Morris says he had something more valuable: an understanding of how the hospital worked and what end users needed. "If you understand the business and are able to drive the business, that's as important as making sure the trains run on time within IT," he says.

Not everyone agreed with that point, at least initially. "There's always skepticism. There are challenges that you can encounter where people paint you into a position because of your background," Morris says. "You have to prove yourself with results."

Initially, for example, vendors would explain their products "like I had a learning disability," Morris says. His approach with them was direct: "I'd just say, 'Let's cut to the chase.' And once I got to know people, [my background] was not an issue."

The middleman

Dallas encountered similar skepticism when he moved from accounting into the IT department at Atlanta-based Georgia-Pacific Corp. He started there as a cost accountant shortly after graduating in 1983 with a bachelor's degree in accounting. As the company advanced its computer systems, Dallas says he saw an opportunity to be "the man in the middle" -- the one who understands the business requirements as well as the technology.