ACM - The First Society in Computing
Special Interest Group on University and College Computing Services (SIGUCCS)
Computer Services Management Symposium
March 10, 11, and 12, 2002
Marriott Pavilion Hotel
St. Louis, Missouri
Changing Roles, Changing Rules

Session Description

Services Track, Session II
Session topic: Providing Service Through Departmental Alliances
Session presenters: Bruce Vieweg, St. Louis University
Format: Facilitated Discussion
Description:

Providing service through departmental alliances:

  1. Background
    1. Conduct a quick poll of participants -- where do "we" stand on the old Centralize versus decentralize "discussion" -- or "battle"
    2. Does it really have to be either/or?
    3. Maximize resources
    4. Maximize cultural awareness
    5. Maximize "trust"
    6. Observation: Central IT rarely has more than 1 chance to do something right; one mistake and its fate, that is "reputation" is down the drain. Departmental staff, on the other hand, are considered one of "us"; their mistakes are like my mistakes -- part of life.
  2. How many IT organizations does a University need?
  3. Considerations
    1. Administrative structure
      1. Formal
      2. Informal
    2. Communication
    3. Standards
    4. Supervision
    5. Funding
  4. One model that is working at Saint Louis University
    1. MIDSS -- Managed, Integrated, Distributed, Support Services
    2. Model description
    3. Depth/Breadth across the University
    4. Ah yes, and what about that Medical School?
    5. Funding "options"
    6. Challenges
  5. General "feelings" of the group
    1. How to start?
    2. How to maintain?
    3. How to fund?
    4. What role for standards?
    5. How about communications?
    6. Once again, how about administrative structure?
Resources: