Technology Services

End of This Era...

2008-08-18T04:34:00.000-07:00

After one year, three months and fifteen days......The time has arrived that I've decided to no longer publish to this Blog. While numbers of the "readership" have remained steady, it's always difficult to determine if anyone is receiving any value from the Blog. It's important to me to provide value, so I'm making a decision now to move on from this particular Blog. It's undecided as to whether or not I'll develop another Blog in an effort to reach out and share my thoughts along similar lines to this one...

I appreciate those of you who took the time to read and especially to those who made the effort to provide comments both on this Blog site, but also and perhaps especially those comments shared -- in person. Of most importance to me was actually seeing a few of my thoughts/ideas take root. It becomes obvious pretty quickly those of you who approach things such as this with an open mind and those of you who are ripe for new ideas and new approaches. I appreciate you!

I stated in more than one Blog post that things in our IT group are and were going to change. Stay tuned folks, more change looms on the horizon... I'm very excited about these developments and firmly believe they get us closer to "having the right people in the right seats on the bus" and in turn position us for helping move Conservation forward from a technology perspective!

Thx again for you time, efforts, and I pray that each of you have gleaned something from these ramblings in the past that will help move Conservation and YOU forward...

TAFN

Is Your Thinking...current?

2008-08-11T05:39:00.000-07:00

Must read.

Stretch Yourself...

2008-08-07T18:44:00.001-07:00

Wisdom can reveal itself in many ways and from many walks.... Consider this--

"Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, all is ineffectiveness. Concerning all acts of initiative and creation there is one elementary truth, the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, rising in one's favor all manner of unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance which no man could have dreamed would have come his way.

I have learned deep respect for one of Goethe's couplets: "Whatever you can do, or dream you can do, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it!'"

-William Hutchinson Murray

The Scottish Himalayan Expedition

No doubt, to some of you....the above makes perfect sense... YOU are exactly what we need to move this Agency forward. We need you...we need your thoughts, ideas, motivation....your DREAMS! The sky is the limit...step up and be bold.

TAFN

Leadership - "Character vs Skills"

2008-08-04T08:07:00.000-07:00

Leadership....that very word conjures up many, many different thoughts from everyone of us. Give that word some thought....take a few minutes, right here, right now and think about what that word means to you. Determine your definition of the word...define what this word means to you. I believe eventually if you do think about it...your definition will boil down to attributes related to character traits or skill set.

A recent article I ran across found here gives a pretty healthy description and frankly some well intentioned advice on the topic. While the article may not be for everyone...as no doubt we all know someone might take exception to the Christian references...so be it. I believe what is stated and this is...my blog. So for those of you brave enough to read it...I think there is some perspective there that is worth considering....

So, for those of you who did read...now what do you think? Has your definition of Leadership changed? Do you have a different perspective of what Leadership is? Perhaps your perspective has changed and perhaps it hasn't...it doesn't matter. What I do think matters is that you are exposed to it..the thoughts..the perspective offered. After all, none of us can have too much information in order to make good sound decisions and plot the best course.

What does this have to do with Technical Services that this blog is supposed to be about?? Well, frankly, if I even have to answer that question for you....then you are indeed on the "wrong bus."

Peace!
TAFN

Is Motivation Your Problem or Mine?

2008-07-30T07:42:00.000-07:00

Recent exposure to a Carnegie Mellon University Lecture Series (Journeys) has me thinking...and asking several questions. Questions that not only affect me personally and professionally, but also questions and thoughts about the qualities of people that I'd like to have on staff. One particular lecture, “Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams” by Randy Pausch, really hit home with me.

The lecture and subsequent book talks of celebrating the dreams we all strive to make realities. It urged me to think about my dreams (goals) and how those dreams have helped shaped me into the professional that I am today. I'd urge all of you that have the time to listen in on Randy's lecture (via the above link) to do so. It's truly a thoughtful, articulate, moving presentation. My hope is that it will challenge you to think BACK and thus in turn think FORWARD about who you are, what you are, and where you are heading. A significant point here is that your motivation is important.

Your motivation is what defines you...in every aspect of your life; personal AND professional. I believe that your dreams/goals motivate you to be who you are. My question to you would be: Are you who you want to be right now? I would also offer that whether you are...who you want to be right now is evident to those around you. Your work ethic, your initiative, and your motivation gives signals of whether or not you are who and where you want to be. Your work will reflect that.

Without getting any more philosophical than I already have....I want to leave you with two distinct thoughts/quotes from Mr Pausch that I felt really defined some things:
1) "Brick walls are there for a reason: they let us prove how badly we want things." and
2) On the topic of critique/criticism and direction: "When you are screwing up and nobody is saying anything to you anymore---it means they've given up on you." So, in essence, view input/critique as beneficial...that mere fact means that someone cares enough about you to offer that guidance. (paradigm shift...!)

Again, if you're inclined and the least bit interested, give the video a look-see...I believe it to be worth your time.

TAFN

WHEW...

2008-07-24T05:20:00.000-07:00

Wow, is this summer going by quickly or what? We are well into the month of July, knocking on the door of August already. Of course, the month of July means many things to this Agency....It's the wrapping up of loose ends from the previous fiscal year, the beginning of a new fiscal year, many vacations take place this time of year, and of course everybody's favorite---Performance Appraisal time!

I'm aware many of you have already had your review and we still have a few to go. So for those of you that have been through the process again, what did you think? Was the review process any different from previous years? Was it beneficial to you or just more of the same, putting the time in to let the boss yabber?

My thoughts and direction to the program supervisors going into this years review was to spend some extra time on the reviews. "Let's make the review more accurately reflect twelve months worth of service." I wanted us to accurately document each (or so I say some of) employees strengths AND weaknesses throughout the year. Yea...I know, "isn't that what's supposed to happen?"....but anyone who has ever filled one of those reviews out ...knows how time consuming, labor intensive they can be. So I think the typical approach is to broad brush the review just to fulfill the requirements.

But, I was hoping this year would be different...I was hoping for more depth, a more thorough critique of the abilities, accomplishments and issues we face. If we're "real" with ourselves, we have to admit that...we're not perfect....nobody is. So, I think we need to talk about those things....both the good and bad. I think it's always good to hear a few comments about the things we do right---it's good for the confidence, reinforces we're on the right track, etc....but I also believe it's equally, if not more important not to overlook the things that aren't going right or could be improved upon. Isn't that what real growth is all about?....Improvement? I'd argue that most of us can even improve on many of the things that are classified as acceptable or good in the work we do...Are you looking at your work from this perspective?

That's what I've asked your supervisor(s) to do---evaluate it from that perspective---if everyone's mark isn't in the "exceeds" category----what can they do to improve? That's not an easy thing to do....because even supervisors don't always have the right answer 100% of the time. So it takes extra work....to inquire of others, to dig deep, to ask questions.... But, I firmly believe if we are to move beyond 'good', that's what's required....a good hard honest look.

If you haven't received your review yet...you have a little time to prepare yourself for it...bring questions, ask questions, urge your boss to provide direction, guidance, support, vision, help.... They owe that to you, because I'm expecting it of everyone...so why not position yourself for success. Get out in front and be proactive in seeking that guidance, that feedback...push yourself to grow...in turn this Agency will move forward...and that I believe is a good thing for Conservation!

If you've already had your review and didn't have this type of exchange...make an appointment to get back on your Super's calendar and have a discussion like this. Find out what's wanted, needed and how you fit into it. `Cause if you don't know how you fit into the plan....then likely the plan doesn't include you...at least not very far into the future....

We have some significant challenges this year with the multitude of projects we have....BIG projects that we have. We have very short time lines for deliverable's...that's means compression...that means effort--extra effort, that means working on different projects at the same time...juggling if you will. We NEED to get more done...quicker. Communication is central to success of getting it all done. I believe creativity will play a role in helping us get some of those things done on time...don't bank of using the age old methodology to get something done. Use your heads and see if there isn't another alternative that will enable us to get the project done faster...cheaper. Those ways exist, if we're willing to be open minded and look.

Our IT section has changed over the past 12 months and I guarantee more change is coming over the next 12 months...we will certainly be paying attention to "who's on the bus and what seat they're sitting in." I don't think any rational human could actually think anything else---Look at the world---gasoline is at $3.99 per gallon, grocery prices are high, ....money is tight! So we can't expect money to be thrown into the "black hole of IT"...it won't happen. We have to position ourselves to be responsive, productive, accountable and forward thinking. That's exactly what we're trying to accomplish by working through each and every one of you!

We are trying to streamline our workforce. We are trying to position our self for current and future workloads. We are trying to be fiscally responsible in all areas of IT including personnel services. I anticipate some job description changes in the future....we need to position folks to target the pain points of the Agency. Let's face it...IT has changed and we can't expect our "traditional" staffing solution to move us into the future.

I'm excited about anticipating the changes to come. I view change as a necessary requirement to be responsive and of value. I hope you too are excited about the future and the role you will play in moving this business forward from an IT perspective. Stay tuned, stay plugged in, be informed and be productive!

TAFN

Fourth Big "R"

2008-06-16T06:12:00.000-07:00

Numerous times I/we've discussed or kicked around thoughts of how to be better, how to improve...what things we could do, do differently, or even NOT DO...to move forward. Here's another dimension that I'd urge you to consider and it's Too good not to share! (Thank you SS!)

TAFN

Falling Forward...

2008-06-09T05:55:00.001-07:00

Anyone who’s been around me much will likely acknowledge that I use the term “moving forward” when describing productivity effort and output. I’ve used that phraseology many times to describe what I consider baseline criteria for any effort we might be discussing. In fact a recent conversation I was having I stated that my determination of success isn’t always measured in the fulfilling of the predicted outcome. Sometimes success can be measured in the forward movement, my exact words, “I won’t complain that we have fallen (short of goal in this case), as long as we have fallen FORWARD.” My thinking here is that as long as we’re trying to move forward, push the envelope, and make progress then I can be satisfied many times with that effort.

But, if we fall short by sitting on our hands or because we’ve not put 100% effort into the task…well then it’s a different story. The very nature, essence-if you will, of IT is that it’s new frontier in nature. Technology is different, new, challenging…all rolled up in one. We must expect some failures along the way…new frontiers don’t have defined boundaries or a template in which to work from.

