January 21, 2015 at 8:08 pm
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Getting IT Out of the Data Center
January 22, 2015 at 7:09 am
I have to agree that in most business organizations, the IT department is treated pretty much the same as the maintenance department. It's always seen as a cost center, much as a utility, and is never considered to be an asset. This is especially true in the manufacturing industry where I spent 20 years of my career.
Companies need to get their IT departments involved in business initiatives to avoid making huge mistakes in many decisions that involve IT. Several times I've been asked to implement a system that was already decided upon by upper management without proper due diligence for trivial things such as system compatibility, effectiveness, infrastructure, support, etc. Because IT is usually called upon only to implement such decisions after-the-fact is why most companies see them as expensive cost centers that typically run projects over time and over budget.
Throughout my career, I struggled to get business leaders to understand that when utilized and leveraged properly the IT department could become a positive cash-flow center through company-wide improved efficiencies and cost reductions. While it won't become a revenue generating department for most companies, it could still have a positive impact on the bottom line.
At one company where I worked I had much better support and it showed. The company suffered from some quality control issues that made it difficult to track where problems occurred and to prevent the results from getting to the customer. It was very expensive not only in terms of money but also in customer goodwill to have to go to the customer site and correct problems. As a result of getting me involved and with full support from upper management, I was able to design and implement a bar code tracking system that tracked everything from raw materials, each stage of processing, quality control, and shipping. When utilized properly (there were always some yahoos that tried to circumvent procedures) it reduced the frequency and magnitude of customer rejects to such a dramatic level that the project more than paid for itself in the cost savings -- not to mention the improved goodwill it generated from the customers.
When companies quit putting servers in closets and treating IT as a necessary evil and actually get them involved in business operations they will find that the IT department can transform from a cost center to an integral part of the business operations that will have a positive effect on the bottom line.
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January 22, 2015 at 7:20 am
Comparing the IT department to a utility company may not be accurate for most organizations, but at least it's not as demeaning as comparing IT to a sausage factory. :ermm:
"Do not seek to follow in the footsteps of the wise. Instead, seek what they sought." - Matsuo Basho
January 22, 2015 at 7:41 am
Well said Aaron.
January 22, 2015 at 8:53 am
IT can work with the business, improve processes ...
In many businesses and governmental organisations, IT is the only part of the organisation which can provide enterprise- wide knowledge of business processes and analysis. I've found this to be particularly true in government, where 'stove-piping' and turf wars are the order of the day.
January 22, 2015 at 9:21 am
GoofyGuy (1/22/2015)
IT can work with the business, improve processes ...In many businesses and governmental organisations, IT is the only part of the organisation which can provide enterprise- wide knowledge of business processes and analysis. I've found this to be particularly true in government, where 'stove-piping' and turf wars are the order of the day.
Stove-piping and turf wars describes government IT and healthcare IT in a nutshell. If anyone is interested in putting their database talent to work providing enterprise-wide data in a meaningul way, then I'd reccomend some other industry. If you want job security and benefits, then the former are both OK.
"Do not seek to follow in the footsteps of the wise. Instead, seek what they sought." - Matsuo Basho
January 22, 2015 at 9:35 am
Reading this editorial, I couldn't stop thinking about the "Office Space" scene where the business analyst is yelling at the Bobs about his people skills. I didn't read the original linked article because it looked like you had to agree to get spam from TechTarget.
To me though, it seems like a dangerous precedent to have the IT department deeply involved with business changes. IT should be co-ordinated with, so that the business doesn't try to do something outrageous that the systems can't handle. IT people typically don't know or don't completely understand the business processes or even the goals of business people. While IT can assist with workflow streamlining, and has the analytical capacity to support the business, it by no means should drive business changes.
January 22, 2015 at 9:40 am
Chris Harshman (1/22/2015)
... IT people typically don't know or don't completely understand the business processes or even the goals of business people. While IT can assist with workflow streamlining, and has the analytical capacity to support the business, it by no means should drive business changes.
I'd disagree here. The most success I've had in IT is when I did know the business. I worked with business people, but often I can see how changes, design, architecture, or something else can vastly improve the business because I get to know both sides.
I think it's far easier for tech people to learn a business model than the other way around. Especially as technology is often changing and understood lightly itself, that it's important for IT people to really try to learn both.
