Setting Goals and Maintaining IT Success…

Justin Denton

Summary:

Justin Denton

This webinar covers the ins and outs of establishing and maintaining technology relationships. One of the biggest detractors for establishing a successful IT implementation is being able to establish realistic goals and maintain positive working relationships between technical and non-technical staff.During this session, we will take a deeper exploration into the technical mumbo-jumbo that makes IT a difficult beast to understand and spend time decoding the important aspects that will make you successful at managing one, two, five or twenty people in your IT department.

Who? What? In the…. IT!!!• Who is “IT”?• What is “IT”?• Why do we need “IT”?

What is/was your biggest IT Problem?

IT doesn’t have to mean Problems…

• Notorious B.I.G. wasn’t lying when he penned “the more money we come across, the more problems we see” in the rap “Mo Money Mo Problems.” This rings true when IT is not consulted at just the right time in putting together a technology solution.

Have any tips for maintaining a positive relationship with IT?

5 Tips to establishing a working relationship…

The 5 Tips

1. Get to know your IT people

The 5 Tips

2. Respect

The 5 Tips

3. Speak their Language

The 5 Tips

4. Engage IT Early and Often

The 5 Tips

5. Ask about optimization

How would you educate IT about what

you do?

How would you educate yourself about

what IT does?

Educating your IT Department• Explain your Job• Explain processes and procedures• Go in-depth• Know there expertise• Partner on the solution

Understanding the Tech Stuff• RSS Feeds• Blogs•MOOCs•Webinars•Magazines• Tech Websites

Favorite Tech Sites? Let’s build a list…

Where to go…•http://gizmodo.com/•http://www.theverge.com/•http://www.tomshardware.com/•http://www.engadget.com/•http://www.digitaltrends.com/•http://www.anandtech.com/•https://www.mooc-list.com/

Building the Five-Phase Plan1. Assessment2. Selection3. Implementation4. Support5. Review

Executing the Plan• Set realistic goals• Set specific measurable goals•Adjust goals as needed•Get needed information up

front

Executing the Plan• Think the goals through• What information and knowledge do I need?• What assistance or departmental collaboration do I need?• Do I need an expert from another

department?• What resources will be required?• What problems might arise?• Am I making any assumptions?• Is there a better way of doing things?

The Do’s• Demonstrate respect for in-house expertise• Ask questions. • Check things out. • Bounce things off of colleagues. • Collaborate to bring about successes.• Debrief and Celebrate

The Don’ts• No department, especially IT, enjoys an inspection of its systems and

processes by an outside party. • Don't go in on a new job like gangbusters• Say all ideas are bad ideas• Be the person with all the answers

“Don't go in with 'You're

doing this wrong. You're

doing that wrong.’"

Celebrating the WinExamples?

• Leave a Thank You card.• Give a Bonus.• Have an at work celebration party. (Cake

anyone?)

Tips to Try..

In-House vs Outsourcing

Anyone Outsource?

In-House• Intellectual property• Faster Turn-Around• Deep Knowledge of the Environment• Easy to Control Quality• You do the hiring

Outsourcing• Finding the right partner• Reactive to Proactive• Quality• Communication• Company Perception• Intellectual Capital• Global Events• Resource Management

What can you outsource?• Strategic Planning & Management• In-Office Support• Managed Hosting Services• Data Center • Development• Etc… Etc… Etc…

Setting Outsourcing Expectations• Build an effective contract• Set Service Levels• Establish Cost vs Scope of Work• Implement Governance Models• Disengagement Plan

Managing Communications• Designate Liaison• Build into Contract• Reporting• Single Point of Contact

Purpose: Managing Communications• Keep expectations in check• Eliminate conflicts• Optimum productivity• Avenue for feedback• Build Trust

The Wrap-up..• Identify the Problems• Collaborate on a Solution• Manage Communication Paths• Select an implementation method• Celebrate the Win

Questions?

How to Connect…• LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/justindenton1