To relates some of the thoughts above to a Outdoorsman analogy….a friend told me a long time ago as we were fishing in a Bass Tournament in Arkansas and I was struggling with losing several lures in heavy cover….he said, “Jim, don’t worry about it, if you’re not losing a few lures when you fish…then you’re not fishing for the big fish in the right spots.” His point was that I should expect to lose some lures once in a while if I really wanted to catch the big fish…fish that tend to find homes in heavy cover. It’s no different for us working in the IT arena…we should fully expect some projects to be slow in developing, some projects to be late, some projects to be over-budget and even some projects to …fail. Yes, fail!

We won’t be pushing the envelope or reaching out towards new frontiers if we can guarantee success every single time. Why? Because the future holds NO GUARANTEE’s! In an effort to be creative and to find new ways to solve old problems or even ways to solve new problems, the boundaries aren’t defined. We must develop them along the way…they are unpredictable. If we are truly pushing ourselves and this Agency forward…we will experience some shortcomings…but those shortcomings could and should also serve as a learning tool for us. Any and all “failures” should be a learning experience…although the project may not be completed exactly as we had originally thought…we must learn along the way…we must be willing to adjust our plan as new ideas and new technology develops.

A new project currently underway within the Desktop Technology group currently is to automate the IT ordering process for customer. The projects original concept was to put an online ordering system in place that allows customers to order IT related goods….to automate as much as possible of the manual process(s) that we have today. Obviously the intent here is to eliminate as much of the manual effort as possible and free up value staff time---both on the IT side, but also on the customer side. We are trying to “work smarter”…to find other ways to get the work done with less staff. I believe this project is a definite step in the right direction. Will it be 100% successful and eliminate all current manual effort…likely not the first go around…in fact there could quite possible be some things that don’t work as well as we hoped for originally. But, if that turns out to be true…I will still consider it a relative success…in that “if” we fall in this endeavor…we will be falling “forward”…we will moving in the right direction.
And frankly I’m willing to suffer some failures along the way if we fail while trying to move this Agency forward from a technology perspective. I believe there is value in that…the vision and the effort. Good will come out of those failures if we are willing to support those failures as valid attempts to grow and move ahead. It’s called risk…risk vs. benefit. There is benefit in risk taking…because many times we do (and have) succeed.

We cannot be afraid of failure….not in this line of work. If you are failure phobic…then you quite likely may be in the wrong line of work. It’s best summed up by Albert Einstein: “Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new.” ..and to help frame the perspective I’d like for us to follow: quote by Thomas Edison: “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work

Keep pushing on folks….you ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE for this Agency…

Thank you!

TAFN

Post for the day....

2008-06-02T11:14:00.000-07:00

I couldn't resist putting this one out there for those that may take the time to check in here today. I'd encourage all of you to dwell on the thought for a few minutes and see if there is any insight for you in the words...

Oswald Chambers said, "The enemy of best is good."

TAFN

"Life Isn't Fair..."

2008-05-29T05:24:00.000-07:00

As adults no doubt most of you have heard one or more adage uttered from the elders in your life. Spoken thoughts or feelings such as: "You only live once.", "You get what you put into it.", "Bad things happen to good people.", or "Life isn't fair", ...and no doubt many, many others.

I'd like to focus primarily on one that weighs heavily on my heart, for more than one reason... "Life isn't fair..." This one has always seemed set apart from many of the others I've heard over my life time, distinct and separate for some reason. Life isn't fair....

Human nature I believe tends to lean towards and even dwell on the negative aspects of many things, including life in general. It's relatively easy to spot when you talk with someone. The conversation often degrades into looking and talking about the bleak side of...things. You've had those conversations before where the person you're talking with just seems to focus on the negatives... I'd ask you to think about how that makes you feel. Does it make you feel; interested? sympathetic? apathetic? Likely that will depend a great deal upon the relationship you have with the other person and the context and content of the discussion, right? And, it would have something to do with how negative the person is...how compelling the subject is to you, etc.

No doubt every one of us has had something in our life that we could speak to in terms of "Life isn't fair"....some unique pain or trauma we've suffered...or worse yet, one that someone we love greatly has suffered. I'd argue that if you live long enough you will eventually run into one of those situations and even perhaps mutter the words.

So what does that have to do with Technology? or the work we do at MDC? PLENTY, I would suggest. Your attitude, how you handle stresses, how you interpret and respond to negativity, words that come from your mouth, things you talk about in public, etc...all of those things are a reflection of you and the work you do. Because of the work we do, we are heavily involved with other people--MDC employees (customers), vendors, contractors, etc....we deal with PEOPLE...A LOT! Which in turn means, we are "on display"....for instance, more folks will likely know our Help Desk staff than the numbers of people who would know who the Conservation Agent is in Pemiscot County...it's about exposure. We as an IT group are 'exposed' often. Our work is on display for everyone to see...everyday.

So, it's not hard to make the leap from high exposure to why it's important we conduct ourselves professionally. When we run into those situations where we feel life (someone/something) is taking advantage of us or treating us unfairly...how we respond to those situations is what others see. Closer to home--paycheck--what are you saying about the check you bring home, likely something to the effect of "it's not enough." or what are you saying about the high workload you have? or what are you saying about the new technology that is being brought into this organization? Are you supportive? or are you propagating a negative component to one of those?

Perhaps your stance is that you're not being treated "fairly" or even "Life isn't fair".... Ya know, perhaps it isn't...but whose milestone is being used to measure? Probably yours, right? Humans tend to make everything about them...it's all about "me"...so anything that happens to them or around them is measured around the "me." What or how does this impact me? Is it good for me? Will it be more work for me? or What's in it for me?

"IF" I've described you...then I'd challenge you to give some thought, serious thought, about trying to change that attitude. Your representation of Conservation, of Technology, of yourself, is on display. While you may think that "Life isn't fair" to you....I can almost certainly guarantee that someone else has a bigger problem...a more significant issue they are wrestling with...guaranteed. While it may be tough to focus on the positives when it seems so many negatives are piling up against you....it's scientifically proven it helps to remain positive and upbeat. Give it a try!

While there may be some truth to "Life isn't fair".... who ever promised you it would be? I've never read anything, anywhere or heard anyone who control ALL things tell me that life WOULD BE FAIR!

Attitude, particularly a good positive attitude that is supportive of fellow workers, the organization you work for, and the decisions that are being made is important. It will help define WHO you really are. Accepting the fact that you aren't the only one making the "call", but rather a team member who can HELP make that call, or support the call...is really the measure of success, AND the milestone by which you/I will be judged in many cases. How you respond when those tough times materialize will define you...and US!

TAFN

Bus Members...

2008-05-13T05:13:00.000-07:00

From time to time I compelled....drawn to... revisit some of the Jim Collins materials (website and book). In some ways it revitalizes me...in some ways it depresses me because I feel like some folks still "just don't get it..."

Take this excerpt from article by Jim Collins titled: "Good to Great and the Social Sectors."

Yet a finding from our research [key word here folks, research...not an opinion or hypothesis] is instructive: the key variable is not how (or how much) you pay, but who you have on the bus. The comparison companies in our research—those that failed to become great—placed greater emphasis on using incentives to “motivate” otherwise unmotivated or undisciplined people. The great companies, in contrast, focused on getting and hanging on to the right people in the first place—those who are productively neurotic, those who are self-motivated and self-disciplined, those who wake up every day, compulsively driven to do the best they can because it is simply part of their DNA.

Don't get me wrong...I believe as well as most that compensation is a KEY ingredient in motivation (no, not always #1) but the point being made here is that it doesn't matter how much you pay someone who doesn't care or isn't committed...it won't make your Org. better. A core concept for success once again is ...."Getting the right people on the bus!"

I find so much satisfaction in reading and hearing that concept...frankly because I firmly believe it's central towards becoming the best you can be. If you settle for something less...well...then you are....settling for something LESS. I know of companies that believe and LIVE the "Good to Great" concepts...and honestly they are some of the finest companies I know of....hmmm, maybe something to that....

I leave you today with a question: Are you, "...productively neurotic, ...self-motivated and self-disciplined, ...(do you) wake up every day, compulsively driven to do the best (you) can because it is simply part of (your) DNA." ???

TAFN

Planning...

2008-05-07T05:31:00.001-07:00

I've been spending more time than I care too recently trying to figure out ways to stretch my family budget. Gasoline prices @ $3.49 per gallon, milk per gallon is over $4, hamburger prices are up and my latest car insurance statement reflects a 5% increase in premiums (and we're a four car family!). It seems that EVERYTHING is costing my family more. As a result, we are spending much more time consciously thinking about ways to save some money...we need every penny to help pay for something else that has gone up in price!

We are reducing the number of times we run here or there for things we "want" but may not "need." We're working hard with our children to impress upon them the need to limit vehicle trips. We've even gone as far as to actually suggest they stay at home one night per week (this was a much bigger deal to them it seems) instead of "on-the-go" seven days per week. We are combining trips to include shopping for groceries, gas fill ups, video return, etc. Yes, money has become tighter and frankly the forecast for the immediate, foreseeable future doesn't look much better for any of these costs to fall.

So in essence, my family and I are PLANNING. We are giving conscious thought to how much money is coming in and where it's going out. Not that this is a revelation for us...we've always lived on a budget---the diff here is that we seem to have much less predictability over what our costs will actually be. When gasoline jumps 5, 10 or even 22 cents per gallon over night---it's tough to predict a monthly gas account. And then there's the grocery store....I've seen prices jump 10-20% on items during the course of a few days....on a several hundred dollar per month grocery bill--that jump can really add up. We are "on the hunt" for bargains...for ways to reduce our budget impact...lower priced items...or even not buying some less important "things."

You might be saying OK Jim...you're not telling me anything new...we are doing the same exact thing! My reply is COOL!, Great!....that's what I was hoping to hear. That means you understand budget limitations...the issues with needless or foolish spending during times of budget pressure!! Carrying your personal situation over to your work now.....things are becoming tighter for MDC now too. Revenue forecast aren't looking the best...that means tighter, leaner budgets. That means we must get much smarter about how and where we invest/spend our limited resources.

Let's face it folks.....it should always be that way...but we know human nature. When money influx seems to be pretty good, our decision making usually changes...purchases may be made that during tighter/leaner times wouldn't. Well so our current and immediate future seems to point to leaner times now...so we MUST adjust our thinking and how we conduct business. No different that you do at home.

Bring your home thought process over to your job....are you looking for ways at work to reduce costs? Are you trying to save money? Is it a conscious thought process you have every day??? ...like it is at home? If it isn't...it should be! At every level in this Org. employees are expected to contribute to working smarter and that includes financial aspects too.

