As we all too vividly know, 2008 closed and 2009 opened in the midst of global stock markets plunging to their lowest levels since the Great Depression of the 1930s. These are desperate times for us all as businesses struggle to stay alive, let alone to prosper; a time for desperate measures. A time to declare war.

But this is a war to be declared on the mediocrity, greed and smug acceptance of the corrupted status quo that has brought us to this sorry point in our history. It’s a time for IT to come into its own at last and show just what it can do to catalyse, stimulate and deliver real bottom-line numbers. To paraphrase Associated Press in its coverage of the recent Andrew Bartels report for Forrester Research: “Technology has become so interwoven into how a company operates that it's no longer considered discretionary spending. It is the muscle of companies," said Bartels. "It allows them to do what they want to do." These are my sentiments exactly.

Let’s start flexing these muscles and be determined to win.

Thus, onwards to war. How shall we proceed? Time to dust off our copies of Sun Tzu, Clausewitz and Mao Zedong and formulate the tactics and strategies for victory. For me it won’t be a long drawn out process of classical warfare. I don’t have the troops, the budget or the time to follow that model. I propose using a carefully managed, highly mobile and targeted pattern of unconventional warfare using small groups of highly skilled and motivated individuals (cross functional). More of an insurgency targeting multiple objectives than a costly and time-consuming approach regulated by overpowering methodologies and layers of command. I’m calling it Guerrilla IT and I’ll be blogging on the topic for the foreseeable future or until the foe is vanquished.

Let me first sound a note of warning to any others brave enough to tread these paths to glory. It is my bitter experience that Guerrilla IT will be met, very rapidly, by Gorilla Business. This is normally characterised by a flurry of territorial chest thumping, baring of teeth and finally an obstinate retreat to the perceived safety of a leafy nest several yards above the bedrock of reality. Do not be alarmed, turn away or show fear in any manner. It’s perfectly normal and will be a minor skirmish if you’ve done your homework and shown you have the nerve to confront the situation. The brutal reality of the bigger picture of the global economy’s faltering steps will add leverage and power to your elbow – and remember you have the muscle. Use it.

In closing, remember that guerrilla tactics rely on morale, intelligence-led mobility, speed of effective response to changing situations, and the ability to blend in with the environment. Guerrillas believe in their objectives and have the courage of their convictions, enabling them to surmount the many obstacles that litter the struggle ahead. It is going to be a long campaign with some bitterly fought battles, not the least of which will be political and while the primary objective will be to win the war and emerge victorious, the secondary consequence for IT will be the visibility and acceptance of the muscle and inherent value we bring to modern business.

For, as Carl von Clausewitz said: “To secure peace is to prepare for war.”

PS: I’ve just realised that the acronym (beloved refuge for techies) for Guerrilla IT is GIT. My lovely wife tells me I have been a miserable old one of those for years so I should be admirably qualified to comment in the future.

A luta continua!