10 Simple Rules for Success in the IT Department

In 2003, I put together a brand new team to build the infrastructure for a brand new medical school in Northern Ontario.

It was a heady, exciting time.  We were in a full tilt run creative mode for two years.

There wasn't any time for the extraneous.

No time for things that waste time like creating long policy manuals that nobody read.

No time to be derailed by silly things that would detract from our mission.

So I came up with a list of 10 Simple Rules that covered most every situation I've ever encountered in IT.

Interested?

Read on...

Why Your School Needs a Sandbox

Image: MS Office Imagebank

Check out the desks of your IT department.

I'll bet there are more gadgets per square inch than Best Buy, and likely more screens than your local movie theater.

Why all this technology?

The "official" reason is that we are doing research, and have to know how to support all of these new upcoming devices and operating systems.  The "real" reason is that we like gadgets, but don't tell anyone I told you or I'll lose my membership in the IT nerd club.

Once we are no longer enamored by the BSO (Bright Shiny Object), it finds its way into a cupboard or desk drawer never to see the light of day again.

And we go on to the next gadget.

Do you think I'm making this up?

This may not be true in 100% of IT departments, but my experience bears me out.  If you want to know about the latest in gadgets, someone in IT will likely have played with it, if not be able to pull one out of their pocket.

Do you see something wrong with this?

Back to Class... for me.

Image: MS Office Imagebank

Sometimes I wonder if I have something against the concept of any free time in my life.

It's not that I don't enjoy down time, but given a chance, I'll keep my calendar full.

And I've done it again.

If you've read this blog for long, you will know that I am as equally passionate about the leadership required for delivering effective IT as I am for the process of delivery.

You also know that I strongly believe that if you are going to lead others, the more you know about yourself as a leader (and follower) enhances your ability to lead others.

With that in mind, I've signed up for a seven week course in Leading for Results presented by Willow Creek Association's Leadership Institute for Transformation (LIFT)

No New Tech in Our School!

What? Wait? What did you say?

"No New Tech in Our School!"?

I thought this blog was about technology (among other things)?

It is.

And it isn't.

Let me explain in my usual roundabout way.