Certainly the work we perform in IT can contribute to helping save some Agency greenbacks too. We should working diligently towards finding and implementing technology that could provide, at minimum, the same worker productivity level (or better yet improve it), while saving money. Look at service contracts...is there a better way to get service? Should we purchase spare hardware and drop some service contracts? What about boning up on your negotiation skills....negotiate for lower prices on hardware/software and other IT costs....push vendors to give us better pricing. Drive less---no brainer! THINK! and re-think business processes...how can we gain some efficiencies?

I challenge each of you...apply some of the thinking you do at home to save some of "your" money ...to help save "our" money. Put on your thinking caps and think EFFICIENCIES, Productivity gains, better processes, streamline...etc.

I eagerly look forward to hearing and seeing the results of your focused attention at helping to "work smarter"

TAFN

Who's Driving...

2008-04-17T05:22:00.001-07:00

It's been a long dry spell as to my posting to this Blog...for a number of reasons. Numerous changes within the IT Org at MDC has kept my focus and time elsewhere...and then there's just pure laziness I guess....

Wow, lots of things new for me as I moved back into the Network Services program administration role and assumed the duties of the Telephony and Radio (Telecommunications) Program. Catching up on the projects the Network folks have been working on was dwarfed by the need to learn more about the Telecommunications efforts. Ya know, you think you have an idea as to what's going on and generally the basics of what someone is doing....I'm hear to tell you...you really DON'T until you walk in their shoes.

So now that the small re-org has taken place.... what changes for you? Initally not too much and that should have been evident for those of you that are keeping score. But, going forward, now that I've had a little time to acclimate myself to the programs---I see some definate need to re-evaluate some direction, programs, and processes we do. Anything and everything is possible....the intent of any changes of course are to improve Conservation. So that will be my focus....how can we do that. What changes can we implement that will bring about faster service, better service, improved response time, allow us to have more time for R&D, get more done, bring new technologies to bear, etc......all a focus moving forward.

I'm interested in opinions, thoughts, perspectives...general input from those involved in any "Network Services" Program. You can have a say in the future direction, but only if you're willing to speak up. I'm visiting with staffers internal to these programs and even external folks to gleen insight...I'll use those thoughts to help mold improvements down the road. So if you have something to say----I'd love to hear it. Look at it this way.....if you could change anything in this group....what would that be?

Will there be changes? You bet! When, how much, how wide spread, etc will be part of the evaluation and subsequent planning stages. But, I'm convinced that change is neeeded.

What part of that change are you going to be? Are you going to be one that is driving that change for improvements...or are you going to sit back and leave the driving to someone else? Be forewarned those who ride could incur a charge---perhaps you'll recall an older adage: "No one rides for free..." I read an article yesterday titled: "Who's Driving Quality Today?"...as I read that I thought of the work we do here....ask yourself that question---Is the answer you?

The point is...we are going to implement some change...you can either be an active partner in bringing about that change or you can be pulled along dragging, kicking, and screaming. Change is inevitable....if we're not changing, we're standing still...and I see little value in standing still.

There shall be more discussion on this topic in the coming days, weeks, months....some here on this Blog...some in person. Stay tuned, be alert, be aware, be a part....of the future.

(For the readers in the crowd...consider Driving Change )

tafn

Drought...

2008-02-28T06:43:00.000-08:00

It's been a bit of a dry spell for me contributing to this Blog site....all of you are aware, quite a bit of change going on within our own little world of IT internal to the Organization. Still not completely free from the fallout of the changes we're starting to settle in and address what needs to be addressed. Rest assured, IT Management will be paying close attention to the changes and looking for more ways in the future to streamline and drive efficiencies.

I'm truly excited about the recent changes and firmly believe these will help make Conservation better in the future..... "better" = positioned for improved responsiveness and positioned for the direction that IT is heading. i.e. the move towards integrating Voice/Data network service staff. If you're paying attention, the "real world" is merging what used to be disparate networks. VOIP is forcing the skill set of technology folks to change, to meld in some cases. Changes to unfairest, hardware/software, and building construction are being to show up in Conservation as a result of these technology advances. Changes in staff and staff responsibilities are a given if we plan to at LEAST maintain some sort of parallel with the world. Our customers are changing and we must change/adapt as a result.

The real value here I think is to anticipate that change and then position yourself (in this case IT staff and technology inside MDC) to respond. Put the right people in the right places as much in advance of the "need" as you can...and the resulting impact will be a much smoother transition for ...almost everyone. That's a challenge for many of us in the technology world...while many will profess that they embrace change and welcome it....I can tell you first hand that sometimes those words are nothing more that lip service. IT staffers as much as anyone else can be less than enthusiastic about being resilient in the face of change. Where do you fall in this spectrum?...Do you profess that change is good,--- good up and until it's change that affects you personally? Or are you one that leads the charge towards change and implementing it--even if that means you must change/adapt yourself?

The fact remains, recent changes in our IT structure will likely be the tip of the iceberg. Those of you who know me...really know me...have heard me make comments about "The Face of Change." I believe in my heart that in order for Conservation to continue to be successful in the years/generations to come...that we must be about change...in affect Conservation, specifically Missouri Conservation should be that "Face of Change."

Closer to home, we in IT can be some of those faces of change. We can model it, we can BE IT. Growth is all about change---change is innate to growth....nothing stays the same if it grows. Don't we want Conservation to grow? To be more than it is today? IT is at the forefront for helping to lead Conservation into that growth spurt---especially when it comes to communications to and with constituents, our public, our supporters. THEY are certainly changing! We can help provide the conduit for other workers in Conservation to effect change...every day!

A recent article I was reading asked this: "Does your organization [read MDC IT here] drive business change or simply just respond to it? Success in today's business environment can rely heavily on an organization's ability to seize the opportunities that arise as a result of change." Can you see the value for us (MDC IT) to be a part of this? Do you see the value in helping drive some this change, versus just responding to it?

I hope you can because I firmly believe that it's people like that who will be leading this Organization into the future...

TAFN

Not Just My Thoughts....afterall....

2008-01-28T05:20:00.000-08:00

Hmmmm....if I didn't know better I'd say this article succinctly captures many of the things I've been trying to get across in this Blog for some time now. Give it a read and some thought...then put on your red thinking cap (the one with the big N of the front---the one K.K. says stands for "knowledge") and see what application it has for you...and more importantly what it means to you and the work you perform in this Agency.

....I can't wait to see the innovation and suggestion that materialize as a result of your thought...

TAFN

Passion...

2008-01-10T06:46:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year everyone! I trust the Christmas season and New Year's holiday was as rewarding as the effort you put into making it that way!

Over the course of time recently, I've been wresting with several questions...perhaps some might call it my "mid-life crisis"...whatever the reason--I have found it to be challenging me personally and professionally. The areas of my thinking revolve around these words: Passion, Servant/Servant hood, Ownership, and Leadership. I'm convinced the longer a person lives and the more experiences they have...the more confident and retro- AND intro-spective they "can" become. I believe those who really care about making a (positive) difference and those who are willing to put in the effort to effect change go through similar personal exercises....or else what is the value?

Anyway back to my point...These four words have haunted me over the past several months. I've begun to evaluate almost everything I do in light of how I feel about those words. I'm convinced the four words reflect who and what a person is! The measure of success; the commitment of the person; the type/quality of work;... almost everything about someone is revealed if you look at how those four areas/words are viewed or demonstrated IN and BY that person.

Don't believe it....try it sometime. Evaluate someone with those four words in mind sometime and see if it doesn't give you a more clear picture of their intent, their level of commitment and even their motives! Take passion for example--I would offer that those who are truly passionate ("having, compelled by, or ruled by intense emotion or strong feeling") about something are more committed to its successful outcome. If someone cares enough or strongly enough about it, they tend to work harder to achieve it. Efforts by that person tends to be directed or targeted towards something they are passionate about. In essence they word harder, more effectively, smarter, whatever to make that passion come to be.

OK, maybe passion is easy you say....lets look at ownership then---Pick another subject...evaluate what you know about them in terms of how you see ownership demonstrated in them. Are they more willing to ensure success in something they feel they have a tie (or ownership) to? Do you see examples of this?...I believe we all have and we all do in our own lives. Those things in which we feel we have an ownership to, are the things we tend to put more emphasis on, we care about "it" more...we work harder for "it", we arrange other things around "it." Perhaps you are now able to see that many are even passionate about things they have "ownership" in.

OK, OK...maybe so...then how does servant/servant hood and leadership play out? Well we could take these two words and write a dissertation on it, but I'll try to be brief. Again from my perspective...I think you cannot truly Lead anyone or anything without being willing to be serve (be a servant) to someone/something else. The scope and scale of the ability to Lead is defined by the demonstration of the commitment to. How else can a leader (or one who desires to be) know the things that should/could be done without having submitted themselves to a higher offering at some other time. By being a servant here, I mean giving oneself to a greater cause----realizing perhaps that the world doesn't revolve around me--there is something bigger, better...maybe a greater good. In doing so, we can then recognize our place in relation to "it" and as such can then devise a plan as to how we fit into "it"...how we can then contribute...how we can move "it" forward.

Whew!! you're probably saying....some mumbo, jumbo there Jim... Maybe so, but I'd challenge you to give some thought to what've I've said (if you can understand any of it). Evaluate who and what you are in this Organization via those four words. I believe it will shed some light (insight), into your work life...and perhaps even you life in general. Are you passionate about what you do today? If not, then maybe you should rethink your priorities because if you don't care about what you're doing today, your work output will reflect it. Ask yourself---"have I ever been passionate about anything?" Identify what it was/is--what about it made you feel that way---what skill set were you using, what environment were you in, what work, what people were around you, etc, etc. I'd challenge you to find that passion---that is what is going to make you the most happy and most productive.

Maybe the way you are doing you job today isn't really rewarding for you. I'd suggest you think about the things you're passionate about see if there isn't a way to weave those into what you do at work. Perhaps you're passionate about learning, gaining new ideas, etc....then perhaps you can work in ways to read more about new or emerging technologies---or maybe you're passionate about people, getting to meet new folks, etc. Then make a tie to that and your job, find ways to interact--perhaps it's a training role you're suited for. We all know we can certainly use new ways of teaching/exposing people to technology....suggest it to your supervisor--I'll bet they'll be willing to listen to your suggests if they sense enthusiasm on your part and you can paint the picture of how it will benefit MDC.

