Organizations employ information technology staff in different disciplines with different levels of expertise. Organizations are constantly challenged to maintain higher performance with fewer resources and effectively manage their organizational technology portfolio. While some organizations may have skilled or dedicated resources to address many of their strategic management issues, i.e. project management, technology procurement, service delivery, workforce planning, technology evaluation, benefit-cost analysis, disaster recovery, project management, etc., most organizations have technical staff that are first and foremost technical positions with little or no technology strategic management skills. 

 

Organizations constantly call upon their technology staff to identify, evaluate and recommend the adoption and implementation of technology that may affect the successful mission of their organization. However, most of these staff lacks the business skills to meet those demands. While technicians have many alternatives for technical training, their access to strategic technology management training is limited unless they pursue a two or four-year college degree in computer science or business administration.

 

The Center for Advanced Technologies, Auburn Montgomery, has the experience and knowledge to provide assistance to an organization’s technology staff in the strategic management of information technology. The Center is positioned to provide those services in four possible offerings: structured training, just-in-time mentoring, continuous coaching, or consulting services. Structured training involves classroom instruction through a series of different IT management disciplines. Just-in-time mentoring involves the training of staff as needed and requested by the organization in a specific skill. Continuous coaching involves assistance and coaching staff on a project or activity basis through completion. Consulting services involves the use of technology consultants from the Center to provide strategic management services. 

The Center’s educational instruction focuses on the following areas:

 

·     Project Management

Understanding and following a structured methodology in the management of an information technology project increases the probability of a successful project. Knowing the project management life cycle is an important part of any project effort. Center consultants will discuss the components and activities associated with a project management life cycle including deliverables and milestones. Staff will understand the basic concepts of “Measurable Organizational Value (MOV)”, benefit-cost analysis, project charter, scope definition and management, change management, risk management, project planning and work breakdown structures, time and resource planning, and quality management.     

 

·     Application Development

A critical component of the project life cycle is the Systems Development Life Cycle (SDLC). The SDLC is the structured methodology that identifies all of the key activities, deliverables, and milestones associated with an application development project. Staff will understand the major components of the SDLC and its phases including planning, analysis, design, and implementation.

 

·     Technology Procurement 

Organization’s are constantly faced with the need to procure technology resources whether fixed assets or professional services. The procurement of technology products or services is mired in the statutory requirements of the State bid laws and contract procedures. Staff is   faced with the need to develop solicitation instruments, unbiased and justifiable evaluation criteria, and vendor contracts that protect the organization’s interest. Staff will understand the basic structure of the State’s bid laws, the difference between product and professional service procurements, the difference between an Invitation for Bid (ITB) and a Request for Proposal (RFP), the appropriate evaluation criteria and methodologies for both, and the critical components of any technology service contract.

·     Service Delivery

The primary mission of any technology organization is to provide technology services that meet the expectations of their customers or clients. Technology organizations often lack the service oriented culture and processes to be successful in that mission. Staff will understand the roles that leadership, planning, process improvement, organizational structure, knowledge and skills, and measurement contribute to their success as a service organization.

  ·   Performance Measurement

Becoming a successful service-oriented organization requires the development of meaningful metrics and procedures to gauge the quality of service to the customer. Metrics must reflect the needs of the customers and provide some quantitative method of measuring customer satisfaction. Staff will understand what defines a good metric, how to measure customer satisfaction, the importance of customer feedback, and the linkage to planning and performance.

 

 

The Center for Advanced Technologies has extensive experience in the management of complex information technology projects. Members of the Center staff have over 40 years of experience in the field of information technology and understand the broad scope of challenges that face an IT organization on a daily in the strategic management of technology. Contact us at 334.244.3090 and one of our consultants will be happy to assist you. You may also reach us through our email address at info@cat.aum.edu or through our website at www.cat.aum.edu