People , processes , and technology elements must be operated in combination to create synergy .

VMware (CEO: Pat Gelsinger) released its '7 IT Predictions for 2018' report.

This report, authored by Bask Iyer, Chief Information Officer (CIO) of VMware and Dell Technologies, covers the 2018 IT market outlook and trends that CIOs should pay attention to, focusing on people, processes, and technology.

CIO Basque Ayer stated that synergy can be achieved only when the three core elements of people, processes, and technology are organically combined and operated together, and based on this, he presented seven trends. He identified the following as IT trends for 2018: expansion of IT talent channels, changes in IT industry careers, a shift in mindset for digital innovation, activation of collaboration-based projects, creation of a continuous learning environment, application-based business innovation, and the rapid growth of artificial intelligence.

1. Expansion of IT Talent Channels : It is expected that a large number of IT professionals will emerge from sources such as community colleges, National Academy Foundations, Year-Up training programs, and self-study, which cultivate experts in specific fields rather than general educational institutions.

2. Changes in IT Industry Careers : Future careers in the IT industry will focus on expertise that effectively reflects market or technology trends. Consequently, it is projected that more CIOs will aspire to CEO positions, a trend expected to be particularly prominent in IT companies or those preparing for digital transformation.

3. Shifting Mindset for Digital Innovation : A flexible mindset will become an essential element for businesses, and an increasing number of companies will form small strategic teams and seek to accelerate innovation based on the success or failure of various projects.

4. Activation of Collaboration -Based Projects : Moving forward, IT departments must develop the ability to proactively accommodate or integrate the requirements of not only internal employees but also external customers. This should not be limited to mere result reporting but should instead foster continuous collaboration to create opportunities that contribute to business growth.

5. Creating a Continuous Learning Environment : As the market and technology evolve rapidly, IT teams must master cutting-edge technologies, such as the latest programming languages and tools. Consequently, demand for educational programs offered by local colleges or online is expected to increase.

6. Application -Based Business Innovation : Companies will drive innovation with agile responsiveness, and DevOps teams will launch new applications to meet business requirements. Additionally, cloud-based microservices mobile apps are expected to emerge as a core service model.

7. Rapid Growth of Artificial Intelligence : The number of companies utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) in their operations will increase, with its utility being particularly high in data-driven tasks. Based on this, new jobs are expected to emerge. Companies are projected to leverage AI services to make key decisions and accelerate digital transformation through real-time commands. Furthermore, the combination of intelligent edge computing and AI will accelerate the growth of autonomous vehicles and IoT edge devices.

Jeon In-ho, President of VMware Korea, stated, “As technology and markets evolve at a very rapid pace, CIOs must respond flexibly to unexpected changes,” adding, “Furthermore, CIOs must provide direction to ensure that IT departments go beyond simply adopting the latest technologies and accurately understand business goals to achieve them together.”