I think in many ways, many of us are committed to the work/ideology of Conservation work---we are willing to submit ourselves to seeing those basic beliefs of clean water, wildlife resources for future generations, educating people on conservation practices, etc--whatever....we are being a servant to that mission. WE are willing to alter our lives to some extent to ensure its success. As a result we can have ownership to that success...we want Conservation and the things we do to be successful--or at least we should.

We have the perfect opportunity to bring to bear those four words in our work environment...should we choose to. If we choose not to, then I would argue it's time to consider something else to do, because you won't (can't) be as productive as someone who is.

Give it some thought...are you committed to Conservation Technology? Are you passionate about it? Are you interested in finding new ways to help those in the trenches get their work done faster, better, cheaper through the use of technology? Do you care enough to go the extra yard to find solutions, to help others find solutions...?

Believe it or not--everything I've talked about to this point reflects your heart. If your heart is in "it"...it shows, its obvious to those around you. We need people in this business who are passionate about Conservation, and/or, Technology, and/or Wildlife, and/or Forestry, and/or Fisheries. Real value is derived from those who are driven towards Conservations successes. I hope that includes you...if not, it's time for some soul searching and time to find ways that you can become more involved to the extent that you do care about the outcome...

TAFN

Complexity...

2007-12-26T04:48:00.000-08:00

I hope you enjoyed the recent Christmas Holiday and spent some quality time with those you care about.

It's a been a while since my last post and perhaps you've enjoyed that break too.... I was recently cc'd on an article that think is worth sharing with all of you. The first sentence begins:
“Complexity is the defining character of our age.” My favorite quote in the entire article was, “Complexity is a symptom of confusion, not a cause.” I'll let you read the article and formulate your own opinions on where our work, no check that...where YOUR work falls when illuminated with the thoughts contained in this article.

How do you feel about what you just read? Are you one of those that shrug it off and say, "it's just more propaganda" or after you read it, did specific thoughts come to mind and/or did you see some examples of the work being done right here in our Organization? Were you able to cite specific examples of this "confusion"...and even more importantly...did the little light bulb go off in you head and a voice screamed ah ha!...and now you're formulating a plan to reduce the confusion...??

Of course the real value in this is the latter...the ability to take what you read and apply it to your current situation and formulate a plan, is where the real value come into play. If you did this, congratulations and welcome aboard the bus. If not, there's still hope....re-read the article and try to think of specific examples in your work life where this could be true...and THEN--ask yourself-- "Is there something that I can do differently that would change (read improve here) this process."

We all have a responsibility to find ways to improve -- improve in ways that enhance our work output, enhance our deliverables, enhance communications....whatever it is. I believe one of the best ways to improve...is to continuously ask the question(s). If you ask the right questions, the answers will reveal where improvement are needed. I think the article does a good job of asking the right question.

As we finish up the last days of 2007, give substantial thought towards what and how you will make improvements in the coming year. Both, on a professional and a personal front....YOU and this Agency will be better as a result.

TAFN/PO

Christmas...Give the Gift of ....IT

2007-12-04T08:39:00.000-08:00

Well, at least I think the title is at least something that should make those who read it think… “Is this guy really thinking we should give a gift of IT?” Well yes actually I am…but perhaps not in the sense of giving in the sense that all folks might think. In this particular context…let’s let the “IT” just stand for, something used to represent a concept, thought, action, circumstance, idea, thing, person or animal….or something close to that.

Christmas season is certainly very meaningful to a multitude of people in a multitude of different ways. To some-- it represents the gift from God as in the birth of Jesus Christ into this world; to some it’s a strictly a gift giving time or a time to make big cash; to some it’s just another excuse to party; and to others it doesn’t mean much at all. Whatever your thoughts about the Christmas season, I’d ask you to consider a couple thoughts. The first is to consider giving…giving something, (preferably something positive), something that could help someone accomplish something in their lives. The second would be….just to enjoy “it.”

The gift of giving can be a motivating factor for those who enjoy watching people on the receiving end of the gift…certainly many parents could share pleasant stories of watching their children open gifts at Christmas. There seems to be a certain joy in that giving for most folks…the satisfaction of knowing (seeing in some cases) how warmly received your gift is/was. While my main point here is just to get you thinking about giving (giving of yourself in some cases) and in that mindset the gifts can be anything…my intent is also to stir up your thoughts about “what you can give.”

The “gift” you give could be anything…yes, it could be money or presents….or “it” could be something related to work. Did I just ruin it for you? I hope not, I hope you’ll read on and hear me out. Your gift this year will hopefully include some thoughts about what you could do differently at work, or perhaps even what you could do daily in your job that might be considered a “gift” by those receiving it. Maybe…your level of customer service is something that could be thought of in this case. Consider providing a level of customer service that those on the receiving end would feel like they just received the Christmas present they always wanted. Imagine how that would impact those folks…imagine if you will, how the perception of MDC IT would be affected…. Gosh, what a concept, customer feels great…and you feel good knowing what YOU did made them feel that way!!

I won’t harp on the idea of you giving a gift..back to work. I would ask that you at least consider the thought…and imagine how the workplace might change.

Regardless, I do hope that you, and those you care about, will experience the joy that this time of year can provide. I hope that you too are on the receiving end of a gift that will change your life or at least make it better…

Merry Christmas!

TAFN

Thought of the Week...

2007-11-28T07:16:00.000-08:00

Question: What is the main difference between high-performing and low performing IT organizations?

Ans: How they handle change.

Not the business of old...

2007-11-19T07:05:00.000-08:00

Hmmm...so I guess we're not the first to talk about stretching ourselves to provide value to the business.... A little read that helps paint a pretty clear picture about IT's role in an Org. and how its perceived. Guess the old ways of "just doing what you're told" are over or at least coming to the point of having no value...

TAFN

Reality Check...

2007-11-09T06:27:00.000-08:00

An comment I've heard spoken many times in a variety of situations--and typically not used in a positive context: "They think they are God's gift to ....." It appears that those who may believe they are that gift....may not be based in reality, so says prof at Cornell. An interesting read on the (in)ability to evaluate ourselves.... Perhaps there's some take home points for many of us. I know there were a few specific points that rang true for me.

Perhaps the most important take away is to be open-minded....always leave the door open a little...because there's a chance that you just may not "be all that." Recognizing that we have room for improvement is the basic building block towards improvement and growth. Without that, programs/growth/development stagnates.

TAFN

...propaganda...?

2007-11-06T05:13:00.000-08:00

Within MDC’s IT group, we believe in ability, not seniority. This means when you join us as a team member, you ultimately determine your rewards and compensation based on your performance, not years of service. We also believe you are at your best when you control your work. That’s why the Supervisory staff here focus on work flow and strategic direction. You’ll make your own decisions and you’ll plan your own day, every day. And excelling here doesn’t require a PHD degree or 20 years background in Conservation or Information Technology.

Anyone interested in making this a SOP?

TAFN

The Requirements of the Job....

2007-11-02T08:28:00.000-07:00

I often wrestle with my feelings of expectations as it relates to the work environment. Questions I often ask myself include: as a Supervisor--- Am I being realistic?.... Am I pushing too hard?....Am I doing what the company is paying me to do?.... Do I provide the tools necessary for people to do their job and then get out of the way?....Am I being fair?....and another common question I ask: Does the staff I current supervise make efforts to improve themselves....

I'd like to focus on the last question..... Certainly when staff members are hired, they are typically hired for an existing skill set. A sum of money and benefits (value) are assigned to that person and expectations to perform is expected. What's interesting to me is that over the course of time, "most" employees expect salary adjustments to the positive side with at least an annual occurrence. Why?...I would ask. Are you doing more work? Have you acquired new skill sets that add value to the employer? What is the reason you "deserve" more money?

Seems to me if the salary agreement was made based upon the perceived value you could provide at that time with your existing skill set...then salary shouldn't change...unless you change too! So, looking at it from that perspective, one could argue that unless you are doing more work, providing more value in some way, etc....then your salary should NOT change. You aren't worth anymore ....right?

Often my experience has been that the expectation from some employees is that at minimum....an annual raise in pay is expected/demanded. Is that fair to the Employer? I'd challenge that it is not....I would offer that it is an inherent responsibility of each and every employee to take it upon themselves to grow each and every year.... The old adage of "if you keep on doing what you've been doing, you'll keep getting what you've been getting," sure seems to apply in this case. No new skills or responsibilities...then no new money. ....Seems pretty simple to me.

So, I'd challenge each of us to make the effort to improve ourselves day in and day out....that is where the value to Conservation really lies. If we all remain with the same skill set as the day we were hired....then Conservation is in real trouble. Make the time to invest in yourself...find ways to improve your knowledge and your skill set....GROW. That's my expectation...the effort is yours to make....not the Agency's to force. Take responsibility for your future....today.

TAFN

Thrift--ty

2007-11-02T08:22:00.000-07:00

Attention Development Staff....ya` know anything about Thrift? The read would indicate one of the Greatest companies of recent times, Google (yes, this is a personal opinion), is interested in how it will help move their progressive company forward.

What's your take...any application/potential for our future? Any concepts to take from it that help us do things differently....better?

TAFN

How do you Grow?

2007-10-23T07:57:00.000-07:00

A recent conversation with fellow human revealed this comment from that person: "I don't have time to read that stuff." While I will take their comment and apply it over a more broad subject matter, I don't think I will degrade the original message being sent....or at least what I took away as the message being sent.

No secret to anyone who is reading this Blog that I tend to challenge readers to grow....to stretch beyond themselves and their current responsibilities. I'm fascinated by improvements, growth in this case and how we as humans can accomplish the feat. I firmly believe in order to improve...one must grow...in some form or fashion. We improve at something because we try harder, practice more, learn something new.....AHA! LEARN SOMETHING NEW....let's look at that one for a minute. How do you learn something new? Do you gain the knowledge from listening, watching, mimicking, osmosis, reading...?? I think you can gain/grow from all of those experiences, but one of the most professed way to grow is by READING.

When you read you gain insight and/or information. Assimilating that information into your life in a positive way can help you grow as a person....a professional. I tend to hear quite a bit from Technical Staffers that they "just don't have time to read..." My personal perspective is that --They don't make the time to read. I would argue that reading and/or choosing to grow is a conscious choice that each of make. Not making the effort or taking the time to stay abreast of the world around you...IMHO is a mistake.

Certainly as the situation applies to the Technical World we live/work in....it's a huge mistake and can cost greatly. That cost can range from a competitive advantage in the work place, to costing you a promoting due to an aged skill set and even to the release from work detail because of the reluctance to learn the skill set that is required. Technology is about change....how else can we stay on top of change without growing or acquiring new knowledge?

