Post on 17-Dec-2015
Developing and Using Leadership Skills in Higher Education IT
“Leadership is the art of accomplishing more than the science of management says
is possible” Colin Powell
Janda HankinsonTerry O’Heron
Beth Hayes
Information Technology Services
Leadership and the Strategic Plan
It's not the plan that is important, it's the planning.
Graeme Edwards
Information Technology Services
Strategic Planning/SWOT Analysis
• Discussed Group Vision Statement and long term Goals– Staff added suggestions
• Discussion of our Environment– Customer Needs– Competition
Information Technology Services
Strategic Planning/SWOT Analysis
• Future of the Group– What new directions do you see
– What could we cut/begin as a service
• “Customer” discussion– Who are they & what do they expect– What are customers really asking for?
Information Technology Services
SWOTStrengths•Given tools for the job•Willing to try new things•Staff w/ Wide range of Experiences
Opportunities•Currently only selling to 10% of audience•Demo our Value vs Costs•Cross Training
Weaknesses•Limited Space•Limited Staff•Basement Location
Threats•Pirated Software•Big Box Stores•Loss of Funding
Information Technology Services
SWOT - Continued
• Ranked SWOT Issues and Opportunities– Opportunities were ranked “easy”’ to “hard”– Worked on Opportunities very openly with
the group to show process– Involved as many people as possible to
show that we need staff to be responsible for leading change
Information Technology Services
Staff Growth
• Discussed Personal Growth– Scheduled several group training events
• FISH! Philosophy• MBTI training• Customer Service training• Anniversary Breakfasts
• Wanted to show that staff are valued
Information Technology Services
A Metaphor for Influencing Change
Poker is a game of people...It’s not the hand I hold, it’s the people that I play with.
“Amarillo Slim” Preston
Information Technology Services
Leading Change – Looking Through Three Lenses
Strategic Design
CulturalPolitical
John Van Maanen, MIT Sloan School
Information Technology Services
Leading Change – Looking Through Three Lenses
Strategic Design
CulturalPolitical
Organizations are
machinesAction comes
through planning
Information Technology Services
Leading Change – Looking Through Three Lenses
Strategic Design
CulturalPolitical
Organizations are
contestsAction comes
through power
Information Technology Services
Leading Change – Looking Through Three Lenses
Strategic Design
CulturalPolitical
Organizations or
institutionsAction comes
through habit
Information Technology Services
Leading Change – Looking Through Three Lenses
Strategic Design
CulturalPolitical
Organizations are
contestsAction comes
through power
Organizations are
machinesAction comes
through planning
Organizations or
institutionsAction comes
through habit
Information Technology Services
Leading Change – Looking Through Three Lenses
Strategic Design
CulturalPolitical
Organizations are
contestsAction comes
through power
Organizations are
machinesAction comes
through planning
Organizations or
institutionsAction comes
through habit
Information Technology Services
Teaching w/Technology: A Faculty Example
• Faculty Goals– IT that is affordable and accessible– IT that is easy to use– High-quality
Information Technology Services
• Faculty Risks“From the viewpoint of the professor,
however, I understand some of the more obvious reasons for this resistance: shortages of time, money and energy.”
-Edward L. Ayers
Teaching w/Technology: A Faculty Example
Information Technology Services
Teaching w/Technology: A Faculty Example
• Faculty Lenses– Strategic: Act assertively, do not passively
respond to change– Political: Tradition of faculty self-
governance and academic freedom– Cultural: Academic culture and IT culture
do not mix together well
Information Technology Services
Leading Change – Action Plan• Know your IT audiences: the usual
suspects…faculty…staff…students• Know your IT audiences: the not-so-usual
suspects…potential faculty, staff, and students, your own IT staff, alumni, etc
• Understand the bottom line…increase use, value, satisfaction
• ASSESSMENT: how you understand the bottom line…increase use, value, satisfaction
Information Technology Services
Leadership: Finding Balance
Leadership is an action, not a position.
Donald H. McGannon
Information Technology Services
Penn State Workflow Project• Replacing 20 year old mainframe, user-based
approval system with a Web, role-based approval system
• Streamlining and re-engineering existing processes
• Stakeholder and business partner buy-in obtained
• High expectations established• The train was in motion when I hopped
aboard…
Information Technology Services
As a Project Manager I must:
• Delegate• Coach• Encourage• Communicate• Plan• Strategize• Manage
• Build Relationships• Be a Politician• Listen• Plan • Motivate• Coordinate• Beg
Information Technology Services
My Challenge is to balance the Immediate vs. Important
Immediate and Less/Not Important
Immediate and Very Important
Not Immediate and Not Important
Not Immediate and Very Important
Information Technology Services
Strategies for Being More Efficient and Productive
• Schedule time for THINKING (strategically and otherwise!)
• Organize your activities based on the Immediate/Important grid (I use a spreadsheet)
• Block time on your calendar to work on the Important• Turn off email, cell phone, IM, etc., when working on
the Important – and inform others of this practice• Look for opportunities to delegate, coach and grow
staff to lead sub-projects and initiatives. Offering and taking ownership is a win-win scenario.
Information Technology Services
Contact Information
• Janda Hankinson - Janda@psu.edu
• Terry O’Heron - tno1@psu.edu
• Beth Hayes - bah1@psu.edu