Comments on: The Quiet Force of IT http://tao-of-it.com/2009/06/15/the-quiet-force-of-it/ Helping IT Leaders Optimize, Align and Grow Mon, 30 Nov 2009 23:09:24 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Chris Curran http://tao-of-it.com/2009/06/15/the-quiet-force-of-it/comment-page-1/#comment-52 Chris Curran Wed, 22 Jul 2009 14:51:56 +0000 http://tao-of-living.com/?p=411#comment-52 I agree that many IT organizations have taken the back seat for way too long. But, like Faith, I advocate a more proactive and collaborative path. For example, I believe that by using techniques to engage the business in helping them *design* their future in business terms, IT can be much more productive and valued. One technique we call business architecture design and is summarized here: http://www.ciodashboard.com/it-management/cio-cant-do-more-with-less/ This will take some time and skill development on the part of IT which is not easy in organizations where IT has been focused on saying yes to every request. I agree that many IT organizations have taken the back seat for way too long. But, like Faith, I advocate a more proactive and collaborative path. For example, I believe that by using techniques to engage the business in helping them *design* their future in business terms, IT can be much more productive and valued. One technique we call business architecture design and is summarized here:

http://www.ciodashboard.com/it-management/cio-cant-do-more-with-less/

This will take some time and skill development on the part of IT which is not easy in organizations where IT has been focused on saying yes to every request.

]]> By: Business-IT Alignment, A Twisted Tale | The CIO Assistant's Blog http://tao-of-it.com/2009/06/15/the-quiet-force-of-it/comment-page-1/#comment-51 Business-IT Alignment, A Twisted Tale | The CIO Assistant's Blog Wed, 08 Jul 2009 21:34:39 +0000 http://tao-of-living.com/?p=411#comment-51 [...] What do you think? Am I reading it correctly or does my anti-sensajournalism get the better of me? But before answering the questions, please read the entire article. Aside from the title/subtitle/teaser aberration, the advices from Dobb and Devine are solid. And the absence of their “clarification” once again proves my point that IT is a Quiet Bunch. [...] [...] What do you think? Am I reading it correctly or does my anti-sensajournalism get the better of me? But before answering the questions, please read the entire article. Aside from the title/subtitle/teaser aberration, the advices from Dobb and Devine are solid. And the absence of their “clarification” once again proves my point that IT is a Quiet Bunch. [...]

]]> By: Twitted by PeterKretzman http://tao-of-it.com/2009/06/15/the-quiet-force-of-it/comment-page-1/#comment-50 Twitted by PeterKretzman Sat, 27 Jun 2009 00:16:57 +0000 http://tao-of-living.com/?p=411#comment-50 [...] This post was Twitted by PeterKretzman [...] [...] This post was Twitted by PeterKretzman [...]

]]> By: Ginger http://tao-of-it.com/2009/06/15/the-quiet-force-of-it/comment-page-1/#comment-49 Ginger Fri, 26 Jun 2009 18:11:55 +0000 http://tao-of-living.com/?p=411#comment-49 It too am an IT guru. I don't know about the others but I feel a sense of pride whenever I am called “geek”, “dork”, or “nerd”. It too am an IT guru. I don’t know about the others but I feel a sense of pride whenever I am called “geek”, “dork”, or “nerd”.

]]> By: long http://tao-of-it.com/2009/06/15/the-quiet-force-of-it/comment-page-1/#comment-48 long Fri, 26 Jun 2009 13:42:18 +0000 http://tao-of-living.com/?p=411#comment-48 Faith, Thank you for your taking the time to stop by and provide a great and insightful comment. I agree with you that we should strive for Tolerance, Understanding, Collaboration ... but to be effective, we need a level playing field. When the main thing I see in the trade press is how IT is not aligned or does not create value, all attributed to some surveys or discussions with business leaders, I can't help but wonder about the fair treatment that IT people deserve. Faith,
Thank you for your taking the time to stop by and provide a great and insightful comment. I agree with you that we should strive for Tolerance, Understanding, Collaboration … but to be effective, we need a level playing field. When the main thing I see in the trade press is how IT is not aligned or does not create value, all attributed to some surveys or discussions with business leaders, I can’t help but wonder about the fair treatment that IT people deserve.