My thoughts are that everyone in the technical field should be reading (Blogs, trade mags, etc) about things that impact their work. We are hired into the work force because we have a certain skill set that was needed at that time....employees expecting those needs to never change or morph are living in a dream world---employers expect staffers to grow....to continue to add value--otherwise every job would be a term position. This world changes....a personal look at your life would point out how much things have changed over the course of your life.

The point....READ! ASK QUESTIONS! LISTEN! Improve your skill set---Technology is moving forward and if you wish to be a part of it...you should be moving forward WITH it....not being dragged along with it!

A side note: Interesting read here about the Future IT worker.

Is SOA...DOA?

2007-10-16T09:27:00.000-07:00

Wikipedia says: "Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) is an architectural design pattern that concerns itself with defining loosely-coupled relationships between producers and consumers. While it has no direct relationship with software, programming, or technology, it's often confused with an evolution of distributed computing and modular programming. There is no widely agreed upon definition of SOA other than its literal translation. It is an architecture that relies on service-orientation as its fundamental design principle. In an SOA environment independent services can be accessed without knowledge of their underlying platform implementation. These concepts can be applied to business, software and other types of producer/consumer systems.

Service Oriented Architecture ideology has been around for a time and many folks have implemented it in some form. I happen to believe that our Org. is currently positioned to benefit from it if we take the steps necessary to implement SOA.

Although SOA is typically discussed in terms of Software Development, it is NOT just a development tool. There are many other applications for SOA within a business. If your not familiar with SOA I would encourage you to do a little research on the topic. I'm dropping a slight hint here....there'll be more formal discussions on this topic in the future...and I'll be extremely interested in hearing your prospective and if you think there's an application for us.

TAFN

Parrallel?

2007-10-12T05:58:00.000-07:00

I enjoy reading and I love to hear what other's think and feel. I also like to challenge others to grow and think outside their normal realm or comfort zone. I honestly believe this "stretching" does help in the growth process. Consider the following quote from recent Gallup Management Journal .

"Rule 5: Improvement in local HumanSigma performance requires deliberate and active intervention through attention to a combination of transactional and transformational intervention activities. Measurement by itself is never enough to improve performance. Creating organizational change is hard work and requires active and disciplined intervention.

Our work has found that few companies apply the full range of intervention activities required to generate real and sustainable change. Transactional activities, such as action planning, training, and other aggressive interventions, are cyclical interventions that tend to be topical and short-term in focus and to recur regularly. They are designed to help your company do what it already does -- but do it better. Transformational activities, on the other hand, are structural interventions that focus on how companies select employees, select and promote managers, pay and evaluate employees, do succession planning, and recognize and develop employees. Transformational activities focus on creating an organizational infrastructure that supports HumanSigma. They are designed to help your company come up with new ways to do things."

While Human Sigma may not be totally relevant to the ways in which a Government Org is run, or even should be run, nonetheless I believe certain principles are relevant and worth consideration. There's no need to reinvent the wheel if it already exists....the value is in getting the wheel rolling (read implementation).

TAFN

Thought for the Day

2007-10-09T05:58:00.000-07:00

A article in the Harvard Business Review by Jim Collins and Jerry Porras says this:

"Companies that enjoy enduring success have core values and a core purpose that remain fixed while their business strategies and practices endlessly adapt to a changing world."

Many of you know I'm a "fan" of Jim Collins...mainly because he just makes SENSE. My opinion of what he writes about is that it is just common sense. It amazes me how foreign that is to some folks....guess that should tell me something, huh?

Anyway, the point he makes in the quote is so relevant to the work we do. We, at MDC, have a core value and a core purpose...WE ALL KNOW THAT...right? The challenge before us today is to alter some of our strategies and practices to meet demand and in his words "a changing world." Do these words just seem like worthless gibberish....or do they ring true and hit home with you?

Technology is all over the "change" part....that happens for (to) us and as a result we must react to it or be left behind. Sometimes we are forced into that change by our customers within Conservation, primarily I would offer because we have failed to recognize the technology opportunity for them. Regardless, the important task is that we can implement the solution effectively for them. The challenge continues to mount for IT workers in Conservation....the daily grind of maintaining systems is eroding a significant portion of our day. We find little time to perform any real Research and Development tasks....and yet I believe, that is where our true value lies in moving Conservation forward.

We must develop ways to alter our Modus Operandi for increased efficiencies. In many cases, the very act of freeing up time will provide significant value to this group. We must find ways to reduce our time commitments assigned to "maintenance" tasks....perhaps we can automate some feature of the work we do....perhaps we can offload the task....perhaps we don't even NEED to be doing the task any longer!! Ask yourself THAT question for sure. Many times I believe as humans we fall into a routine of just performing a function without even questioning if the task needs to be done at all any longer.

Allow some time this week to ponder this: Are you trying to to adapt any of your work, strategies, and/or practices to our changing world? I hope you can answer yes to that question, because that IS our future and that IS our job.

TAFN

Vision....any Value?

2007-10-08T16:49:00.000-07:00

What does the word “vision” mean to you? In part, American Heritage Dictionary defines it as: Unusual competence in discernment or perception; intelligent foresight. If any of you are doing any reading on Management or Leadership…likely you are hearing more and more about vision, (including leadership and change). The ability to move an organization (Division/Unit/Team) forward requires this core component. Are these abilities limited to top level executives or managers? I would offer….Absolutely not! If they were, then we wouldn’t be doing a very good job of preparing for the future. In fact these abilities are present in every level and every walk of life. Leaders are NOT just top level folks.

So what does this have to do with you? I believe each and every employee can contribute to moving Conservation forward in some way. Many of you possess the ability to contribute from every single level of this Organization…..should you choose to do so. How so? ….well by looking more closely at visioning and understanding what it really is….then perhaps you can make use of it in the work you have to do also….from your daily work tasks, your family planning….your life.

So what is the “right vision?” Well, a look into what the “right vision is” was revealed by Nanus (1992), he maintains that it has five characteristics:
1) attracts commitment and energizes people
2) creates meaning in people/workers lives
3) establishes a standard of excellence
4) bridges the present to the future
5) transcends the status quo.

A vision should inspire people to work to make it a reality and it should also motivate people to become a part of the team…to help reach that common goal. Do you have that? Do you expect that to come from someone else? We all have a responsibility to make efforts towards doing the absolute best job we can…in whatever position we have in this Org. If we do that…then I believe we are adding value and if we believe enough in what we do for Conservation then we can become visionary…. Visionary Leadership isn’t just something one is born with….it IS something that can be acquired. But, it takes time, commitment, dedication and EFFORT!

Can you “see” the value in using vision to improve your work?

Follow up

2007-09-24T06:06:00.000-07:00

On the heels of change....following up from the last post so to speak.

I'll share some of my thoughts and/or priorities for my work the next several months as it relates to quite a number of my past Blogs. I currently have on my white board in my office a list of at least 17 points of interest that I want to look more closely at within our group. My intent to try to flush out areas we can improve Productivity and Efficiency. I'll be asking numerous questions of staff and challenging all of you to be creative in our problem solving.

My questions and interests are based currently upon five areas (criteria) for evaluation:
1) Costs
2) Time/Labor
3) Value/ROI (to MDC)
4) Productivity
5) Efficiency

My first intent here is to "Seek First to Understand." I want to know more about the HOW of what we are doing, then move in the WHY's, then into what if's....during these discussions, I believe we can identify opportunities for improvements. The seventeen areas I'm interested in at first are: Patching, AntiVirus, Altiris, Ordering Process, Drop Ship, WAN, Technologies, Telework, Maintenance, Active Directory, FCS's, Development, Customers, Email Admin, Staffing, TelCom, Research/Development. Yes, some may overlap, but each major area has some specific info I'm looking to evaluate.

One critique all groups in the IT Section are often criticized for is our response times...to whatever our output may be. I will be looking for ways to improve that response time by staying on budget and being on time. I'm interested in this group becoming less REACTIVE and more PROACTIVE...anywhere we can. Obviously we cannot do that everywhere, but I honestly feel we can do much better...with the right planning, right processes, etc.

Perhaps the goal for us could be summed up in two words: "Re-invent IT" I want us to be much more dynamic/agile in who we are and what we do for Conservation. We need to be more nimble....quicker to react and to provide relevant solutions. I'm looking to automate any processes that we can. I want to streamline work flow where ever possible. I want us to fully investigate and utilize full features of existing software and/or hardware. I want each of us to be better at Prioritizing work....we need to see and understand the big picture of MDC. .....all of us.

I want staff to be more creative in problem solving. Give more thought as to how we can bring technology to bear for Conservation....how can we move Conservation forward from a technology perspective. I want staff to be an active component and contributor to improving all we do. If you are looking for Management to provide ALL the answers, you probably aren't the type of person I think is going to help us make the necessary improvements. Most of you are front-line, in the trenches type of people....you know your job better than anyone....HOW can we change it to make you more efficient? How can it be changed to free up some of your time for other projects? Are you doing the right things at the right time? What else do you need to do your job better?

Many more questions will be asked and I'm anxiously looking forward to hearing from each of you. I can't wait to hear the innovation, the thought processes, the excitement from each of you on how we can be a better IT group. It's oft been said, "Change is inevitable"...indeed it is, so why not be a driver of the change and help direct it towards our success.....rather than wait in the wings and have to accept something less than desirable...

I look forward to visiting with all of you and hearing your thoughts. No doubt more change is coming....

TAFN

The Face of Change

2007-09-12T05:40:00.000-07:00

What do those words mean to you? Are they merely words that have no meaning to you? Or do these words mean something significant to you….do they describe you? Do you consider yourself to be “the face of change” or an obstacle to it?

Personally I view change as good…when change is initiated with the intent to move forward, make progress, improve something then it is indeed a good thing. All too often I hear people voicing opposition to change….to ANY change whether it be for better or for worse. Too often change is viewed as a four letter word…in that it is something to be avoided or to have disdain for…

Well, in case you haven’t figured it out yet…Change is inevitable. The very nature of life itself is part of change. I ran across an article the other day and found a few interesting points in it. Portions rang true and made sense. One of the quotes in particular caused me to think: “In the face of change, the competent are helpless.” Hmmmmm, is this true and what does it mean? I’ll let you decide that for yourself.

The fact is that Information Technology type staffers have always faced change. I’ve heard some of our very own use similar words and at times it seems we wear it as a type of badge that is held up to others to profess that, “well, our jobs are always changing; therefore we accept change and can deal effectively with it…” We seem to be proud that our work is in a constant state of evolution and that is why many IT’ers like the work. I’ve heard those comments from more than one.

