Ensuring your IT Department Runs like Clockwork
Published on 27 August 15
Marcus0
For the purposes of this article we will assume that you are heading an IT department or that you might be in a position that does not necessarily has to do with the IT department but you are still responsible for the way they do their job. We will be looking at a few things that are crucial to running such a department and ensuring that the department is living up to their potential.
Not Allowing Complacency
Whenever people are doing a job, whatever the job may be, there is a chance they will get complacent. They will start thinking that they know everything and that nothing can surprise them. That is how problems start and it is essential that you do not allow your IT department people to become too satisfied with what they know and do. We are not saying that you should be a jerk for the sake of it, but you should try and make sure they are always upgrading their knowledge, learning new skills and staying in the loop. In short, invest in the people.
Keeping the Tech Up-to-date
An IT department is all about the people who work there, but it would be silly to think that the technology they have at their disposal plays no role. You cannot expect a modern IT department to work on equipment that the company purchased from a partner back in 1986. This does not mean that you should be spending thousands on daily basis, but you need to understand that better equipment results in the better work done by IT people.
Hire and Promote the Right People
As we said before, the IT department is people who work there and in order for it to run smoothly, you need to have all the right people in all the right places. You need to learn about recruiting the right people and not falling into traps. Also, if you believe that someone deserves a promotion, do everything you can to make sure they get that promotion. If you are worried they might not be up for the management position, you can always sponsor them to get an mgmt degree for which they will need to learn about leadership.
Encourage Innovation
There are a lot of companies where the IT department is considered to be more of a service than a part of the company. If something isn't working, get the IT team up and have them fix it. This is a waste of the IT department's skills and knowledge and only the most short-sighted will treat them like repairmen. People who work in the department need to be encouraged to come up with new ideas and solutions that will contribute to the company and how it does what it does. You would be surprised as to how many times this has resulted in incredible benefits for the company.
Keep your Finger on the Pulse
When we say pulse, we mean the pulse of the department. Quite often, people from a single department (including an IT one) will form tightly-knit relationships and they might feel absolutely dissatisfied with their job without telling anyone. By not paying attention to this, you might end up with an IT department that loses its best people without you even realizing that something is wrong. Do not let this happen.
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