Marc Andreessen has an interesting article on applying IT to IT.  I think its fascinating that IT professionals are the most vociferous in stating why automation can't possibly be applied to what they do.  The emergence of ubiquitous networks and great software for managing desktops has turned that into an eminently automatable task.  IBM reports that they can deliver superior service with a tech to supported PC ratio as high as 350.  With a ratio of 1 to 175, we figured Utah would save $7 million per year.  Yet many IT professionals are reluctant to embrace these tools and change the way they work.   Why?  One reason is the same reason the longshoremen struck the West Coast ports: they're afraid they'll lose their jobs.  What a waste.