We are surrounded by “stacks” in our everyday lives. Bread, meat and condiments form a stacked sandwich to fill you up. A suit, dress shoes and a tie form a stacked outfit to help you land that job. The concept of a stack has roots in information technology, where a stack is a compilation of complementary tools coming together to provide a solution.
This new way of thinking in stacks – stack logic – is gaining traction in IT and the business world as a whole, and could soon have larger implications for how IT departments must work with professional decision makers.
What is a stack?
The New York Times defines a stack, in an IT context, as a trifecta of software, hardware and networks.
For example, software such as cloud storage and software-as-a-service tools like Salesforce, are becoming a more prominent part of company stacks. Yonas Beshawred, who owns StackShare, observed how company stacks have changed: A decade ago, company stacks consisted of hardware only. Nowadays, different pieces of software make up a large portion of a stack.
With the right stack, IT leaders can find a balance of hardware, software and networks that assists their companies in reaching business goals.
How can IT professionals build a stack?
For instance, IT professionals looking to increase efficiency may have to rethink their stack, transitioning from hardware to cloud software. This transition makes up IT infrastructure, which focuses on server design, wireless communication and data management. According to IT Pro Portal, IT infrastructure is the foundation of a successful IT stack. If it is cemented correctly, other programs can run on top of it to help a business run more efficiently.
IT professionals can fully customize a stack – much like choosing specific Lego pieces to build a tower. As an IT professional, you may rely on cloud storage to keep files safe, secure networks to protect sensitive information and ensure properly functioning desktops to boost efficiency for colleagues. This combination of hardware, software and networks make up an IT professional’s stack.
How do IT pros know which Lego pieces to choose? They need to work closely with business leaders to identify company goals and initiatives.
Building a stack in the workplace
The Software Guild highlighted the different stacks that make up software development, both for frontend and backend development. The frontend can include HTML, CSS and JavaScript, while the backend may rely on Amazon Web Services to function without overloading and crashing.
IT professionals who understand both sides of development have an advantage in the workplace. These “full-stack” developers can help businesses create a seamless user experience at any stage of the process.
One example of a stack in practice is the company SnapRoute. Glenn Sullivan, co-founder of SnapRoute, needed to have greater control over what the programs could do, so it quickly “became clear we needed a similar approach to Facebook and Google to take ownership of the stack.”
By deciding which pieces of software and hardware go into each level of the business, IT leaders work closely with decision makers to find solutions that achieve business goals while minimizing costs and increasing efficiency.
IT professionals that succeed in building a full stack can completely disrupt entire industries. Take a look at Uber. This car-hailing service created a technology stack that functioned on mobile devices. These companies decided they needed to own the entire process – which helped them design software that would create an easy user experience.
How can IT professionals apply this stack logic, of owning the entire process? In order to do this successfully, they need a stellar operations team, George Arison, the founder of Taxi Magic, noted in an article for Inc. Magazine.
Why stack logic matters
Companies are developing apps and relying on technology more to meet their business goals. IT professionals should to understand not just the technical aspects but the strategic ones as well. Understanding how each layer of the business comes together to achieve strategic and business goals is paramount in today’s workplace.
In order to do that, you need the tools to succeed. A Bachelor of Science in Information Systems may be able to help. Students will learn about database management systems, information systems and information security management, which can help them develop a stack that can translate into a new job or new company. To learn more, reach out to an enrollment advisor today.
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Sources:
1. https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/11/magazine/new-technology-is-built-on-a-stack-is-that-the-best-way-to-understand-everything-else-too.html?_r=0
2. https://www.thesoftwareguild.com/blog/build-your-own-technology-stack/
3. https://www.sdxcentral.com/articles/news/apple-engineers-founded-snaproute-now-helps-att/2017/07/
4. https://www.inc.com/george-arison/4-lessons-for-building-a-full-stack-startup.html
5. https://businessdegrees.uab.edu/mis-degree-bachelors/