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Dictatorship and Diplomacy; The Campus Politics of Successful IT ProjectsUtah State University – Logan, Utah 84322
Dictatorship & Diplomacy
The Campus Politics of Successful IT Projects
Copyright Rory J. Weaver 2002. This work is the intellectual property of the author. Permission is granted for this material to be shared for non-commercial, educational purposes, provided that this copyright statement appears on the reproduced materials and notice is given that the copying is by permission of the author. To disseminate otherwise or to republish requires written permission from the author.
Dictatorship and Diplomacy; The Campus Politics of Successful IT ProjectsUtah State University – Logan, Utah 84322
Dr. Barbara WhiteVice President for
Information Technology and Chief Information Officer
Rory J. WeaverAssistant to the CIO
Dictatorship and Diplomacy; The Campus Politics of Successful IT ProjectsUtah State University – Logan, Utah 84322
And the Problem is:
Leadership Styles
IT Opinions
Campus Politics
!! Budgets !!
Committees Ceaseless Debate
This is not Sports…
We have Fighting. Torture. Revenge…
Dictatorship and Diplomacy; The Campus Politics of Successful IT ProjectsUtah State University – Logan, Utah 84322
Ingredients of Projects
Dictatorship and Diplomacy; The Campus Politics of Successful IT ProjectsUtah State University – Logan, Utah 84322
And the Solution Is:
Learn to Identify the
‘Success / Failure’ Indicators
Stop the debates and get the job done!
Understanding campus politics can make the difference between success and failure.
Dictatorship and Diplomacy; The Campus Politics of Successful IT ProjectsUtah State University – Logan, Utah 84322
What are Success / Failure
Indicators?
Dictatorship and Diplomacy; The Campus Politics of Successful IT ProjectsUtah State University – Logan, Utah 84322
Indicator #2
Indicator #3 Indicator #4
The Big Picture
Opinion vs Knowledge
The Golden Rule
Fair Play
Indicator #1
Dictatorship and Diplomacy; The Campus Politics of Successful IT ProjectsUtah State University – Logan, Utah 84322
How to IdentifySuccess / Failure
Indicators
Dictatorship and Diplomacy; The Campus Politics of Successful IT ProjectsUtah State University – Logan, Utah 84322
Indicator #1
How ‘Big’ is The Big Picture
Enterprise Wide
The Big Picture
College Only
Departmental
Short termLong term
Temporary
Permanent Noble Cause Bluff
“Is It True Love or an MLT”
“What’s so Important…”
Dictatorship and Diplomacy; The Campus Politics of Successful IT ProjectsUtah State University – Logan, Utah 84322
True Love
A Most Noble Cause (or an MLT?)
Dictatorship and Diplomacy; The Campus Politics of Successful IT ProjectsUtah State University – Logan, Utah 84322
Indicator #1
The Big Picture
Not who is right, but what is right – for the institution.
Case Study
The USU Portal Project
Communication is Key!
Dictatorship and Diplomacy; The Campus Politics of Successful IT ProjectsUtah State University – Logan, Utah 84322
Quick History
President Hires Another VP for …
CIO convenes Portal Committee
Committee Examines Issues – Recommend Solution
New VP takes exception
CIO Clarifies Recommendation
New VP Responds: ‘You’re Wrong. I’m Right. Do It My Way! I’m New’
Dictatorship and Diplomacy; The Campus Politics of Successful IT ProjectsUtah State University – Logan, Utah 84322
Email Thread 1----- Original Message -----
From: Non AttendeeTo: New VP
New VP,The most recent Portal committee meeting was held yesterday and here is the review of that meeting:…NA.
Dictatorship and Diplomacy; The Campus Politics of Successful IT ProjectsUtah State University – Logan, Utah 84322
Email Thread 2
From: New VPTo: NA
cc: CIO
NA,Portals are marketing and customer service functions. Portals are not for the tech staff…NewVP.
Dictatorship and Diplomacy; The Campus Politics of Successful IT ProjectsUtah State University – Logan, Utah 84322
Email Thread 3From: CIOReply To: NewVP
NewVP,Please see my "take", on all of this per the message that ‘NA’ sent. It is my understanding that ‘NA’ was not at the meeting… There appears to be some confusion…Thanks.CIO
Dictatorship and Diplomacy; The Campus Politics of Successful IT ProjectsUtah State University – Logan, Utah 84322
Email Thread 4
From: NewVPReply To: CIO
CIO,This is all screwed up. I forwarded to you ‘NA's email with my responses. In your response you combined my responses and ‘NA’s email together into statements never said.NewVP
Dictatorship and Diplomacy; The Campus Politics of Successful IT ProjectsUtah State University – Logan, Utah 84322
Email Thread 5From: CIOTo: NewVP, NA, & Attendee
Please accept my apology per any misinterpretation; I was simply trying to clarify "where we are“. It was not my intent to cause more confusion....although apparently I did. Again, my apology. CIO.
Dictatorship and Diplomacy; The Campus Politics of Successful IT ProjectsUtah State University – Logan, Utah 84322
Indicator #2
Opinion vs. Knowledge
Are you a politician or a technician?
What technology to use (or vendor)
How to apply chosen technology
Know what you’re talking about.
“I don’t think it means what you think it means.”
Dictatorship and Diplomacy; The Campus Politics of Successful IT ProjectsUtah State University – Logan, Utah 84322
“Inconceivable!”“You keep using that word. I do not think it
means what you think it means.”
Dictatorship and Diplomacy; The Campus Politics of Successful IT ProjectsUtah State University – Logan, Utah 84322
Indicator #2
Opinion vs. Knowledge
Are you a politician or a technician?
Case Study
WIRELESS IMPLEMENTATION
Know what you’re talking about.
Dictatorship and Diplomacy; The Campus Politics of Successful IT ProjectsUtah State University – Logan, Utah 84322
Wireless Opinions
The Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) has formally approved the 802.16 global standard,…
VnuNet.com, Dec. 13, 2001
A group of technology leaders say they are building standardized specifications for writing mobile Internet applications. BEA Systems, Borland Software, Hewlett-Packard, IBM, Oracle, and Sun Microsystems are backing Nokia Corp.'s open mobile architecture,…
Information Week, Dec. 19, 2001
Dictatorship and Diplomacy; The Campus Politics of Successful IT ProjectsUtah State University – Logan, Utah 84322
Opinion/Knowledge Hierarchy
Tech Bent Student Employees
Dept. System Admins
Secretaries et.al.
Dept. Guru
Dean / Dept.Hd.Legal Issues Safety Issues
Dictatorship and Diplomacy; The Campus Politics of Successful IT ProjectsUtah State University – Logan, Utah 84322
OSI Network Model
Dictatorship and Diplomacy; The Campus Politics of Successful IT ProjectsUtah State University – Logan, Utah 84322
Indicator #3
The Golden Rule
“He who has the gold… Rules!”
Gold = Dictatorship
No Gold = Diplomacy
Gold / No Gold <> Success
Dictatorship and Diplomacy; The Campus Politics of Successful IT ProjectsUtah State University – Logan, Utah 84322
Indicator #3
The Golden Rule
Case Study
The USU Portal Project
Dictatorship and Diplomacy; The Campus Politics of Successful IT ProjectsUtah State University – Logan, Utah 84322
Sequence of Events
CIO Convenes Portal Committee
Committee Examines Issues
The President says “Reconsider”
Committee Re-examines Issues
Recommend Solution
Dictatorship and Diplomacy; The Campus Politics of Successful IT ProjectsUtah State University – Logan, Utah 84322
President says ‘Reconsider’
Politician or Technician
The President has the final word.
The recommended solution was too costly in several ways –
Up Front Costs
Ongoing Maintenance
Human Capital Requirements
Dictatorship and Diplomacy; The Campus Politics of Successful IT ProjectsUtah State University – Logan, Utah 84322
Indicator #4
Fair Play
No hidden agendas.
No soapboxes.
Honest, Genuine, Respectful, Issues oriented collaboration.
“I know something you don’t know…”
Dictatorship and Diplomacy; The Campus Politics of Successful IT ProjectsUtah State University – Logan, Utah 84322
“I know something you don’t know…”
Dictatorship and Diplomacy; The Campus Politics of Successful IT ProjectsUtah State University – Logan, Utah 84322
Indicator #4
Fair Play
Case Study
The USU Data Warehouse Project
Dictatorship and Diplomacy; The Campus Politics of Successful IT ProjectsUtah State University – Logan, Utah 84322
The Former President’s Project
President Appoints ‘Favorite Son’ to Council
CIO Convenes DW Advisory Council
Council Examines Issues – Propose Solutions
Council Moves Forward in Spite of ‘FS’
Result: Award Winning Product
‘Favorite Son’ Vetoes ‘Everything’
Dictatorship and Diplomacy; The Campus Politics of Successful IT ProjectsUtah State University – Logan, Utah 84322
Conclusion
Lessons Learned and Take Home Points
• Get ALL the Facts
• Get High Level Commitment
• Do it Right – The First Time
• Involve Anyone/Everyone Affected
• Repent and Forgive
Kiss each other and live ‘Happily Ever After’
Dictatorship and Diplomacy; The Campus Politics of Successful IT ProjectsUtah State University – Logan, Utah 84322
It’s ‘kissing’ again. You don’t want to hear that...
Dictatorship and Diplomacy; The Campus Politics of Successful IT ProjectsUtah State University – Logan, Utah 84322
The End
(Except for Q & A)