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 Hankinson Terry 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 SWOT Strengths 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 John Van Maanen, MIT Sloan School

Information Technology Services Leading Change – Looking Through Three Lenses Organizations are machines Action comes through planning

Information Technology Services Leading Change – Looking Through Three Lenses Organizations are contests Action comes through power

Information Technology Services Leading Change – Looking Through Three Lenses Organizations or institutions Action comes through habit

Information Technology Services Leading Change – Looking Through Three Lenses Organizations are contests Action comes through power Organizations are machines Action comes through planning Organizations or institutions Action comes through habit

Information Technology Services Leading Change – Looking Through Three Lenses Organizations are contests Action comes through power Organizations are machines Action comes through planning Organizations or institutions Action 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 , 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 - Terry O’Heron - Beth Hayes -