10. While the public Internet developed almost accidentally as an open platform not controlled by any one supplier, there is no guarantee that this will always be so. Backbone transmission providers are seeking to expand their influence.

In short, every industry has its own IT-driven story, each of vital interest to its sector. Thus, the real enterprise IT action has moved away from adopting general-purpose products and is now centered on business and industry change. That's the sort of maturity we should all welcome. How is your company's industry changing? And are your IT organization's priorities changing with it?

David Moschella is global research director at the Leading Edge Forum, a Computer Sciences Corp. company. Contact him at dmoschella@earthlink.net.