Media reports about the introduction of a dress code for IT staff at the Australian Stock Exchange Ltd. (ASX) is not an isolated incident but part of a growing trend to formalize the IT work environment.

The director of analyst firm Hydrasight, Michael Warrilow, said a number of large organizations in Australia have introduced similar dress standards to integrate IT into the rest of the business.

"The funky, cool dress code of the late 1990s is out and I expect more organizations to follow the ASX lead," Warrilow said.

"Active resistance to a dress code by some techies shows an IT culture that isn't aligned with the business; why should the rest of the business wear suits and ties?"

According to media reports, ASX Chairman Maurice Newman has introduced a dress code for techies, a move that has upset many in the IT department which has always maintained a casual environment.