Well, we now have an opportunity to stand and show this Agency that we believe what we’ve stated in the past. I believe we are currently at a crossroads… from an organizational standpoint. We have three staff positions open currently and decisions need to be made on several fronts. Considerations MUST be given to: Next Gen Goals, financial, short AND long term goals, technology growth/changes, skill sets needed today AND tomorrow and areas which need improvement. ALL are thoughts that need to be considered in determining how our organizational structure should look and function.

It can be difficult to “vision” technology because of its rapid change, but we must consider where technology will be in the next few years and begin to position ourselves towards implementing that technology efficiently and effectively. I can profess to you today that the IT Management Team is committed towards trying to meet those challenges.

It is my hope that when you wake up each day and look in the mirror that you see a “face of change” reflected back to you. We need employees who are committed towards embracing positive changes and working diligently to assist in accomplishing them; whether it is through sharing their ideas or in their actions.

I am optimistic about our current position in the fact that we can make some changes today that will improve Conservation in the future. All of us should be willing to step up to the challenge...to be that “face of change!”

TAFN

"Confront the Brutal Facts..."

2007-09-06T09:39:00.000-07:00

As Jim Collins tells us in one of his 8 steps/concepts in going from a "good to great" company....it is imperative that organizations confront the facts and deal with them. One of those facts that face us is is well defined in this quote that I ran across recently:

" Technology professionals simply do not have the time and money to waste on reinventing the wheel." (Ron Haberkorn NOREX Founder & President )

All too often I think we as technology professionals waste valuable time trying to figure out the solutions to issues that have already been figured out. We provide more value when we solve issues by applying known solutions and focusing our efforts towards solving issues that do not have existing solutions for them.

Our value as IT employees is in providing technology solutions period...Frankly we DON'T gain any "bonus points" when the solution to the problem is devised in-house. We just need to provide solutions to technology issues...nobody really cares if it's our idea or whether we learned how to fix the issue from somewhere else. They just care about us getting it fixed or in providing a solution that helps them with the issue.

The takeaway? Don't be afraid to check with other resources to see if the issue you are working on has been dealt with before. If it has...you're in luck, problem solved. If not, you've only invested a very small amount of time and you can then focus you entire efforts towards devising a solution on your own.

If I have my choice over the one who THINKS they have all the answers versus the one who can FIND me all the answers.....I'll opt for the one who knows where to get answers any day....

TAFN

Quick Hits

2007-08-27T04:51:00.001-07:00

Certainly no shortage of "technology news" when you look online or at the trade mags. I ran across a couple that I thought were interesting and so I'll share.

Seems that the online word processor software technology isn't dead. I do like this concept and can't wait for it to mature more. I certainly see a number of potential applications for this Agency. As we continue to improve our infrastructure, these types of technology services may have be a viable solution. I think there are numerous opportunities moving forward to re-think the way we do software applications...and where they live.

What do you know about encryption ? Is it important? Is it relative to us? Well, encryption is important enough to the MO State Government that a new standard has been approved for desktop use. SafeBoot is the technology solution to be implement and plans are currently underway for its eventual implementation.

On another front this article ( ILL-CIO ) was interesting from a number of perspectives. His take on "thinking outside the box" was an interesting perspective....while I don't disagree with his thoughts necessarily, I also not sure I'm in the same boat completely. Read his comments and then decide for yourself.

Have a good week and remember to challenge yourself each and every day to grow....to improve....to provide the level of service that even YOU would consider exemplary.

TAFN

Are YOU Staying Current?

2007-08-21T05:15:00.000-07:00

--Google Inc. is enhancing its Google Maps service with a new Street View feature that allows you to view crisp, navigable photos of roads in nine major cities across the U.S., including San Francisco, New York, San Diego and Denver. (To see the full list, go to maps.google.com and click the Street View link on the upper-right corner.)

--Virtualization technology, which allows multiple operating systems to run different applications on a single computer, has caught the attention of IT managers for its promise to let them better manage and utilize corporate IT resources. However, warns some IT managers and security researchers, the emerging technology also makes corporate systems far more vulnerable to hackers. (http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9031738&source=NLT_AM&nlid=1)

--Microsoft and Cisco: Product Promises
The tech giants' new spirit of cooperation is promising, but CEOs Ballmer and Chambers say making the alliance work will be difficult. (http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/aug2007/tc20070820_282297.htm)

--When a Laptop Is Too Much to Lug... (http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/aug2007/tc2007087_626340.htm?chan=search)

The above are just some examples of things changing around us...that CAN and DO impact the work we do for Conservation. I've suggested in the past that all of us have a responsibility to stay in tune with Technology changes AND how those changes can and do impact what we do.

I'm planning/expecting to see many goals come trickling in for FY `08 that relate to this task. I'm anxious to see how each of you will bridge this gap between just supporting the technology to actually becoming more proactive on this front. Let's give this some serious thought and put that thought effort into some of your goals for the work year.

TAFN

Second Life...

2007-08-13T05:27:00.001-07:00

Reading some trade mag articles over the weekend and ran across one article in particular that was particularly interesting to me. The article was about one of the newest on-line experiences called "Second Life." O.K....so it's not so new to many of us who spend some time on the web, but relatively speaking it is new.

The jest of the article was two fold. First was the daily issue that IT Staffer's have trying to stay on top of technology itself and secondly the issue of trying to stay on top of employees who bring some of that new technology into the work environment--BEFORE it's enterprise ready. Examples over history were given about the types of technology that non-IT employees were eager to embrace long before the software was enterprise worthy...such as, the web, email, and IM ...just to name a few.

Second Life now appears to be catching on amongst some of the more IT savoy end users. They like the concept of using Avatars to represent themselves during virtual meetings. Some larger corporations (Toyota, IBM, Adidas) are even experimenting with the technology internal to their orgs. Second life appears to be a marriage of the younger generations idea of how to communicate effectively and use the latest technology. (another example of how the workplace will be (IS) changing.) The "virtual world meetings" are relatively easy to configure and moderately effective.

SO, what does this mean to us? Well, how many of you know of this technology's existence? How many of you have thought about it's relevance to MDC? How many of you have dismissed it? How many of you thought it has some potential application to helping move MDC forward??--if you did, have you discussed that potential with Management?

A couple take aways I think from this: 1) We have to stay current in our information and understanding of technology changes...which equals OPPORTUNITY, in my mind. 2) By staying current we can answer inquiries, we can protect the Agency's assets from renegade software by knowing what to look for, and perhaps add value if the tool makes sense to us. Many opportunities exist to provide value to our Org by utilizing technology. Most of us would agree, bleeding edge isn't necessarily the best place to be....but I think there is value in having "bleeding edge" knowledge and understanding.

Enjoy your week and make an effort to read something that will help you gain a better understanding on a new technology or one that you know little about today.

(side note---refreshing to see our Org has an official Blog now, http://blogs.mdc.mo.gov/blog/ another example of how our Org is changing in how we communicate with the world. )

TAFN

NO to Vista....

2007-08-09T06:08:00.001-07:00

Was interesting to read the other day about the decision by the Olympic Committee to use XP as their OS for the upcoming Olympics. The article cited that they required a "reliable" solution and felt that Vista just couldn't provide that yet. Having said that, they did state that PC's with Vista would be available in some of the "less secure" areas of the campus....but that the tabulations, scoring, accounting, etc would all be done on machines running XP.

Additionally, the article pointed out that wireless networking was not part of their plan either. I found that interesting....as long as wireless technology has been out, it is still not accepted completely. But, I've often said...wireless has a very viable role to play in existing facilities especially. I believe it provides for opportunities to move forward without the additional expense of hard wiring in places where that could be cost prohibitive. Wireless is not currently, the "end all, be all"....but I still believe it is narrowing that gap considerably. Security concerns, bandwidth limitations, standards, etc have all grown a great deal over the past few years....we are closing the gap.

The takeaway? The latest new technology isn't for everyone (as is the case for the Olympics) but it does have its place. Through thought processes and honest evaluations about the benefits and limitations is a must. No need to steer clear, just because it's new....but conversely, the reason for bleeding edge should be compelling also.

TAFN

Training

2007-08-08T05:34:00.000-07:00

No secret to anyone in the Technical Services Group that we have some significant projects to implement this fiscal year. In addition to just the technical challenges we must also consider the impacts to the customer. A few of our projects could impact our customers significantly....now we could discuss whether that impact is real or perceived...it really doesn't matter. Fact is, our customers will be looking to us for guidance and the "how to's."

As a result, our front line IT employees need to be pondering and planning for the eventual roll-out. Two specific projects come to mind immediately on the Desktop side: Exchange/Outlook and Office 2007. While Exchange is a just an email solution, it does have a little different look and feel than our current system. That fact will require some prep work by IT Staffers. Office `07, while just a newer version than our current product, it too has a different look and feel to it.

Part of the role we need to be playing is putting a game plan in place to also help the customer adjust quickly and smoothly to the looming changes. I'm aware some thought has been given to this "education" process already....but it is NOT complete. We have technical staff who interact with customers on a daily basis....they understand competency levels and typical issues encountered. We must have that input/suggestions/comments to ensure successful implementation. So speak up, provide your input and suggestions to ensure the projects success .

I eagerly look forward to the changes coming this fiscal year as I believe many of our projects are tied specifically towards the long term growth of this Agency. With some of these news tools in place, we are better positioned to help move the Agency forward and enhance the communication abilities both internal and externally.

TAFN

Poll

2007-08-07T05:04:00.000-07:00

You may (or may not) have noticed the little poll I put up on this Blog site. I'm wrestling with whether or not to continue this Blog. If it doesn't help you do your job better or provide you with an enhanced understanding (or relevant information) to "work related" things...then it's not meeting the goal. Think about that thought and cast your vote if you would. Better yet, and I know for many of you that you're not ready to take that step, if anyone is willing to offer up some ideas of what would add value that would be great, but that really hasn't materialized just yet. The poll will provide some answers even without specific commentary...

TAFN

Back Again...

2007-08-01T04:52:00.001-07:00

Well, I've made it back from my vacation time. I must tell you, it was a refreshing break...and thanks to those of you who asked about my time off. I appreciate your interest.

