10 'New Rules' for IT

6. The risk from hardware, software and services contracts should be shared. Which professionals (besides lawyers) get to screw up and still get paid? The rule from now on is that performance should predict payment: no performance, no money.

7. Digital security is adequate. Yes, data will be stolen and transactions hacked, but by and large the Web is secure enough to support all kinds of business-to-business and business-to-consumer transaction processing.

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8. Colleges and universities need to revamp their business technology degree programs from the ground up – moving them at least to the late 20th century. This would include rethinking degree programs in computer science, computer engineering and management information systems, among other programs that deal with digital technology and how it supports business models and processes. The new rule is simple: if it’s not relevant it doesn’t go into the curriculum.

9. By 2010 the Wintel conspiracy will officially end and only thin clients will be permitted in 30 of the 50 states. The last 20 states must ban fat clients and bloatware no later than 2015.

10. Meritocracies will replace consensus by brothers-in-law/cronies/ex-girlfriends/ex-boyfriends/idiot sons and daughters and golf buddies – at least in this (if not a parallel) universe.

Bonus Rule: Apple should be assigned full design responsibilities for the planet.