Exploring the value of IT professionals through their own attitudes and opinions about factors that indicate how valued they feel.

1. IT PRO VALUE SURVEY:
THE IT PROFESSIONAL’S PERSPECTIVE
S URV E Y CO NDUCTE D BY S O LARWI NDS
J UNE -J ULY 2 0 1 5
E X P LO RI NG THE V ALUE O F I T P RO FE S S I O NALS
THRO UG H THE I R O WN ATTI TUDE S AND O P I NI O NS
ABO UT FACTO RS THAT I NDI CATE HO W V ALUE D
THEY FEEL
(G LO BAL)

2. STUDY OVERVIEW
This survey was conducted online by SolarWinds from June 25-July 17,
2015 among 214 IT professionals currently employed at least part-time
from across the globe, including the United States, Canada, Australia,
Germany, Singapore and the United Kingdom.
2
S C O P E AN D D E M O G R AP H I C S
© 2015 SOLARWINDS WORLDWIDE, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

3. KEY FINDINGS
3
TH R E E O U T O F F I V E I T P R O F E S S I O N AL S F E E L AT
M O S T M O D E R ATE LY VAL U E D B Y TH E I R E M P L O Y E R
F O R TH E I R U N I Q U E C O N TR I B U TI O N TO B U S I N E S S ,
W I TH M O R E TH AN A Q U AR T E R F E E L I N G O N LY
S L I G H TLY TO N O T AT AL L VAL U E D
© 2014 SOLARWINDS WORLDWIDE, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
5%
22%
35%
26%
12%
HOW HIGHLY DO YOU THINK YOUR EMPLOYER VALUES
YOUR UNIQUE ABILITY AS AN IT PROFESSIONAL TO HELP
SOLVE BUSINESS PROBLEMS THROUGH TECHNOLOGY?
Not at all valued
Slightly valued
Moderately valued
Very valued
Extremely valued

4. KEY FINDINGS
4
TH E M AJ O R I TY O F I T P R O F E S S I O N AL S WAN T TH E I R
E M P L O Y E R S TO VAL U E TH E I R O V E R AL L B U S I N E S S
I M PAC T AB O V E AL L E L S E , S P E C I F I C AL LY TH E I R
C O M M I TM E N T TO TH E O V E R AL L I M P R O V E M E N T O F
TH E B U S I N E S S AN D TH E I R R O L E I N E N S U R I N G
B U S I N E S S O N TH E W H O L E R U N S S M O O TH LY
© 2014 SOLARWINDS WORLDWIDE, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
29%
8%
9%25%
8%
13%
7% 1%
WHAT DO YOU WANT YOUR EMPLOYER TO VALUE MOST ABOUT YOU AS AN IT
PROFESSIONAL?
My commitment to the overall improvement of the business
My technical expertise
My focus on problem solving
My role in keeping the business on the whole running smoothly
My role in enabling end users to be productive
My ability to adapt to new technologies and new ways of doing
things
My passion for IT
Other (please specify)

5. KEY FINDINGS
5
F O U R O U T O F F I V E I T P R O F E S S I O N AL S F E E L TH E Y
AR E W O R TH M O R E TH AN TH E Y AR E C U R R E N TLY
C O M P E N S ATE D , W I TH O N E - TH I R D S AY I N G TH E Y F E E L
W O R TH AT L E AS T 2 1 % M O R E
© 2014 SOLARWINDS WORLDWIDE, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
12%
36%
18%
8%
4%
5%
17%
HOW MUCH MORE (IN TERMS OF YOUR CURRENT
COMPENSATION), IF ANY, DO YOU THINK YOU ARE WORTH ON
AN ANNUAL BASIS?
1-10%
11-20%
21-30%
31-40%
41-50%
51% or more
None, I feel appropriately compensated

6. KEY FINDINGS
6
TH E M AJ O R I TY O F I T P R O F E S S I O N AL S AR E
C O N C E R N E D AB O U T J O B S E C U R I TY, W I TH AL M O S T
H AL F S U G G E S TI N G C O M PAN Y L E AD E R S H I P N O T
U N D E R S TA N D I N G TH E I M P O R TAN C E O F I T AS A K E Y
R E AS O N W H Y
© 2014 SOLARWINDS WORLDWIDE, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
39%
31%
22%
4%4%
HOW CONCERNED ARE YOU ABOUT JOB
SECURITY WITH YOUR CURRENT
EMPLOYER?
Not at all concerned
Slightly concerned
Moderately concerned
Very concerned
Extremely concerned
48%
8%
42%
4%
17%
10%
37%
14%
17%
ITisviewedasacost
centerandcompany
leadershipisalways
lookingtocutcosts
Myskillsetisnot
alignedwithwherethe
companyisheaded
fromatechnological
standpoint
Companyleadership
doesn’tunderstandthe
importanceofIT
Poorindividual
performance
Poorcompany
performance
Myskillsetisnot
diverseenoughto
encompassIT’sgrowing
responsibilities
Outsourcing
ITautomationis
resultinginfewerIT
professionalsneeded
todothesameamount
ofwork
Other(pleasespecify)
WHY ARE YOU CONCERNED ABOUT JOB SECURITY WITH YOUR CURRENT
EMPLOYER? (SELECT ALL THAT APPLY)

7. The SolarWinds and SolarWinds & Design marks are the
exclusive property of SolarWinds Worldwide, LLC and its
affiliates, are registered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark
Office, and may be registered or pending registration in other
countries. All other SolarWinds trademarks, service marks,
and logos may be common law marks, registered or pending
registration in the United States or in other countries. All
other trademarks mentioned herein are used for identification
purposes only and may be or are trademarks or registered
trademarks of their respective companies.
© 2015 SOLARWINDS WORLDWIDE, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.