Small Enterprise SituAction: A CIO Assesses the Structure of the IT Team

Good IT leaders are supported by great IT teams. Take the opportunity to reassess the makeup and capabilities of the team.

Situation: An Info-Tech member recently joined a new organization. He is excited about the opportunity because his previous employer had a very operational view of IT. Finally, he has a role as a CIO with a seat at the executive table. One of his first goals is to assess the capabilities and makeup of his new IT team.

Complication: His new C-level colleagues are very excited about the potential strategic value of IT and are keen to work with the new CIO. Unfortunately, the IT department isn’t in great shape due to a curious mixture of underinvestment and strategically important things and a pattern of chronic overspend on core infrastructure. The new CIO has to assess his new department.

One of his first goals is to get a handle on the capabilities of his new team.

Recommendations

• The First 100 Days As CIO. The new CIO has to get up to speed quickly. The first 100 days are a crucial time. Info-Tech’s blueprint provides guidance on important first steps. Relevant tools include:
  • The First 100 Days As CIO Playbook (PowerPoint)
  • Organizational Catalog (PowerPoint)
  • Organizational Culture Questionnaire (Word)
• Conduct an IT Staffing Assessment. Info-Tech's staffing diagnostic enables IT leaders to determine if operations are in-line with industry benchmarks. Variables include staffing levels, cost, seniority, span of control, and effort spent on different IT functions. Ask your account manager about our benchmarks and about assessing your own staffing levels.
• Redesign Your IT Organizational Structure. Making changes to the organizational structure is always a challenge. This blueprint provides succinct guidance on making the appropriate changes and communicating those changes to the entire organization.
  • Organizational Design Communications Deck (PowerPoint)
  • Operating Models and Capability Definition List (PowerPoint)
  • Organizational Design RACI Chart (Excel)
  • Work Unit Reference Structures (Visio)
• Implement Effective Employee Development Planning. A new organizational structure often requires new skills and additional professional development. This blueprint enables IT leaders to work with their colleagues in HR to assess appropriate competencies and create effective career development ladders.
  • IT Competency Library (Excel)
  • Leadership Competencies Workbook (Excel)
  • Individual Competency Development Plan (Word)
  • IT Employee Career Development Workbook (Word)
  • Role Play Coaching Scenarios (Word)
• Build a Strategic Workforce Plan. IT departments have to adapt to accommodate changes in strategy and environment. A crucial component of overall IT strategic planning is the workforce plan.
  • IT Strategic Workforce Planning Project Plan Template (Excel)
  • Workforce Planning Workbook (Excel)
• Build and Deliver an Optimized IT Update Presentation. Ultimately, staffing and personnel changes will have an impact on the entire organization. These changes need to be communicated to business stakeholders and senior leadership. Tools and templates that are relevant to this blueprint include:
  • IT Update Stakeholder Interview Guide (Word)
  • IT Metrics Prioritization Tool (Excel)
  • IT Update Open Issues Tracking Tool (Excel)

Bottom Line

Info-Tech’s blueprints and tools are valuable starting points for getting IT leaders up to speed quickly with their strategic-staffing responsibilities.

---

Want to Know More?

• Strategically Recruit and Retain More Women in IT
• Build the Business by Building an Infrastructure Roadmap
• Standardize the Service Desk