IT Staffing and Documents Contributed by ECAR

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?

This research bulletin explores the methodology used by the Georgia State University Information Systems and Technology division to manage large, cross-divisional IT projects and track all IT staff time. The bulletin shares the data collection methodology and Georgia State's findings and describes a time-recording model for IT projects that can be applied at other colleges and universities.

Citation for this work: Alberts, Randall, and Karen D. Oates. “Measuring IT Staff Time at Georgia State University” (Research Bulletin, Issue 4). Boulder, CO: EDUCAUSE Center for Applied Research, 2008, available from http://www.educause.edu/ecar.

Federal law requires higher education entities to ensure that qualified students with disabilities have equal access to programs and services, including those that use information technology. In 2004, ATHEN, the Access Technologists Higher Education Network, an association of 96 professionals who are responsible for IT accessibility at their higher education institutions, conducted a study to identify current practices in staffing, procedures, funding, and policy related to IT accessibility. This bulletin presents the findings of that study and discusses the implications for higher education.

Hiring and retaining IT workers is a chronic challenge. When knowledge workers leave and must be replaced, institutions incur significant costs. Often, replacement costs far outstrip the additional compensation it would have taken to retain an employee. This Research Bulletin describes a framework for assessing the costs of IT staff turnover, including costs associated with separation, acquisition, and development.