Insight into it managers
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The document summarizes findings from interviews with 20 IT managers in the UK. It discusses how IT managers challenge stereotypes that they are introverted, live with their mothers, and only exist to answer IT questions. While they aim to understand business and see the big picture, IT managers feel underappreciated and invisible except when systems fail. They find excitement in impactful projects but get frustrated by demanding users, communication barriers, and expectations to know everything. The document suggests how to better support IT managers by helping them feel recognized, strategic, and able to make business differences through technology.
Insight into it managers
- 1. Insights into the lives of IT Managers Findings from a BT UK study in 2008 20 in-depth interviews Thomas Miles, Planning Director, Lavender*, Aug 2010
- 2. IT Managers live in a shadow of the stereotype No-one wants to be a typical IT guy They do not live at home with their mum They are not introverted. They can easily work with non-IT people They do not exist to answer IT questions “The guys all at work do assume you are a particular character with particular knowledge and lifestyle”
- 3. IT Managers live in a shadow of the stereotype They are able to No-one wants to be a understand the business typical IT guy & see the big picture They do not live at home with their mum They are not introverted. They can easily work with non-IT people They do not exist to answer IT questions “The guys all at work do assume you are a particular character with particular knowledge and lifestyle”
- 4. IT Managers live in a shadow of the stereotype They are able to No-one wants to be a understand the business typical IT guy & see the big picture They do not live at home with their mum They are not introverted. They can easily work with non-IT people They do not exist to answer IT questions “The guys all at work do assume you are a particular character with particular knowledge and lifestyle”
- 5. Dogged by issues of status & contribution “I kind of do all the stuff silently in the “I sometimes wonder why I am here at background so updates to servers I do at all ..why wasn’t I invited to the company re- weekends and out of hours and it has no launch?” effect on anybody. Until it doesn’t work!”
- 6. Dogged by issues of status & contribution “I kind of do all the stuff silently in the “I sometimes wonder why I am here at background so updates to servers I do at all ..why wasn’t I invited to the company re- weekends and out of hours and it has no launch?” effect on anybody. Until it doesn’t work!” Sole responsibility for keeping the engine running
- 7. Dogged by issues of status & contribution “I kind of do all the stuff silently in the “I sometimes wonder why I am here at background so updates to servers I do at all ..why wasn’t I invited to the company re- weekends and out of hours and it has no launch?” effect on anybody. Until it doesn’t work!” Sole responsibility for keeping the engine running Invisible until things go wrong
- 8. Dogged by issues of status & contribution “I kind of do all the stuff silently in the “I sometimes wonder why I am here at background so updates to servers I do at all ..why wasn’t I invited to the company re- weekends and out of hours and it has no launch?” effect on anybody. Until it doesn’t work!” Sole responsibility for keeping the engine running Invisible until things go wrong Don’t always get the recognition they deserve
- 9. But no-ones lives the on-demand culture more “You would not expect a “At home and a text from criminal lawyer to know all the MD saying the email about business law, but in isn’t working..do I get no IT you are expected to peace from the office?” know it all.”
- 10. But no-ones lives the on-demand culture more 24/7 Uptime “You would not expect a “At home and a text from criminal lawyer to know all the MD saying the email about business law, but in isn’t working..do I get no IT you are expected to peace from the office?” know it all.”
- 11. But no-ones lives the on-demand culture more 24/7 Uptime Instant response/fix time “You would not expect a “At home and a text from criminal lawyer to know all the MD saying the email about business law, but in isn’t working..do I get no IT you are expected to peace from the office?” know it all.”
- 12. But no-ones lives the on-demand culture more 24/7 Uptime Instant response/fix time Need to be experts in everything “You would not expect a “At home and a text from criminal lawyer to know all the MD saying the email about business law, but in isn’t working..do I get no IT you are expected to peace from the office?” know it all.”
- 13. But no-ones lives the on-demand culture more 24/7 Uptime Instant response/fix time Need to be experts in everything “You would not expect a “At home and a text from criminal lawyer to know all the MD saying the email about business law, but in isn’t working..do I get no IT you are expected to peace from the office?” know it all.” Anxiety
- 14. What excites IT Managers
- 15. What excites IT Managers Big Projects that make an impact - not a cost to the business
- 16. What excites IT Managers Big Projects that make an impact - not a cost to the business Launching servers/systems without a hitch
- 17. What excites IT Managers Big Projects that make an impact - not a cost to the business Launching servers/systems without a hitch Getting recognition from senior management that they have made a difference to the business
- 18. What excites IT Managers Big Projects that make an impact - not a cost to the business Launching servers/systems without a hitch Getting recognition from senior management that they have made a difference to the business Users who say ‘thanks’ I just enjoy making a difference… being part of the way the whole business changes is the good thing about working for a small company… you grow with the company
- 19. Frustrations
- 20. Frustrations Demanding end users “Certain users think that they are the only person in the company… I said give me 5 minutes and I will come back to you, then about 2 minutes later I get an email from the same person, saying I am still waiting…”
- 21. Frustrations Demanding end users Dealing with idiots “Certain users think that they are the only person in the company… I said give me 5 minutes and I will come back “I’m constantly amazed by the amount of people who to you, then about 2 minutes later I get an email from can’t put a cable into the back of their computer.” the same person, saying I am still waiting…”
- 22. Frustrations Demanding end users Dealing with idiots “Certain users think that they are the only person in the company… I said give me 5 minutes and I will come back “I’m constantly amazed by the amount of people who to you, then about 2 minutes later I get an email from can’t put a cable into the back of their computer.” the same person, saying I am still waiting…” “Language Barriers” “It is hard sometimes trying to explain to an end user why something has gone wrong or why it will take a longer time than they want to fix it. They understand so little of what actually goes on underneath and it is really hard to explain it in layman's terms.”
- 23. What they want to be doing •! Not pure techies but rather business thinkers •! Bridge between technology and the business •! Employing technology to further effectiveness •! Delivering ‘solutions’ to the business •! Using IT to increase productivity and efficiency
- 24. How to help IT Guys From - From being marginalized - Stressed - A solver of problems
- 25. How to help IT Guys From To - Calm/on top of thing - From being marginalized - To be an equal/recognised - Stressed - To make a difference to the - A solver of problems business through IT - To be strategic
- 26. Some Ideas for brands looking to connect with this audience
- 27. Some Ideas for brands looking to connect with this audience An IT campaigning group (at the least a dedicated helpline)
- 28. Some Ideas for brands looking to connect with this audience An IT campaigning IT experts to group (at the least a deal with IT dedicated helpline) experts
- 29. Some Ideas for brands looking to connect with this audience An IT campaigning IT experts to Help IT guys deal with group (at the least a deal with IT senior management dedicated helpline) experts (business courses)
- 30. Some Ideas for brands looking to connect with this audience An IT campaigning IT experts to Help IT guys deal with Involve them in IT group (at the least a deal with IT senior management proposition dedicated helpline) experts (business courses) development
- 31. Thanks