This is it for us in 2002. It's been a tough but successful year for Computerworld with excellent results in both our own "open" reader surveys and in independently conducted reader research. Thanks for your support and a special thanks to all the IT managers who helped us enormously by airing their thoughts through various articles and for sharing their career experiences through the "5 Minutes with..." column.
A big thankyou to our hard working editorial team - Helen Han, Leigh Henry, Sandra Rossi, Lauren Thomsen-Moore, Gabrielle Wheeler, to the online crew Nadia Cameron, Howard Dahdah, Steven Deare, and a host of other contributors including Rodney Gedda. Also, thanks to the circulation staff and the hard-working sales team. Selling in a down market is very tough indeed.
We have big plans for 2003 - Computerworld's 25th anniversary year. These will include an ongoing intense focus on the information needs of enterprise IT decision makers, special events and some special editions.
For many IT managers, I believe that 2002 was also a tough but successful year. A year of maturity where project justification was paramount, but also one where many chose not to "sit on their hands" as I was informed recently by Dimension Data's COO Scott Petty. For Louis Witts, Westaff's IT manager, the lack of a "big IT-hype thing" was actually a highlight, allowing him to enjoy a focus on the IT basics and achieving value out of IT spend.
Whatever your 2002 experience - the following traditional Christmas carol suggests some things will never change ...
The Days of Your Christmas
On the first day of Christmas,
My true love sent to me: a sales rep bearing IT,
On the second day of Christmas,
My true love sent to me: two budget cuts, And a sales rep bearing IT,
On the third day of Christmas,
My true love sent to me: three vendor pens, Two budget cuts, And a sales rep bearing IT,
On the fourth day of Christmas,
My true love sent to me: four falling laptops, Three vendor pens, Two budget cuts, And a sales rep bearing IT,
On the fifth day of Christmas,
My true love sent to me: five golden rules, Four falling laptops, Three vendor pens, Two budget cuts, And a sales rep bearing IT,
On the sixth day of Christmas,
My true love sent to me: six spammers spraying, Five golden rules, Four falling laptops, Three vendor pens, Two budget cuts, And a sales rep bearing IT,.... on and on all the way down to the 12 end users drumming on your head.Complete the song if you're up for a challenge. Meanwhile find the tune and sing along at www.12days.com-/library/carols/12daysofxmas.htm.Have a great Christmas and a happy New Year!
David_beynon@idg.com.au.
Editor in chief.