hyped in 2005, according to the 338 IT execs surveyed:

1. RFID
2. Wireless
3. VoIP

Interestingly, wireless shows up on the most-disappointing-in-2005 list, AND the top project priorities list for 2006.

The IT execs also identified the skills they'll be hiring this year, which closely match the projects and priorities mentioned above.

Hot skills for 2006

1. Programming/application development
2. Information security
3. Project management
4. Help desk/tech support

----------
See also:
Skills Scope: The hottest IT skills for 2006
Frank Hayes' What to Do list for 2006 (highly recommended!)
Not Happenin': Don Tennant's list of what won't happen in 2006
26 Bold Predictions for 2006, from various IT observers & luminaries