]]> By: Faith Fuqua-Purvis http://tao-of-it.com/2009/06/15/the-quiet-force-of-it/comment-page-1/#comment-47 Faith Fuqua-Purvis Fri, 26 Jun 2009 13:07:29 +0000 http://tao-of-living.com/?p=411#comment-47 A very interesting post. Definately a Call to Arms. My caution is to do so in a positive and collaborative manner to ensure a productive and not destructive movement. In too much of society and business I observe a "me/us" vs. "thee/them" mentality that gets in the way of honest and open dialogs and useful collaborations. I personally like the geeks, dork, nerds, and bean counters within organizations. I like to think not of the negative aspect of these labels but what strengths they can represent. Used car salesmen, I don't like the implication of that one...slimy is the term that comes to mind. ** Geeks & Nerds - They are smart people. ** Dorks - They aren't concerned with just social things, they focus on things that matter - not just "looking good". ** Bean Counters - They are good with Math and have the patience for this activity. IT individuals have much to contribute. Some understand business, others do not. Find your personal strength and the strengths which you bring to your company. Listen with an intent to understand not just respond. Focus on understanding the strengths that others bring too. There are hardworking, honest, tolerant, and fair minded people in most if not all parts of the organization. Find those individuals. Develop those relationships. Have an open dialog. Being a left and right brained individual who is both creative and structured/analytical I see the value of both. I hear the IT bashing, the HR bashing, the Marketing bashing etc. I believe that all the "finger pointing" going on within the government and by the media is encouraging this to occur within companies too. Stop the finger pointing. There are always multiple sides to a situation. No one side has all the information or complete understanding. Work to find a solution together. Focus on the future. My Call to Arms is for Tolerance, Understanding, Collaboration, and a WE mentality. Let the whole be greater than the sum of the parts. A very interesting post. Definately a Call to Arms. My caution is to do so in a positive and collaborative manner to ensure a productive and not destructive movement. In too much of society and business I observe a “me/us” vs. “thee/them” mentality that gets in the way of honest and open dialogs and useful collaborations.

I personally like the geeks, dork, nerds, and bean counters within organizations. I like to think not of the negative aspect of these labels but what strengths they can represent. Used car salesmen, I don’t like the implication of that one…slimy is the term that comes to mind.
** Geeks & Nerds – They are smart people.
** Dorks – They aren’t concerned with just social things, they focus on things that matter – not just “looking good”.
** Bean Counters – They are good with Math and have the patience for this activity.

IT individuals have much to contribute. Some understand business, others do not. Find your personal strength and the strengths which you bring to your company. Listen with an intent to understand not just respond. Focus on understanding the strengths that others bring too. There are hardworking, honest, tolerant, and fair minded people in most if not all parts of the organization. Find those individuals. Develop those relationships. Have an open dialog.

Being a left and right brained individual who is both creative and structured/analytical I see the value of both. I hear the IT bashing, the HR bashing, the Marketing bashing etc. I believe that all the “finger pointing” going on within the government and by the media is encouraging this to occur within companies too.

Stop the finger pointing. There are always multiple sides to a situation. No one side has all the information or complete understanding. Work to find a solution together. Focus on the future.

My Call to Arms is for Tolerance, Understanding, Collaboration, and a WE mentality. Let the whole be greater than the sum of the parts.

]]> By: long http://tao-of-it.com/2009/06/15/the-quiet-force-of-it/comment-page-1/#comment-46 long Sun, 21 Jun 2009 17:41:50 +0000 http://tao-of-living.com/?p=411#comment-46 In my humble opinion, I like to see more IT Leaders like you to read the article and spread the word. Somewhere, someone would take the call and form a movement for a balanced voice. We have all the tools and means to do it, just need a few intrepid and recognized leaders to start the ball rolling. In my humble opinion, I like to see more IT Leaders like you to read the article and spread the word. Somewhere, someone would take the call and form a movement for a balanced voice. We have all the tools and means to do it, just need a few intrepid and recognized leaders to start the ball rolling.

]]> By: Arun Manansingh http://tao-of-it.com/2009/06/15/the-quiet-force-of-it/comment-page-1/#comment-45 Arun Manansingh Sat, 20 Jun 2009 13:00:16 +0000 http://tao-of-living.com/?p=411#comment-45 I like this post. But how do you propose we make our voices heard? I am all for the call the arms but how do we show our frustration? That would be a nice post. I like this post. But how do you propose we make our voices heard? I am all for the call the arms but how do we show our frustration? That would be a nice post.

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