Interesting article - Thanks
I don't think the reasons behind the lack of knowledge would surprise anyone... As the 1st comments show, IT isn't given the budget [including for training] that IT dept.s desire -- 2 things that are important to most execs are profit per dollar spent & making themselves look good, as in delivering product on time & below cost estimates. What products are developed is often decided higher up the corporate ladder, so they've less personal interest, have less personal risk whether it's a success or a dud.
I think to some extent Microsoft certifications are partly to blame -- once someone passes whatever tests it's often assumed they know what they're doing, so their actual abilities aren't always questioned before they're hired. Consider some of the very poor drivers you encounter on the roads, & then remember that every one of them passed a test too, & was judged competent. IT [or anything having to do with computers] is perhaps worse in that regard, as there's so much hype & opinion rather than proven facts, e.g. you'd hardly expect Microsoft coursework to include areas where their products are weak.
And then there's also the biz environment itself, which I think has a lot to do with any lack of tech skills &/or knowledge... Good tech people are usually the last to be promoted, & the more tech-oriented you are, the lower your career ceiling. Average folks usually don't have personal conversations with their plumber or auto mechanic -- they just want whatever fixed. Average people don't have those sorts of conversations with the techs who keep their computer systems &/or networks running either. So computer folks that want to have a long & successful career in business try very hard to demonstrate that they're not techs, but rather just the people who talk to & manage techs. It's a big enough deal for many IT managers that they study business rather than IT, often going on to get advanced business degrees -- they're more concerned with business trends than staying current on the latest security threats.
