Several times during July, I met with business owners and managers who were facing really big dilemmas. They were concerned about getting the results they desired from Information Technology.
I spent a ton of time discussing the issues with these really smart dudes. They continued to present the objectives of their organizations to me and how technological processes could help them reach those goals. They brought up efficiency, MRP, ERP, sales process, cost control, risk issues, security, software development, and managing all of this technical stuff.
The Real Issue: Technology Management, Not Technology Itself
As I listened and contemplated all of the frustration that had been expressed, it was clear to me that the real issue was Technology Management. You see, most small businesses just can’t afford to carry all of the payroll and training costs required to address all of the various proficiency areas of Information Technology.
Technology is complicated. How can one or two people be proficient in every area of technology?
My advice to my friends in need was pretty simple - you need a professional team. There is no way a one or two man show can effectively handle everything that technology throws at you.
Just managing the change in what is happening today can be a full time job!
Each of the five discipline areas of IT Management needs professional people just to have a hope of getting the desired results:
1) Technology Strategy
2) Network Administration
3) Centralized Services
4) Help Desk/Reactive Support
5) Project/Architecture Services
No Surprise - IT Is Complicated
So after discussing everything over several cups of coffee, we came to the conclusion that IT is complicated…funny, that’s right where we started…But in the end, plans were made and everyone was clear on what it would take to get the desired results.
If you spend the time defining what you want and chatting with advisors that understand Total IT Delivery, you can get the results you desire. It just takes a different perspective and vision to see how to get there.
Questions? I'm happy to chat at (909) 481-4368 any time.
