Navigating IT Department Loss: Strategies for Businesses
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Understanding IT's Role in Organizations
IT departments play a crucial role in maintaining the technological backbone of an organization. The CIO or IT Director is often responsible for communicating and educating staff about the rationale behind various IT decisions. These decisions are not made in isolation; they involve thorough collaboration and assessment from the business perspective. While some initiatives may seem superfluous, they are usually well-justified. IT teams are often inundated with tasks and do not seek to take on additional, unnecessary responsibilities. Therefore, any IT projects being undertaken have typically undergone extensive evaluation.
The Importance of Collaboration
With a clearer understanding of IT's responsibilities, it’s essential to recognize that there may be business initiatives that the IT department might oppose. This often relates to budget constraints or maintenance responsibilities. When internal collaboration falters, the IT department may have no choice but to withdraw support for a specific product. For instance, if the finance team pursues a system independently and engages a vendor for custom integrations without IT's involvement, they may later find themselves saying, "Now you maintain it."
In such scenarios, the IT department must assertively, yet diplomatically, communicate that they currently lack the necessary personnel to manage this new responsibility and will require additional hiring. This request often prompts a difficult conversation regarding budget approvals. Furthermore, IT should recommend that the finance team secure a maintenance agreement with the vendor who developed the customization, as the IT team will not be able to support this software adequately. Emphasizing the need for cybersecurity updates is also vital; neglecting this could lead to vulnerabilities and potential breaches.
While it may seem as though IT is resisting collaboration, the reality is far more complex. IT professionals are inherently problem solvers, and when faced with challenges, their instinct is to find solutions. However, this can lead to burnout within the team. Mutual respect and collaboration are essential. If IT is expected to support a project, they should be involved from the outset. Otherwise, be prepared for the possibility of losing your IT department.
About the Author
Dino Cajic is the CEO of MyAutoSystem and currently serves as the Head of IT at Absolute Biotech, which encompasses several companies including LSBio, Absolute Antibody, and others. With a B.S. in Computer Science and a minor in Biology, he brings over a decade of experience in software engineering, focusing on enterprise-level applications and research-based software development. You can connect with him through his website or LinkedIn, follow him on Instagram, or subscribe to his Medium publication.
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