January 22, 2015 at 9:42 am
Eric M Russell (1/22/2015)
GoofyGuy (1/22/2015)
IT can work with the business, improve processes ...In many businesses and governmental organisations, IT is the only part of the organisation which can provide enterprise- wide knowledge of business processes and analysis. I've found this to be particularly true in government, where 'stove-piping' and turf wars are the order of the day.
Stove-piping and turf wars describes government IT and healthcare IT in a nutshell. If anyone is interested in putting their database talent to work providing enterprise-wide data in a meaningul way, then I'd reccomend some other industry. If you want job security and benefits, then the former are both OK.
Yes, stove-piping and turf wars are endemic to governmental organisations. But I would not let these problems dissuade IT professionals contemplating careers in government. It's certainly more challenging in government to implement enterprise-wide change to business and IT practises, but the mould is being broken by 'disruptive' forces for good, such as Code for America[/url].
Times are changing, and public service is moving with the times.
January 22, 2015 at 11:46 am
Ic guess its funny that my experience is upside down from the rest. I've had better results when I go in someplace cold. I love design conferences.
"Folks we have spent the last two days learning what you do. Today I want you to explain why you do what you do."
At the project wrap up conference the senior manager said that he had other department managers asking how they could get our teams in to provide process automation for them too. While they thought the software was cool they were hungry to have someone in from the outside for the process review.
Information Technology was a fancy way to refer to computer folks. Some of us got inspired by the title and took it seriously. Since we are now understanding that we are in the business of the technology of information. Information is in all phases of business. All of it needs the proper amount of technology.
ATBCharles Kincaid
January 23, 2015 at 10:44 am
Steve Jones - SSC Editor (1/22/2015)
Chris Harshman (1/22/2015)
... IT people typically don't know or don't completely understand the business processes or even the goals of business people. While IT can assist with workflow streamlining, and has the analytical capacity to support the business, it by no means should drive business changes.I'd disagree here. The most success I've had in IT is when I did know the business. I worked with business people, but often I can see how changes, design, architecture, or something else can vastly improve the business because I get to know both sides.
I think it's far easier for tech people to learn a business model than the other way around. Especially as technology is often changing and understood lightly itself, that it's important for IT people to really try to learn both.
My point was merely that no matter how much you THINK you know the business, you don't really know it like the people actually doing the business work. I've lost count of how many times I've seen people think they know to find out later they didn't. Assuming you do know leads to IT arrogance and rifts form between IT and everyone else. As for IT/business learning each other, it's usually best to meet somewhere in the middle. Yes IT does need some understanding of business, but business can't expect computers to work like toasters.
January 23, 2015 at 3:51 pm
Chris Harshman (1/23/2015)
My point was merely that no matter how much you THINK you know the business, you don't really know it like the people actually doing the business work. I've lost count of how many times I've seen people think they know to find out later they didn't. Assuming you do know leads to IT arrogance and rifts form between IT and everyone else. As for IT/business learning each other, it's usually best to meet somewhere in the middle. Yes IT does need some understanding of business, but business can't expect computers to work like toasters.
Very true, and I think we're in agreement. You don't know it as well as businesspeople, and you should approach things like that. However you should be hands on, learning more, getting lots of feedback as you go and learning more as they learn more.
Nothing worse then a kickoff meeting and both sides go away to do something and then return at the end of the project. I think the idea of the article was that IT needs to be a constant part of the business, not a subcontractor that comes, goes, and comes back with a finished product.
January 23, 2015 at 4:56 pm
If you want to "Get IT Out of the Data Center", then send an email to the DBA team informing them that there are Chick-Fil-A breakfast biscuits and StarBuck coffee in the break room. They'll clear out in less than a minute.
"Do not seek to follow in the footsteps of the wise. Instead, seek what they sought." - Matsuo Basho
January 23, 2015 at 9:02 pm
Eric the folks in the UK just went, "What?". Over there "biscuits" means something else. However free food and coffee is likely to clear out a data center planet wide.
ATBCharles Kincaid
January 24, 2015 at 9:24 am
Charles Kincaid (1/23/2015)
Eric the folks in the UK just went, "What?". Over there "biscuits" means something else. However free food and coffee is likely to clear out a data center planet wide.
Ok, if your server room is staffed with Brits, then you lure them out with Crumpets and tea. But once they've had a taste of chicken biscuits and expresso for breakfast, they'll never jump for the dainty stuff again.
"Do not seek to follow in the footsteps of the wise. Instead, seek what they sought." - Matsuo Basho
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