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Enhance your IT leadership capabilities by focusing on business influences, technology department services, and upcoming trends in the industry. Stay current with evolving skill sets, leadership roles, and effective project management practices. Learn about traditional IT skill sets and evolving practice support consultants. Surround yourself with knowledgeable individuals, conduct regular check points, and engage in ongoing training to stay ahead in the dynamic IT landscape.
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Keeping Up With TechnologyEvolving Your IT LeadershipKnowledge and CapabilitiesDave CunninghamShareholder, Baker Robbins & Companydcunningham@brco.com
Business InfluencesTechnology Department ServicesTechnology Leadership
Focus on the Business Influences and the Technology Department Services
Business Influences on Legal IT • MDPs (multi-disciplinary practices) • MPTs (multi-practice teams) • Cross-office Teams • Mergers and Acquisitions • Knowledge Management • Portals • Cost Containment
Upcoming Influences • Supply Chain Management • Services ROI • E-Business Strategies • Seamless online/offline experience Sound like GE 5 years ago?
IT Leadership Benchmarks • Corporations • International Accounting Firms • Some U.K. Law Firms • Some U.S. Law Firms
Types of IT Organizations • Infrastructure and Staff Churning • Tactical and Practical • Network + Consulting • Executive / Client Focused
Basic Pillars of IT Effectiveness • Operational Integrity • User Support and Training • Communications/Managed Expectations • IT Staff Skill and Effectiveness Mgmt • Project Management • Vendor Management • Planning and Budgeting
Advanced Pillars of IT Effectiveness • Practice Support • ‘Quality/Integrity of Information’ Mgmt • Value Management • Risk Management
Traditional IT Skill Sets • Server and PC Technicians • Help Desk • Application Support • Managers
Traditional Server/PC Help Desk App Support Managers Evolving Practice Support Consultants Developers Project Managers Security/Disaster Recovery Facilities Business Analysts Information/Process Mgmt Knowledge Mgmt Evolving Skill Sets
Leadership Roles • Executive Director • Partner-in-Charge of Technology • Technology Committee • e-Business Team • Practice Leaders • Committee Leaders: Library, New Business, Recruiting, etc.
Technology Staff Mgmt • Role • From support to business liaison • From reactive to proactive • Level of Involvement • Reporting Relationships • Peer Relationships
Keeping Current • Have a broad context • Surround yourself with good people • Build-in check points
1. Do you have Context? First, look backwards! Look around. Then, look ahead. Examples: • Looking backwards: VAX to NT • Looking around: Other industries
Understanding Business Issues • David Maister (www.davidmaister.com) • Richard Susskind • Vault.com • Forbes and CIO Magazines • American Productivity and Quality Center (www.apqc.com)
Keeping Current on Firm Issues • Executive Meetings • Casual Lunches • IT/Attorney Briefings • Tech Committee Agendas
Keeping Current on Products • Downplay the role of a product • Don’t let salespeople intimidate • Leverage briefings • Software/Hardware Vendor Briefings • Consultant Briefings • Internal cross-training
Training • Information Management • Bill Inmon • Knowledge Management • Project Management Institute
Training • Practice Support Consultants • Developers • Project Managers • Security/Disaster Recovery • Facilities • Business Analysts • Information/Process Mgmt • Knowledge Mgmt
2. Surround Yourself with Good People Leveraging the Brains and Experience of Others • Hire and train well • Leverage vendors properly • Keep involved throughout the firm • Keep involved in the industry
3. Ensure Checkpoints • User Surveys • Client Surveys • Peer Assessments • Technology Assessments and Benchmarks • Strategic Planning
Follow-up • Links to favorite books on business and culture management issues • Follow-up questions Dave Cunningham Baker Robbins & Company 713.840.0510 dcunningham@brco.com