"No matter how it looks at first, it's always a people problem." -- GeraldWeinbergQuotes
RelationshipManagement competencies have always been a required skill for people involved in ProjectManagement. And in this age of OutSourcing, the awareness and sensitivities are being expected of other IT staff as well.
In "The New Competencies in IT" , at http://hbswk.hbs.edu/item.jhtml?id=4525&t=technology, a CIO was quoted as saying "You need staff who can deal with relationships and create the right network of contacts..". IS staff , at all levels, need competencies that allow them to bridge business and technology.
Elsewhere in the paper it was stated "roles crucial to the new IS focus much more on business and behavioral skills. EmotionalIntelligence is the behavioral skill that is sought after as much as business knowledge (what makes the organisation tick) and skills (ability to lead innovation).
And yes, technical skills are needed. The article said "they have become a base".
Above article based on the 2004 book from Gartner titled "The New CIO Leader" (ISBN 1591395771 ).
SpinBallers skilled in TheManufacturingOfConsent excel in RelationshipManagement exercises targetting society at large. Inappropriate use of this tact led to the lamenting comments in SocietyWithoutMediaIsBetter?
SelfManagement responses can offset negative effects of MediumIsTheMessage syndrome.
See also CompanyEmployeeRelationships FragileRelationships HumanRelationsInOrganizations CovenantalRelationships CustomerRelationshipManagement SpecialRelationship ReciprocalRelationships