Organizational Development

This 2008 ECAR research study builds upon the work done in 2004 by ECAR in its original study of information technology leadership. The 2008 study addresses the following questions:

·         How significant a transition in leadership positions are we likely to see in the next few years?

·         How confident are IT leaders in their skills, and how effective are their leadership styles?

·         How is the position of IT leader viewed by those who might aspire to it?

·         Is higher education doing all it can to foster a strong pipeline of future leaders?

·         Do changes in the generational composition of the IT workforce present new challenges for leaders?

·         How concerned are IT leaders with the prospect of a future shortage of skilled IT workers?

This 2008 ECAR research study builds upon the work done in 2004 by ECAR in its original study of information technology leadership. The 2008 study addresses the following questions:

·         How significant a transition in leadership positions are we likely to see in the next few years?

·         How confident are IT leaders in their skills, and how effective are their leadership styles?

·         How is the position of IT leader viewed by those who might aspire to it?

·         Is higher education doing all it can to foster a strong pipeline of future leaders?

·         Do changes in the generational composition of the IT workforce present new challenges for leaders?

·         How concerned are IT leaders with the prospect of a future shortage of skilled IT workers?

This document presents the key findings of the ECAR study, Leading the IT Workforce in Higher Education, by Philip J. Goldstein. The study builds upon the ECAR work done in 2004 in its original study of information technology leadership. The 2008 study addresses the following questions:

·         How significant a transition in leadership positions are we likely to see in the next few years?

·         How confident are IT leaders in their skills, and how effective are their leadership styles?

·         How is the position of IT leader viewed by those who might aspire to it?

·         Is higher education doing all it can to foster a strong pipeline of future leaders?

·         Do changes in the generational composition of the IT workforce present new challenges for leaders?

·         How concerned are IT leaders with the prospect of a future shortage of skilled IT workers?

This ECAR roadmap synthesizes the important issues and recommended actions drawn from the 2008 ECAR research study, Leading the IT Workforce in Higher Education, by Philip J. Goldstein. The study builds upon the ECAR work done in 2004 in its original study of information technology leadership. The 2008 study addresses the following questions:

·         How significant a transition in leadership positions are we likely to see in the next few years?

·         How confident are IT leaders in their skills, and how effective are their leadership styles?

·         How is the position of IT leader viewed by those who might aspire to it?

·         Is higher education doing all it can to foster a strong pipeline of future leaders?

·         Do changes in the generational composition of the IT workforce present new challenges for leaders?

·         How concerned are IT leaders with the prospect of a future shortage of skilled IT workers?

Skidmore's CTO wanted to create a professional development experience for the IT organization that focused on "organizational effectiveness." In response, we created a simulation of an external IT review and asked IT staff to take a hard look at the issues facing the IT organization at the fictitious Highhopes College.

Simulating an external department review at the imaginary Highhopes College gave IT staff at Skidmore College a very real opportunity for professional development.

Those of us in the world of higher education technology services find ourselves entwined with change. Our role usually involves facilitating change across the campus community. We force change on others, but do we embrace it ourselves? This presentation will propose fundamental strategies IT departments can employ to improve their employee climate.