Always wanted to throw off that anorak image? Now you can, with the
help of a new book and a little cartoon character called Martin,
writes Mark Lewis
Much of the computing press has been advocating new skills for
the IT manager based on an understanding of business, people and
corporate politics.
Until now, IT managers who have wanted to work on those skills
have had little to guide them. Corporate Politics for IT Managers
fills that crucial gap.
Corporate Politics for IT Managers is a book about management,
written specifically for IT managers.
The book deals directly with the frustrations felt by many IT
managers who believe they are not being listened to.
IT is recognised in almost all organisations as important, but
many IT managers feel personally undervalued. Their departments
work long, hard hours but are also often rated poorly by users.
The credibility of the IT department is based on perceptions
rather than detailed performance data and is influenced more by its
relationship management and political adeptness than its ability to
deliver a tangible product or service.
But IT professionals often construe political behaviour as being
manipulative and unscrupulous. The consequence is either avoidance
or confrontation.
Politics can be ambiguous and unpredictable. Competence in
politics requires intuitive and discretionary behaviour for which
there are no right answers, and where decisions are based on
ethical and moral considerations.
This territory is unfamiliar to many IT people, and an arena for
which they have had little or no preparation. This book addresses
these issues and guides readers in enhancing their own political
adeptness, business acumen and interpersonal skills to become
"streetwise" and achieve collaborative "win-win" outcomes.
Part one of the book is dedicated to an understanding of the
nature of the problem and tries to answer the age-old question,
"Why hasn't IT delivered on its promises?"
Chatham and Patching believe the answer does not lie in the
technology or systems, or in the use of information. They believe
it is about the styles and behaviours of many of the people in IT.
Here they introduce the concept of the "stereotypical" IT
person.
Part two puts more meat on the bones. It looks at the workings
of the IT function, its systems and processes, style and behaviours
but - and here's the rub - through the eyes of its customers our
cynical and difficult-to-please users.
Part three provides some alternative ways to think about IT
services. This often means turning the problem on its head. Part of
the challenge for IT managers is to avoid increasing levels of
service by working harder, and instead address directly the
perceptions of service levels in the eyes of users. This approach
is backed up by many examples and case studies.
In part four the finer arts of becoming streetwise in today's
organisational community are addressed. This is where the IT
manager can find real insights which emerge from the complementary
backgrounds and expertise of the two authors.
One author - Dr Robina Chatham - has spent 14 years as an IT
professional, culminating in the position of IT director. She is
now working in the field of psychology and management. The other
author - Keith Patching - is a specialist in social anthropology.
For the past 10 years he has used this understanding of people in a
management development context.
Both authors are members of faculty at the Cranfield School of
Management, where they apply the methods they preach in this book
with practising IT managers.
To illustrate their points, Chatham and Patching have created
the cartoon strip, "Martin and Terminal One".
Martin is a caricature of a stereotypical IT manager, and
Terminal One is his best friend and confidant.
Martin goes on a journey as the book progresses. He begins his
journey as an intelligent, hardworking, well-meaning, but
politically naive, kind of guy and gradually develops his people
skills, political adeptness and business acumen until, at the end
of the book, he has become "streetwise" and is the hero of the
day.
- K Patching, Dr R Chatham, Corporate Politics for IT Managers,
is part of the Computer Weekly Professional Series,
published by Butterworth Heinemann and comes out in June, priced
£24.99.
Reading it will change your life
Having read this book you will be able to:
- Increase your effectiveness as a leader
- Deal with organisational politics
- Communicate effectively with non-technical people
- Promote and market your IT function
- Set a clear direction for IT within your organisation
- Enhance your reputation as a senior business manager, and,
above all
- Stop doing the things that are getting in the way of your
success