The Complexity of Connecting People [Women to Watch]

Technology is revolutionizing both our personal and professional lives. Advances in technology have revolutionized the way in which people work, communicate, and the way they live-simplifying and streamlining every profession and activity. The tasks of many can now be done by a few or even a single person. Automation is pervasive in our daily lives. Technology has also made collaboration an integral part of our daily lives, enabling virtual communities to instantly share all types of information across the globe in very simple ways. However, this simplification masks another fact visible to those who work in the information technology (IT) field- technology is also becoming increasingly complex. Have you ever considered the complexity of the technology that sits behind your "hi" in an instant message, or the sharing of a smiley face, or a "simple" tweet? With this complexity comes increased risk of failure, of skyrocketing deployment and maintenance cost, and of user dissatisfaction. Managing the risks of ever-more complex implementations of new technology is essential to realizing the benefits of increased productivity, simplification of daily life activities, and improved communication and collaboration.