So says the Leading Edge Forum (LEF), a senior level membership organisation that believes, according to an article in Computer Weekly, 29 May 2007:

that change, innovation and value will come not just from technology or industry experience, but from the human element - from employees who are smart about both business and technology and who will increasingly demand empowerment and responsibility.

Furthermore, it will be these same IT-savvy employees who will demand access to the Web 2.0 services that sit outside the company firewall.

The bad news is that most companies "lock down their machines and trap their employees" and the knee-jerk response of blocking access to Web 2.0 services simply means that their businesses miss out on knowledge and relationships outside the firewall (where most of their customers are!).

Key points from the LEF:

• Firms must embrace Web 2.0 technologies to stay competitive
• IT-savvy employees must be free to drive innovation with Web 2.0 apps
• Make web browsers and rich internet applications your standard interface
• Using the public internet directly can slash costs and increase speed