Leader: Don't lead with your heart

When technology is both your livelihood and your passion, it can be hard not to get emotional about preferences for particular platforms, standards, products and vendors.

Nowhere is this clearer than with operating systems and the ongoing mindshare battle between proponents of the open source Linux and Microsoft's Windows.

The devotion, even fanaticism, in the open source court is well-known as these individuals are so vocal but do not forget that Microsoft has its share of zealots too, most of whom are on the company payroll.

The religion of technology, as one might call it, is neither here nor there when deciding which products you buy for yourself, for personal or even business use. But it has no place in the enterprise.

When companies spend millions or even billions on IT projects, the grounds for doing so must make solid business sense. Full stop.

A recent survey by analysts Quocirca on the role of Linux vs. Windows on the desktop revealed some IT managers are ready to take on unnecessary, costly and time-consuming Windows-to-Linux migrations simply because of their love for Linux. Such thinking, Quocirca warns, is unwise in the extreme for the damage it could bring down their companies.

Yet let's not get stuck on Linux vs. Windows. Biases exist in all corners of the IT world. We all have them, loathe though we may be to admit it. But being a professional means recognising any prejudices - and then moving beyond them to make clear-headed decisions that are in the best interest of the efficiency and health of your organisation.