Across all industry sectors, nearly every employee is expected to be computer literate. Functions ranging from patient record keeping in hospitals to customer service by investment analysts and bankers will utilize information technology. Therefore, familiarity with Windows 3.1 and 95 is becoming standards for most current workers and all new hires.
Additional skill needs vary among sectors and individual firms.
Within the next 3-5 years, business reliance on and use of the Internet and intranets will expand. These technologies will increases remote delivery of services to clients and level the playing field for large and small organizations. However, these new opportunities for electronic commerce also bring with them new security challenges, additional regulations, and a range of legal implications. Users may find that the Internet, new video conferencing capabilities, and portable computers facilitate telecommuting. They may need to develop skills in using databases and middleware products, intranets, developing and maintaining Web pages, and maintaining security.