mid level

Looking for innovation within the IT department

Mon, 09 Apr 2007 20:01:36 -0400

Conventional wisdom says that innovation comes from the top, but that's not always the case. Innovative leadership can come from the middle of the organization, and proactive CIOs look for these future leaders to move up through the ranks over time. Attributes of innovate mid-level workers include passion, the ability to see potential, leadership, creativity, fearlessness of authority, experience, energy, and, most of all, a penchant for thinking outside of the box.

Learn more about what makes a mid-level employee an innovator:
- read the article at CIO Insight

ALSO:
- read this on listening to junior employees about innovation
- this on creating processes for innovation
- this on what innovation is all about
- this on the impact of the business model on innovation
- and this on spearheading innovation through IT

IT is all about being young

Mon, 09 Oct 2006 20:01:35 -0400

Tech industry research analysts says that the next generation of IT professionals will be "versatilists," and that IT enterprises will need to attract some young, savvy tech minds in order to stay competitive. For the mid-level tech manager, that could pose some career hurdles, says Gartner Research, as companies are demanding that tech leaders be on top of emerging Web-based and interactive technologies. The trend toward "young" is also pushing more than a few CIOs out of a job, as CEOs are demanding that IT contribute to growth and not just be focused on cost-cutting.

For more on the "young" trend in IT:
-read the story at Computerworld

Getting needed business skills on staff

Tue, 08 Aug 2006 20:01:35 -0400

The big skill and staffing trend happening is the push to find tech experts who also boast business and financial skills, as understanding the business is key to making sure IT reaches good alignment with broader business goals. As one CIO relates, not only are today's tech leaders gaining business acumen, with many attaining MBA degrees and financial experience, so are mid-level tech folks such as project managers. The quest is to ensure that your IT staff has depth in both technical and business skillsets. That's why CIOs need to identify current staffers interested in the business side and support professional development efforts.

For more on getting business acumen within IT:
-read this column at Optimize

Despite value, feds aren't embracing telework

Tue, 06 Jun 2006 20:01:35 -0400

If telecommuting is going to sink in on the government level, then mid-level management has to jump on the bandwagon. While agencies see the value in having telecommuting forces and there's actually a law on the books that agencies have to offer the work option to eligible employees, there are still many federal managers who are concerned that the right security and network protection isn't in place. They feel that telecommuting should be shelved until those big issues are solved.

For more on what's holding up the Feds' telecommuting efforts:
- read this article from InfoWorld