Computer knowledge 'undervalued'

Computer skills are still undervalued in the UK board room, according to software giant Microsoft.

It surveyed 500 UK business leaders and found that a knowledge of information technology (IT) was seen as the seventh most important workplace skill.

Instead, team working and interpersonal skills were seen as the core factors, followed by initiative.

Microsoft chairman Bill Gates said IT skills were needed from the shop floor to the chief executive.

'Share ideas'

"One of the most important changes of the last 30 years is that digital technology has transformed almost everyone into an information worker," said Mr Gates.

"In almost every job now, people use software and work with information to enable their organisation to operate more effectively."

Yet in an article written for the BBC News website, he added that team work was also a core requisite for success in the software industry.

"Software innovation, like almost every other kind of innovation, requires the ability to collaborate and share ideas with other people, and to sit down and talk with customers and get their feedback and understand their needs," he said.

In third place in the survey behind team working and initiative, came analysing and problem solving.

This was followed by verbal communication, personal planning and organising and flexibility.