While vacationing, I had numerous opportunities to reflect on almost every aspect of my life...both personal and professional. (There is something about sitting atop the Rockies at 5:30 a.m. on a large rock overlooking the Arkansas River, facing east as the sun rises over the towering rock formations in front of you....that seem to put many things in perspective.)There are definitely some things there that I think I need to address. While I'll leave the personal things out, there are some professional things that I think other may benefit from hearing about....so over the course of time, I'll try to share a few of those things that I think should change and how I plan to go about it....of course this is an open Blog....so suggestions are always welcome.

The Integrated Data Framework (IDF) project is occupying quite a number of staffers' time presently and I don't see that going away any time soon. Integrating our data across the entire Agency is a good thing. This endeavor will allow access to up to date data from all corners of the Agency. While we may presently have such data, it is often is silos and not readily accessible. As Conservation, as a whole, grows beyond being more than just Hunting and Fishing organizations, timely/accurate data will assist in making faster more informed decisions. I can even envision a future that could include the networking of others into such a framework. Other State Agencies, other Conservation groups, etc....all in an effort to provide the latest, best information relative to the subject matter. This project is perhaps the groundwork to such a future.

-ON another note, we are short a Programmer in our Application Development group. We are hoping to fill this position with a person that embodies much of what we have been talking about here over the course of time. It's hard for State Agencies to compete salary wise with the private sector, but I feel if we can provide the other intangibles and a working environment that embraces change and rewards quality work...then we can attract the right people. Our work here is more than just writing code (in this case)....it's about Moving Conservation Forward. I'm anxious to bring the person who thinks along those lines...on board.

TAFN

Vacation

2007-07-11T05:32:00.001-07:00

I will be trying to enjoy some vacation time for a few weeks so the blogging will likely start up again the end of July....

Doctor....Come Quick!

2007-07-09T04:35:00.000-07:00

----sitting in a Physicians’ office recently and was looking around at all the devices on the desk, things near the examining table and even listening to bits and pieces of conversations in the waiting room and in the hallway. It occurred to me…..there is a lot of stuff going on in this office. I got to thinking of the tremendous responsibilities the Physicians and nurses have….how many problems they have to figure out….how they have to ask the right questions and push/pull in the right places to get the information they need to make the correct diagnoses. Even how much they have to understand their patients in order to know which questions could and should be asked and which words to use….likely they will use different words for different patients, age, sex etc.

It occurred to me that there were some similarities between IT work and the work Doctors and their staff perform. Physicians must diagnose illness by identifying symptoms….IT employees perform a similar function trying to identify technical problems. Once Physicians are comfortable with their diagnosis, they initiate a treatment process to remedy the situation. IT Technicians perform a similar role as they identify an issue and then must initiate a process to “fix” the issue. Medical professionals typically monitor a persons’ health and make recommendations to keep the body performing as intended. IT Techs also monitor the hardware and software of the Org. and make adjustments constantly to ensure systems are running at peak performance and reliability. Medical professionals must be able to communicate their intent across all age/sex/language barriers---Is the work in IT any different? I would say no. The communication about what and how is every bit as important.

I am not here to tell you that the two roles are identical in importance, they are not. Yet, there are similarities between the professions, for example: 1) The issue is not always readily apparent at the onset, 2) Solutions are not always well defined, 3) Lots of training is required to stay current and be effective, 4) Requirements of availability 24/7, 5) The nature of the work is such that being able to predict/measure work output through hours is difficult as the work is subject to what is found once initiated….etc.

Now, I would offer that IT work in some respects is more difficult than a Doctor. Consider a few of these examples: 1) Patients can tell a Physician what hurts and needs attention…hardware cannot tell the IT Technician—they must figure that out on their own. 2) The human organism really hasn’t changed much over the past several hundred years---Technology is rapidly evolving and has changed greatly over the past 20 years alone. 3) Patient treatments are typically along well defined boundaries and procedures that are proven successful---whereas technology is constantly changing and new skills are required constantly and must be developed, learned, and practiced at a rapid pace in order to even be of value.

So what’s the point? Point is, the work you do is IMPORTANT! It is difficult work that few completely understand (another tie to the Physicians) and yet is the very life blood of some orgs. You are valued and critical to the success of this Org. but you must stay current on new developments. Dinosaurs develop rapidly in this business. IT is not easy! It does require effort and intelligence and DEDICATION. Recognizing the role that IT and IT Staff play in the business process is crucial to its effective utilization… and that understanding at the IT worker level is a must have.

While you likely don’t have the MD title, the work you perform is every bit as important to the success of the business as a Doctor is to the health of a patient. Take it seriously and the value you provide to the Org. will in no way be questioned and the health of the org. will be obvious for all to see.

TAFN

Not Alone...

2007-07-03T06:19:00.000-07:00

I was reviewing some materials on IT Leadership and training opportunities and ran across a training entitled: “Meeting the Global IT Challenge” Part of the description of the content is:--“A growing body of research indicates that executives and managers often perceive that IT investments are not as efficient or effective as they could be, and IT professionals need to enhance their abilities to add value by “providing relevant business solutions.””

While the comment about Exec’s not perceiving value in some IT projects came as nothing new, the comment about IT professionals following it did. The point is that they did NOT say just CIO’s or IT Director’s or even IT Manager’s need to enhance….the comment was “IT professionals need to enhance their abilities to add value…” It’s not a one man show in that the CIO or IT Manager just isn’t looked upon as the Holy Grail any longer….the entire TEAM is expected to “add value,” specifically by providing relevant business solutions.

Perhaps I’m fond of the comment because it is exactly how I feel and somewhat to the point of other Bloggings I’ve posted here. But, the fact remains, others are espousing it too! IT must provide relevant business value…it is expected and even demanded. IT employees if they hope to be successful in the field must embrace this change and develop skills that provide that value. Gone are the days when you could just understand the technology and get it work… Now the expectation is that IT employees (not just IT Management) understand the technology and also understand the business and how to provide technology solutions to move the business forward.
It’s a thought process. It’s a maturity and growth process that frankly was inevitable. Just as more and more Conservation employees are understanding technology better and demanding its implementation…..we too as IT employees should grow and understand more about the business of Conservation and in doing that, we will be better positioned to provide value.

I believe we recognized this trend several years ago with the advent of the FCS positions. The thinking with those folks was that they would understanding technology and yet dig deeper into the work that Conservation was doing. As a result, we could provide recommendations/solutions to help them accomplish their work. So at this point, it is apparent that the entire IT GROUP must more closely model that scenario than what is being done currently. Not one aspect of IT is excluded from this need to grow and mature into more integration with the business of Conservation.

The creation of the BA positions recently also point towards this need to become more “in tune” with the business side. We’re making progress and it has been slower that I would prefer….but moving is good and moving forward is better….I’m committed to continuing to find ways to help grow staff towards being the type of IT employee that Conservation needs….and deserves.

You in?

TAFN

Destiny...

2007-07-02T04:12:00.000-07:00

Greatness is a matter of conscious choice and discipline…

2007-06-29T04:23:00.000-07:00

Well it’s the last Friday of FY ’07, which brings another fiscal year to a close. Looking back…it’s been a challenging year for many of us in IT. Many things have been done to help Conservation employees do their jobs: from repairing broken computers to improving applications, all these tasks help Conservation employees address resource issues. You are typically unsung heroes in this fight to improve and provide for Fish, Forest, and Wildlife Management.

Not much of what you do ever makes the big news for this Org. and yet I consider technology at the very heart and soul of what this org. accomplishes on a daily basis and will only be more critical moving forward. We are like that internal organ of the human body….few (if anyone) ever see it, and yet without it the body wouldn’t/couldn’t function. Your efforts are appreciated even if rarely spoken!

As we jump right into a new Fiscal Year, the challenges only continue to mount. I think that is a good thing! The opportunity to bring new solutions to Conservation is exciting. Being a part of a Team that understands the Conservation Mission and who work hard to provide solutions to business problems is rewarding. Thank you! …and I look forward to continued success in the coming year.
----------------------------
Because I was asked….here is my “meme” (List 8 Random Facts/Habits About Me) and I will not propagate it further…
1) I was born on Thanksgiving Day….after the main meal was complete.
2) I love to weight train, (provides an opp for competition with nobody as a loser).
3) I love NHRA type races, especially Funny Cars.
4) I moved to MO from Nebraska when I was 13.
5) I am James Edward the 3rd….and no there were no plans to have one named the 4th.
6) My favorite meal: Roast, mashed potatoes, gravy, fresh corn, sweet rice and bread (Mom’s is the best)
7) Best car I ever owned: 69 Chevelle
8) I have no musical ability, but do have a keen ear for music (volume, pitch, harmony, etc)

TAFN

A New Dawn...

2007-06-28T05:01:00.000-07:00

New beginnings….

What’s not to like about the sound of those two words together? To most people, when they use or hear those words, it is truly a positive thing. No different in the case I will use today. I believe we are on the initial edge of a “New Beginning” within the Technical Services Group (TSG). Recent changes both programmatic and personnel wise (and with more changes promised,) have opened some doors to changing the way the TSG conducts its work.

The most recent news of a Development Staffer relocating to a work place that more closely fits his individual needs, serves as yet another opportunity to bring about some positive change. This vacant position will be re-evaluated on a larger scale to determine where and how is the best way to proceed. Rest assured that there are a number of opportunities that will present themselves during the review process of that position, from a simple refill to perhaps more creative solutions. I tend to be more excited about the “creative solutions”…but we’ll have to wait and see what appears to be the best solution. Stay tuned…

With the advent of the Team concept for Application Development, new beginnings are underway to improving work flow and delivery of product. A perfect example of how effectual this process can be is through the Ag Crop development process. The Lead Developer experienced an unplanned; extended absence…another team member was redirected to continue the work in the program to help ensure the release date was met. Even though the Lead was out for weeks…the application development continued and will certainly meet the original promised release date. THAT is a perfect example of new beginnings that pay dividends. Without that change, the application would have laid dormant until the Lead returned to resume work. I happen to believe the change is positive.

Drop shipping on the Desktop Technology side will likely add significant value and opportunity for change within this group too. Last FY years’ numbers reflect that Desktop group spent one FTE in the seat of a vehicle traveling to conduct PC replacements. That’s a lot of seat time and as you might guess…non productive time. All of the hard work that this group has put into developing a plan to drop ship PC’s to our customers and conduct remote builds/configurations will no doubt add great value. The time savings from this task alone will enable Technical Staff to focus on other projects, including R&D which is sorely needed in this Org.

