<A HREF="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7143417.stm">Computer skills are still undervalued in the UK board room,</A> according to software giant Microsoft. It surveyed 500 UK business leaders and found that a knowledge of information technology 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.