General Information
Open systems, interoperable systems, client/server systems...these are
not only changing the rules for hardware and software, they are
changing the paradigm for management as well. The central question for
IT managers on campus is how to minimize risks while optimizing
rewards when developing systems for these new models.
Getting started--What types of application projects have you found
best--or worst--for cutting your teeth on client/server? What
implementation strategies have you used successfully?
Reality check--Where have the new technologies produced the most
benefit on your campus? How has reality compared with expectation?
Where have you seen new costs and where have there been savings?
Justification--Which infrastructure investments have turned out to be
most important to your institution? Which have been most difficult to
justify, implement, or use?
Anticipating problems--What have you found to be the critical issues
for success, and what aspects have been most troublesome? Which
aspects of your client/server environment and technology are mature
enough to rely on, and which need close attention? How have you dealt
with system-to-system interoperability?
Cultural changes--Which management and service strategies have not
carried forward well into this new environment? How are management
and service in the new environment different? What new organizations
and team approaches have been necessary? How have you addressed
administrative systems issues?
In retrospect--What would you change if you had it to do over again?