IT Director: The art of managing a Technology and Systems Unit
Given that a little over 2 years ago we wrote about the IT professionals, known under the name of SysAdmins y DevOps, today we will dedicate this publication to the IT Professional who is supposed to be the next logical step in the area of Information and communication technologiesthat is to say "IT Director".
Keep in mind that many times, depending on the type and size of an organization and the country in question, a "IT Director", it can be named under other names. Sometimes it is usually: Manager, Boss o Director of Information Technologies in Spanish, or Chief Technology Officer (CTO) English.
Sysadmin: The Art of Being a System and Server Administrator
And in some cases, they are often associated with those in charge of the Information Systems Offices in Spanish, or Chief Information Officer (CIO) in English. However, these are and should be 2 different charges, which many times usually carry only one "IT Director" within an organization.
SysAdmins & DevOps: One step before IT Director
Many of the IT Professionals usually start within a public or private organization, either, as Computer Analysts (Computer user support technicians) or Systems Analysts (Developers / Programmers).
Then, they tend to grow and evolve into positions, such as, Network and Communications Analysts for hardware lovers, or Systems development specialists for Software lovers. Of these positions, IT Professionals from both branches tend to be System Administrators (SysAdmins) y Operations Developers (DevOps).
Finally, many tend to continue growing within their organizations or companies, jumping to positions of Supervisors or Managers of IT Groups (technicians / developers / administrators) until reaching the position of "IT Director", which is basically a position for someone with a lot of practical (real) experience in technology and management, both in the field of human and financial resources.
IT Director: Leader of a Technology and Systems Unit
IT Director: Leader of a Technology and Systems Unit
What is and what should be an IT Director?
As we said at the beginning, basically a "IT Director" is a Manager, Boss o Director of Information Technologies (Chief Technology Officer - CTO), so we will refer to the following definition of said position:
"He is a professional responsible for designing and / or developing technological systems that facilitate management and processes in the organization." Enter
"He is a professional responsible for ensuring that IT systems enable the organization to meet its goals and support its reinvention / transformation ambitions. They monitor existing IT systems to ensure minimum downtime and maximum availability, and drive the adoption of new systems and technologies to improve the organization's operations and competitive position." Enter
And to clarify why IT professionals of the position of CTO usually relate to or assume the functions of the position CIO, we will clarify the concept of the latter:
"He is a professional responsible for managing the information flows stored and systematized through software that are available for use in decision-making in an organization." Enter
"He is a professional responsible for the information technology systems of the company at the process level and from the planning point of view. The CIO analyzes what benefits the company can derive from new technologies, identify which ones interest the company the most, and evaluate its performance. It focuses on improving the efficiency of internal processes in order to ensure effective communication and keep the organization running efficiently and productively." Enter
Qualities and skills to be an outstanding IT professional in that position
Once clear, which is a "IT Director" o CTOIt only remains to end with a brief and good summary of your ideal qualities and skills that will make you successful in your duties.
General
Among the most general we can widely mention the following:
- Be a good leader (more than a good boss): For all the IT Team that will be in charge with different functions, capacities and limitations, which you should try to know in depth, in order to support them effectively, instead of just requiring them to meet the goals. For this, it is important to have excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
- Know in depth the organization, its business model, objectives and goals: In order to visualize, maintain and foresee the ideal technological platform that should correspond to each time of the organization, to keep it at the technological forefront in its field (field). For this, it is important to be able to have excellent goal visualization, problem solving and decision making skills.
- Do more and delegate more: In order to know how to successfully carry out a good number of existing and under construction projects, while effectively relying on each of its work groups without being overwhelmed by the size or quantity of the managed projects. Advise and guide the team, instead of doing the work of others or having to do excessive supervision. For this, it is important to have excellent organization and work time management skills.
Specific
Among the more specific we can briefly mention the following:
- Know and keep up to date regarding technological innovation and all the IT legal regulations, both national and international.
- Implement and ensure the success of new technologies, such as, Robust business applications (ERP, CRM, among others), Web 2.0 Technologies, Cloud Computing, Big Data, Deep Learning and Artificial Intelligence, among many others, such as Marketing digital and E-business.
- Strengthen and consolidate the IT Security of the organization (infrastructure, processes, data) through the most current and robust IT measures possible to implement.
- Possess extensive knowledge of computer systems, equipment, networks and software products, in general, but especially those managed by the organization.
From all this it should be clear that a good "IT Director" must be the result of an IT Professional who has or should have solid knowledge and experiences in the tech industry, good technical knowledge from your previous IT positions held, and good skills and knowledge in the management (management / planning) of human, financial and technological resources.
IT Director: Pro Free Software, Open Source and GNU / Linux
And of course, from our point of view, a good "IT Director" must necessarily know how to assess the use and implementation of the Free Software, Open Source and GNU / Linux within your organization. Carrying out measures such as:
- The creation of an Office of Open Source Programs (Open Source Program Office - OSPO)
- Promote the development and internal use of free and open tools, especially GNU / Linux Operating Systems, in all those jobs where it can satisfactorily replace Windows and MacOS, both for cost savings and computer security.
- The design, creation and sale of IT products that respect the privacy of their users and do not misuse or misuse their information.
Summary
We hope this "useful little post" on the charge of «Director TI», and how to be a good professional in this position, which many times depending on the organization tends to have fewer or more functions than others, but in general is in charge of the technological management of the same to achieve the business goals; is of great interest and utility, for the entire «Comunidad de Software Libre y Código Abierto» and of great contribution to the diffusion of the wonderful, gigantic and growing ecosystem of applications of «GNU/Linux».
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