Ph.D. is definitely good... depends what YOU want to do with it

In Ph.Ds in IT - Good or Bad for a Career? referring to a Slashdot entry, George raises an interesting question regarding the value of a Ph.D. in IT related fields of study.

From purely philosophical perspective it can easily be argued that a Ph.D. is definitely good as you gain more knowledge and more knowledge is better. At least this is the common sense understanding in our human society.

From pragmatic and utilitarian perspective, working in the industry, having a Ph.D. does not necessarily mean more money, better job, better work conditions, or more opportunities. In my work history as information systems analysts, I've met colleagues with Ph.Ds who were performing the same jobs as those with masters.

And yes, it is definitely true that a Ph.D. can be a barrier in getting certain types of positions as it might suggest over-qualification.

Usually, what I sense from discussions with friends and my fellow Ph.D. students, most of those who continue their Ph.D. studies are motivated by factors other than industry work opportunities. Here are some of my thoughts about why I started with Ph.D. studies.

Needless to say, if one aims at academic jobs (i.e. teaching), a Ph.D. is the 'license'.