That's the new IT heroism -- a kind of heroism we can't afford to be without.

So read the stories of these Premier 100 IT heroes. Admire their accomplishments. Then steal their ideas. Turn your own IT department into a place where careful planning, standard processes and great communication aren't the enemies of heroics, but the first steps to heroism.

Because IT needs all the heroes it can get.

-- Frank Hayes, Computerworld's senior news columnist, has covered IT for more than 20 years. Contact him at frank_hayes@computerworld.com.