The comparison with doctors is apt. Most of the time, I don't know enough about what my doctor is talking about to require more than generic explanation. If it

The comparison with doctors is apt. Most of the time, I don't know enough about what my doctor is talking about to require more than generic explanation. If it is a simple problem, fine by me and I'm basically delegating my health into his competence. However, critically, if it is anything serious, I go and study it, enough to at least be able to talk about the subject. When I had lasik done, I knew as much domain specific jargon as my surgeon. The same applies to IT and company boards. For daily operations, hire a good IT exec and let him work. If, however, you are treating an exception, go learn enough IT to talk to the "doctors". Or get an IT guy on the board...