My, how tech culture has changed. A decade ago, the archetype of success was the audacious hero at the vanguard of a limitless technology boom, hatching brilliant schemes and basking in the spotlight. But if this year's InfoWorld's CTO 25... My, how tech culture has changed. A decade ago, the archetype of success was the audacious hero at the vanguard of a limitless technology boom, hatching brilliant schemes and basking in the spotlight. But if this year’s InfoWorld’s CTO 25 awards are any indication, superstar style has flamed out in favor of a more low-key type of leadership.Every year, InfoWorld hands out CTO 25 awards to a deserving crew of top-level IT leaders who have made a major positive difference to their business and, in some cases, to the industry at large. This year’s winners are striking in their modesty, routinely passing along credit for their successes to the tech teams they manage. There are several reasons for this humility. For one thing, fewer senior IT managers can afford to “be the boss” without plunging into the actual projects critical to the business. Resources are too few and the risks of failure are too high. So people at the top of the IT food chain gain a much closer appreciation for what the people who implement are doing on the ground. Another reason is that, judging by this year’s CTO 25, the challenges faced by IT are bigger and more humbling. “I was struck by how many of this year’s winners faced huge projects that they didn’t anticipate,” says InfoWorld Executive Editor Galen Gruman, who oversaw this year’s CTO 25. “When you integrate an acquired company or jump into some new area of business, intense collaborative relationships arise, not just within IT but also with various groups on the business side.”And finally, I believe that IT is going through a cultural shift. The increasing use of open source is forcing many IT shops out of isolation and into a more collaborative mode. Social networking has become integral to the lives of many IT pros, as they share knowledge and opportunities. As CTO 25 winner Jon Williams puts it, when asked what advice he would give anyone starting out in IT: “Network with other technology managers. Bounce ideas off them. It’s the best way to help your career.”Excellent advice. But for all the camaraderie and teamwork, there are times when you have to lay down the law, as InfoWorld’s Lisa Schmeiser reminds us in How to fire an IT person. The flip side to a flatter management structure is that more individuals wear more hats — and have more privileges. Bookmark this story for that difficult day when you need to let someone go. Lisa’s list of commonsense procedures can help prevent an unpleasant personnel matter from turning into a major disaster that will reflect on you. If you’re going to be a good player coach, you need to know how to cut someone from the team as well as give credit where credit is due. Technology Industry