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Category Archives: People / Talent
Managing at the Core
…This is also the area where truly great IT organizations separate themselves from their peers. Organizations which are able to articulate the problems to solve, the benefits and costs in doing so, and have develop a well though through approach in addressing the problem have a huge leg up. By doing so, the organization can avoid false starts and mis-direction, early involvement of stakeholders instead of late, and the projects have a better chance of running to conclusion. In general, this will provide a more efficient use of capital. Continue reading
Edge of IT
Several months ago, I was introduced to the concept of differentiating IT into “Core” and “Edge” functions. This very useful construct has significant implications to the way that you think about management and leadership of an IT department… Continue reading
Angry Exec Ratio
Making people happy is over rated. Making everyone happy is impossible. Getting the job done, no matter how difficult, is enormously under rated… Continue reading
Celebration of Shadow IT
All those of you who have participated in a Sarbanes-Oxley audit hold up your hand? Good. Now, how many of you have been involved in documenting the processes under scrutiny by the Act? I see fewer hands up. For those of you with your hands still up, do you notice something interesting in each of these processes? Thats’s right, there’s a healthy dose of technology inside these processes – and a healthy percentage of this was developed by people who don’t work within… Continue reading
Posted in Management, People / Talent, Process
Tagged Management, productivity, workforce dynamics
4 Comments
Using IT (Or Not)
…In order to meet this need, IT organizations are built around managing volume, oriented around large-scale initiatives, and work within defined processes and methodologies to prioritize among the enormous number of items competing for attention, and do so while minimizing the risk to all. Continue reading
Posted in Management, Process
Tagged business drivers, end user computing, sacrifice, workforce
2 Comments
IT Cost Management via Your Ecosystem
“Cut your costs by 15%, I’ll need your report on how you will do this by Friday.”
Ominous words, but words which are all too common these days. People are stretched pretty thin as it is and if your company is like most people, the work being done isn’t going away. How will you do this? Continue reading
Posted in Management, People / Talent, Process
Tagged consultant, contractor, ecosystem, Management, people, productivity
2 Comments
Arrows of Change
It takes courage to stand up for what you believe to be right, for what you believe needs to change, or to the actions and decisions the authority figures and decision makers which you are accountable to. The movie Jerry Maguire opens with the lead character creating a manifesto for change. His vision was bold and would change much of how his company would conduct business. While this manifesto did not turn out too well for him personally in the short-term, in the long-term he was able to put his vision into practice and the industry was far better… Continue reading
24 Months
A recent Forrester study has shown that the average job term for a CIO is on the rise. I believe there is more to the story. Going with the assumption that both the employer and employee need to realize a value in what they receive in exchange for what they give there is an implied necessary balance and harmony required for a strong and long-lasting working relationship. Continue reading
Growing Pains
When companies are young, there is often abundant enthusiasm, and a scarcity of funds. From an IT perspective your decision horizon is also not too far out. You will typically have comparatively few users for the systems you have to build (or buy, or rent, or…). The criteria that you have to work with will typically be very basic functionality, low volume, and little interaction between functions. Given that the expectation that you will pull off minor miracles with two quarters and a dime, the best and easiest answer is to develop point solutions with minimal investment in the software platform. If you have enough foresight to the types of applications required ahead of time you may even invest time in an application and system architecture. Congratulate yourself if were able to pull this off in the typical start-up organization. Continue reading
Voices and Messages
If you have developed your culture where there is a healthy sandpaper to challenge ideas, there will be no shortage of voices to listen to. Are they all equal in volume? Are they all equal in critical thinking? Are they all equal in importance? The obvious answers are no, no, and no. Continue reading
