Definition of all "all-rounder":An all-rounder is a cricketer who regularly performs well at both batting and bowling. How it is related to IT?
Well, for long time administrators were developed to became experts in one area (databases, UNIX platforms, backup, archiving, networking or Microsoft products). After 10+ years those people became religious about their job and vendor they know. They block any change or progress and often create hostile environment in Data center group. In most cases they did't share their knowledge and nobody knew what are they doing. Stop This!
Think of person that is skilled in more techniques and technologies. About person that can accept changes and can develop itself in different directions.
For new employee be very aware and ask smart questions on interview. Examples are: "How you feel about new technologies?", "What is you position in case of technology (or vendor) change?" etc. Trust me, from some people you will get straight forward answers like "In case of change vendor (is most cases CISCO experts) I'll change my job." So be very carefull when hiring new administartor.
In existing group you have to expand competences for persons. Communicate that you are going to do changes. First ask them for interest and preferences in other technology areas. You need motivated persons so try to fulfill wishes. Second start to train them. Example could be that Oracle DBA go to AIX UNIX course and vice verse. Start to delegate simple tasks from different area. Agree in advanced what is level of expertise (or tasks) that can do independent and time to achive that. Regularly check the progress. In long term you will win!
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This is creative space for managers where you can find advices and tips how to run successful CIO career. Every post is based on 10+ years of running IT departments in challenging environment.
Tuesday, 25 January 2011
Thursday, 13 January 2011
What CIO should do in first month on new job!
That is interesting topics. Usually there is two options, you can be promoted in-house or you are coming from outside. My opinion is that there is no different.
First what you should do is talk to Management board or shareholders and try to understand what is important for them. Try to understand why they change previous CIO. Are they want to change something or want continuity.
Second talk to your new managers. By the book approach will be to run SWAT analysis. Don't underestimate SWAT. This is opportunity for managers to present themselves and for you to understand dependencies. SWAT analysis will deliver tasks as outcome. Prioritize tasks and group them in short and long term. Within tasks look at all aspects of organization: people, infrastructure and processes.
Third but most important is to introduce yourself to your coworkers. In following posts I'll explain in more details how this presentation should look like but in general it should consist of your work history and experience, things that are important to you and what are your expectations from others.
In communication be transparent, more listen then talk in that period. Set control mechanism (somebody like to call it KPI's) for your managers. In that way you will be able to track progress.
This are instructions for so called normal situation. If you jump in middle of crises you should act based on commands. Prepare execution plan, communicate it to all and start to execute. Be sure that end point is realistic and reachable in sense period.
Strong personalities have their own plan but if you follow this instructions you will achieve your goal.
Diagram: What CIO should do in first month on new job!
First what you should do is talk to Management board or shareholders and try to understand what is important for them. Try to understand why they change previous CIO. Are they want to change something or want continuity.
Second talk to your new managers. By the book approach will be to run SWAT analysis. Don't underestimate SWAT. This is opportunity for managers to present themselves and for you to understand dependencies. SWAT analysis will deliver tasks as outcome. Prioritize tasks and group them in short and long term. Within tasks look at all aspects of organization: people, infrastructure and processes.
Third but most important is to introduce yourself to your coworkers. In following posts I'll explain in more details how this presentation should look like but in general it should consist of your work history and experience, things that are important to you and what are your expectations from others.
In communication be transparent, more listen then talk in that period. Set control mechanism (somebody like to call it KPI's) for your managers. In that way you will be able to track progress.
This are instructions for so called normal situation. If you jump in middle of crises you should act based on commands. Prepare execution plan, communicate it to all and start to execute. Be sure that end point is realistic and reachable in sense period.
Strong personalities have their own plan but if you follow this instructions you will achieve your goal.
Diagram: What CIO should do in first month on new job!
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| What CIO should do in first month on new job! |
Sunday, 2 January 2011
How to save on backup SW licences!
I would like to share with you one CIO tip that can easily be implemented and you could save some money. Usual situation is that you have backup of file systems, system backups or database backups. By default architecture of backup systems is to put backup agent on each server you want ot backup and then configure it through backup SW application. I don't need to mention that licensing policy is to charge each agent. Each exstension requires new backup licenses. Not looking good isn't it?
Here is the tip. You have two prerequisites:
Old backup setup:
New backup setup:
Here is the tip. You have two prerequisites:
- custom made scripts that are coping backup content to backup servers
- backup server (cluster)
Old backup setup:
New backup setup:
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