Human Resources

Business has been picking up lately for Accenture Canada, which is why the services firm plans to hire 550 people

Once upon a time, some kids dreamed of becoming astronauts or firefighters when they grew up. But the generation that turned Atari, Nintendo and Sega into household names had its own ambition: to be paid to sit around and play video games. Now, as adults, some people are living that dream.

Hewlett-Packard Co. (HP) has hired head-hunting firm Russell Reynolds Associates Inc. to help it find a new chief executive officer (CEO) following the departure last week of former chairman and CEO Carly Fiorina. The search will be conducted with the "highest level of confidentiality," HP said Thursday, adding that it will not comment further on the hunt for a new chief executive.

Corporate e-learning programs deliver the best value when integrated with other enterprise systems and processes, says a Canadian expert on the subject.

Most industry experts would agree enrollment in IT college and university programs has steadily declined over the last few years. But when it comes to the reasons for this drop and its implications, not everyone sees eye to eye. This week organizers of the National Information Technology Human Resources Forum (NITHRF), held last November said they plan to offer more sessions this May for educational and industry players who want to try to resolve issues facing the industry.

Jim Harmon knows a thing or two about effective leadership within technology companies, particularly smaller, private firms that are just starting out. A managing partner with Ottawa-based Ray & Berndtson, one of Canada

Carly Fiorina has resigned as chairman and chief executive officer of Hewlett-Packard Co., effective immediately, the company announced Wednesday. Fiorina, who has been HP's CEO for the past six years, is to be replaced on an interim basis by HP's current chief financial officer, Robert P. Wayman, the company said in a statement. Wayman, who has been with HP for 36 years, will also continue to fill his role as CFO. HP has already begun its search for a new CEO, the Palo Alto, California company said.

As the list of required skills for technology and management jobs grows, CIOs must decide whether to hire outside talent or promote from within.