The IT Managers Council at Cornell University

1. The IT Managers Council at Cornell University Fall CSG Meeting Carnegie Mellon University September 23, 2005

2. A Decentralized Environment • Central IT FTEs at Cornell: 36% of total IT FTEs (2005) • Central IT Budget at Cornell: 37% of total IT budget (2003) Common Solutions Group Fall Meeting

3. Cultural and Organziational Context • Current and historical communication and coordination issues across IT at Cornell • Gap between central and local IT • “CIT is isolated from the schools seemingly by institutional design.” • Mutual respect at the individual level • But not at the organizational level • Impact on relationships from recent data compromises Common Solutions Group Fall Meeting

4. Effects of the Gap • Ineffective purchasing • Duplicate technologies • Additional staffing • Significant impact beyond IT • Administrative Systems Common Solutions Group Fall Meeting

5. Bridging the Gap • How to fundamentally change the relationship between central and local IT? • Help central IT better understand unit priorities • Work with units to articulate needs and understand costs • Align expectations • Build bridges of communication • Develop and promote standards Maximize IT’s effectiveness and value at Cornell Common Solutions Group Fall Meeting

6. IT Workforce Planning History • 2001-02 • University hiring freeze; beginning of WFP • 2003 • IT WFP surveys • External Team Review for Administrative Computing • IT WFP Recommendations • Gartner Estimates Common Solutions Group Fall Meeting

7. IT WFP History (continued) • 2004 • Director of Distributed Support position created • ITMC established • Unit plan templates sent to Deans and VPs Common Solutions Group Fall Meeting

8. IT WFP Unit Plan Reviews • Purpose • Process • Next Steps Common Solutions Group Fall Meeting

9. IT Managers Council Recommendation • Improve communication • Intra-unit • Across IT units • Share information • Plan together • Help CIT and units become less isolated from each other Common Solutions Group Fall Meeting

10. What does this have to do with WFP? • By communicating, sharing information, and planning together… IT will become more effective and efficient • ITMC an “enabling recommendation” IT WFP creates opportunities for dialogue Common Solutions Group Fall Meeting

11. ITMC Structure • One representative from each major college, administrative unit, and CIT area • A large, eclectic group! • You’re not “you”, you’re your unit • Theoretically, all Cornell IT is in the room Common Solutions Group Fall Meeting

12. Goals of the ITMC • Collaborate on substantive issues that will benefit Cornell as a whole, e.g.: • Improve software and hardware acquisition • Develop directed IT training • Recommend standards Common Solutions Group Fall Meeting

13. ITMC Committee Evolution: Focus on Tangible Change • Software Acquisition • IT Professional Development • IT Best Practices • ITMC Operational Procedures • Committee Makeup Common Solutions Group Fall Meeting

14. ITMC Challenges • The makeup of the group • Various levels of authority within the units • Different sized units • The size of the council • Intra-unit communication • Don’t count on it! Common Solutions Group Fall Meeting

15. How it’s Going… • Somewhat formal, but becoming more comfortable • More people speaking up/better discussions • Outstanding trust issues? • Decision-making • Engagement • People are still showing up! • We’re still figuring it out Common Solutions Group Fall Meeting

16. Questions sd94@cornell.eduhttp://itmc.cornell.edu Common Solutions Group Fall Meeting