The good ... and the rest
I love my job. My job is mainly "hands off." We are "IT Users" (not developers) -- further education.
I enjoy the following:
- Making decisions and having autonomy.
- Developing new ideas and keeping up to date (R&D) -- e.g., new document management system.
- Planning.
- Trialling and then installing new software (not forgetting the training, etc.), e.g., MindManager, OneNote, PaperPort, etc.
- Trialling and then installing new hardware, e.g., Tablet PC (with above software), Disk Stakka (for finding software media).
- Spending the budget wisely.
- Teamwork -- working together on a project.
- Keeping the users happy -- meeting their requirements, helping them with problems/decisions.
- Security -- checking up/policing activities/etc.
- Writing policies (and creating rules -- Codes of Practice).
- Interviewing.
I dislike:
- Cold selling -- I screen every call via my voicemail, asking callers to state name, number and "Reason for calling" -- it's amazing how many people hang up -- obviously know that they would be wasting my time!
- Ridiculous deadlines.
- Poor planning and poor project management.
- Slack performance from staff -- I handpick all IT staff for their "enthusiasm."
- Having a restricted budget (but luckily that doesn't happen here).
- Paperwork.
Hope this helps…
-- Ken Deciacco
Wanted: Input from management
As IT manager (and senior IT person for the company), I think the biggest challenge is a lack of direction from management.
I am sifting through the "junk mail" advertisements. If I had a clear direction, it would be a lot easier sifting through things.
I am expected to be not only the manager, but also a technician. This leaves little time for future planning, not to mention getting management to understand the requirement to just spend more money for improved security (for example).
My questions revolve around making and "selling" the future plan for the company. With a plan in place if I get an email about a new improved email security appliance, but -mail security is not in the plan until next year, it is a lot easier to toss it out.
Additionally, many of us that have moved up from hardware/software technicians into management have kept up with technology, but have not been properly trained (either internally within the company or external to the company) in proper IT management techniques.
I think that technically there are many publications that do an admirable job (yours included) in letting us in the trenches know what is coming up next, best practices, or just about cool new toys. What I need is more practical knowledge about the management side of IT management.
Thanks for listening, and I look forward to more good work.
-- Andrew J. Abare
This was first published in August 2007
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