Another first….CI-IT! This change brings about a method to ensure that the entire Agency’s view of what is important to writing software is in place. We are an Agency resource and focusing on smaller projects or allowing the distractions of the “squeaky wheel” detract from the work that move the entire Agency forward. Our efforts should be broad brushed and concentrated on what Leadership determines to be the most important thing to Conservation. Who wouldn’t want to be part of a project that the Agency’s Leadership says: “This is our number one priority for Conservation.” That direction will help focus our limited resource on the important things. Another good move….

I could go on for pages here talking about other new beginnings/changes that have taken place…some more subtle than others….but the point is:

Change is needed;
Change is happening and
Change will continue.

Attitude and acceptance of these changes will be crucial to our success. While change isn’t always simple or easy…it can be very beneficial. Those who have the ability to recognize the need for change and the desire to ensure its success are as one with our new direction. On the other hand, it’s easier to sit back and be critical….frankly my opinion is that is a Cowards way of doing business… Lying in wait for any new idea to jump on and criticize. I think if you will take notice and analyze this person…likely you will see that they are the ones who have no ideas of their own, they don’t offer suggestions on how to improve anything. They are almost like a cancer of sorts….feeding on the good and causing destruction in their path.

But of course we don’t have those types of folks working here, so we have the added advantage of high quality staff with a professional mentality. It’s all about the people….You reap what you sow…your efforts are rewarded to the extent of the energy you exert…the good outweighs the bad. We have much work to do in the future and many new opportunities will arise. Professionalism, high energy, commitment and support will ensure those goals are met…..for everyone.

I look forward to the new challenges that await the TSG. Yes, there will be bumps and there may even be some growth pains…but if we all focus on the goal---Which is to move Conservation forward from a Technology standpoint---then those efforts AND results will be positive.

TAFN

Facts of Life...

2007-06-27T05:00:00.000-07:00

“…sometimes, your best just ain’t good enough…” Ever heard those words? I have…and they have guided me and my actions for many years. While on the surface the quote likely sounds quite harsh and knowing that it came from my father may seem even worse. No, my father is not a harsh uncaring man, rather just the opposite.

Those words were spoken to me when I was a teenager and in the middle of a “life lesson” where I was acting, (as my Mother would say), “a little too big for my britches.” My father and I were having a discussion about some family tasks that needed to be completed before I took the family car to town. He was pointing out that I was neglecting some of the chores around the farm that I was responsible for and driving the family car required that I pull my weight too. Never missing many opportunities to open my mouth….I lashed out in true teenager style about how unfair life was to a young man, namely me. I ranted on about how hard I worked and how much effort I put into EVERYTHING I do…..I yelled at him that I was doing “the best I can…” His calm reply to me… “Well, if this is your best effort…It’s time you learned that, sometimes, your best ain’t good enough.”

Those words have stuck with me to this day….while some may interpret other meanings…I knew my Dad and I KNEW what he meant. He was dead on…as usual. Although I really didn’t know the meaning of the word back then and likely didn’t care too much…I had experienced a Paradigm Shift. The moment had arrived for my –“fundamental change in approach or assumptions.”

Those words opened my eyes to a new way of thinking…My thoughts prior to the event, were that I was doing everything I could possibly do and as such nothing more was needed ….and yet the reality was that: It wasn’t good enough for someone! Wow!! My eyes were opened! It wasn’t all about me. There were others to consider and my value wasn’t just based upon what I thought of myself. My value was measured in different terms than just my own…so just because I “thought” I was doing everything I could….in reality it didn’t appear that way to others. Hmmmm

The fundamental shift for me included the realization that I must grow even further…because it was obvious that my standards of best or good enough, etc. just wasn’t going to get it. So the process began where the value of Jim Garr wasn’t just being based upon a self perception. I realized that sometimes my view of myself was biased…no in fact it was clouded, muddied if you will by my own blindness. I wanted my efforts, as great or as slight as they may be….to be good enough. My father kindly pointed out…it’s not that way junior.

I look around today and I feel I meet people in the world who didn’t have the type of father that I did. It is obvious to me that no one taught them the same lesson in their life. Some have no clue about the need to grow…the need to stretch mind, body, and soul. They are missing a basic understanding that not everyone’s view of who and what you are is the same as yours. I believe it related to understanding a bigger picture of things….not staying in your own little shallow corner of existence. An understanding of when we think we have it all…. that is generally the first clue we are missing something.

My takeaway…never assume you are doing all you can possibly do. Look for other ways, better ways, quicker ways, less costly ways, etc. An old saying I used to use in my Collegiate Basketball days to gauge whether or not I had any more to give is:”If you left your guts on the floor, then you’ve done all you can…” If you haven’t done that…then you haven‘t given it your best effort. I often wonder how different work and family life would be if everyone put that much effort into it.

Yes, I did get to use the family car….after promising to make up for less than 100% effort.

To this day, my measure of success IS NOT based upon my criteria alone…that would be too shallow. I thank my Dad for the education to help me understand, it is bigger than me… Why would anyone settle for something less than best effort?

TAFN

Two Way Traffic...

2007-06-26T05:01:00.000-07:00

A recent jaunt to Johnson City, TN gave me ample opportunity to do some thinking on quite a number of fronts, as you might imagine. One thought that was spurred by the numerous highway construction sites we encountered on the trip. Traffic in those areas was slow and congested, typically a result on the road narrowing to one lane. But, in one particular case the traffic issue was due to One Way traffic. As I sat there hoping for a fast resolution, my thoughts drifted to good ole work.

I got to thinking about how many times in my career I’ve been exposed to situations that I’ll analogize as One Way traffic. A very basic human characteristic is that we are chronic complainers. People are almost always quick to criticize or complain about something and rarely make or take the effort to understand whatever it is any better. Rather, they will spend a great deal of effort complaining about the way things are….rather than channeling that effort into understanding why things are the way they appear….better yet….spend some time trying to positively bring about a change…or in other words---trying to COMMUNICATE.

Most of my career with this Org. has been in some time of supervisory role. Countless times exist where an employee has criticized me or the Org. because of some decision or directive. While I certainly lay no claims towards perfection or as having all of the answers, I have been employed to making decisions and setting some direction…..and as such, my efforts are geared towards that end. I thought back on some of the history and tried to identify what it was that was central to the exchange. I break my trance….traffic still a dead stop---as the one way traffic coming towards me funnels past. It occurs to me… Aha!

ONE WAY TRAFFIC! That was it….for whatever reason in many of those cases I was thinking about, was due to one way traffic. Information was exchanged in only one direction--- The other party didn’t think they had a voice, a say in the decision and was upset as a result. I challenged this thought---Hmmm, not that unusual I think—as a child, Mom and Dad direct, in grade school through high school, the instructors direct. In college, the Profs direct…in my early years with this Org. they direct….today my Super directs. At home my wife directs…etc, etc, etc…. OK so it’s not like people aren’t used to be told what to do and when to do it. So what’s the difference?

The difference in many cases is that the other party doesn’t like the decision/direction because it directly impacts them in some way. The decision, whatever it is, requires some effort from this person. (If you haven’t noticed, few folks complain about issues that don’t affect them…) As a result, they don’t like it…from this point on it’s a wrong or bad decision/direction and the complaints will start to roll. Rather than stand up and address the issue with the decision maker, most folks choose to instead just complain.

Try to see it from this perspective…When the unhappy person made decision that they disliked the decision/direction if the thought process had been…”I think I’ll ask for some time with “Jim” and ask about the (insert your issue here), problem, and see why that decision was made AND let him know why I don’t think it’s a good move…” WOW!! Epiphany material!! The decision to communicate with the other person to identify all of the factors that went into their decision and discuss it with them would likely add another perspective to the situation. Perhaps even help alleviate some concern or misperceptions.

Unfortunately, in my experience that rarely happens. I believe it takes a very mature person to arrive at that type of thought process. But, once that maturity is attained, the results can be spectacular for the company and the supervisor/employee relationship. It’s called mutual respect. No harm comes as a result of mutual respect…in fact in my experience…only positives have resulted from that type of relationship.

As the work force changes and expectations about the work environment also shift, that maturity and code of conduct will be essential. I see it more and more every day in the generation just now entering the work force. They are willing to step up and ask the questions…they are willing to ask for time to discuss issues that are relevant to them. They will have a much better understanding (and relationship) with their employer because they are willing to assume some ownership on the issue. They are willing to discuss it…to find out more…to grow. Hence this type of relationship becomes a TWO WAY traffic situation….and that is ALL GOOD.

As we work towards moving Conservation forward from a technology perspective….lets all make a vow today to communicate more often and make it of better quality….with our customers, with other staff, with our supervisors and leadership. The results will certainly be a more informed, mature workforce that is spending less time complaining about things (aka doing nothing productive) and more time focused on improving them.

My efforts at improving traffic flow?.....I encourage each and every one of you to stop in my office sometime…ask a question…try to gain (OR provide) additional perspective. If you have a situation that doesn’t make sense to you, let’s talk about it…otherwise ONE of us is sitting dead still on the Interstate of life, watching the other lane move past us…

TAFN

Sticks and Stones...

2007-06-22T04:33:00.000-07:00

Yesterday’s entry was a bit long so I’ll make an effort to keep it shorter today. It’s been a long week….and now we’re “in the short rows” and I welcome the weekend. A chance to be with family and friends, catch up around the house and recharge the brain and body.

On the radio I have often heard a commercial for a remodeling company that uses the tagline, “First impressions are instant and very difficult to change.” Wow! I thought it was quite clever and actually brutally honest. It’s one of those sayings that can be either a good thing or a not so good thing…depending upon who is saying it and in what context. I’ve thought back over this past week on some of the more “fun” issues I was privileged to have been exposed too. Some of the words are still ringing in my ears….Some of those words (and the meaning/intent) can be positive or not so positive, it’s all a matter of PERSPECTIVE …for example:
1) That’s water under the bridge…
2) Are you sure…?
3) Of course, last time we didn’t have any problems…
4) I think you’re close….
5) I don’t know you very well…
6) Sorry…

Communication and more importantly, CLEAR communication can be the difference between someone leaving with a good feeling versus a not so good feeling. As youngsters, we’ve likely all heard or perhaps used a chant that went something to the way of: “Stick and Stones will break my bones, but words will never hurt me…” Well, it might have served a purpose back then to try to bluff someone into thinking that what was being said wasn’t bothering you…but really it was. Not any different today…the words chosen can and do have a significant impact on those around us.

As technical staff some of the words we use are somewhat foreign to many people. We tend to use acronyms and IT related jargon. When people don’t understand your words, two things tend to happen…either they insert their own word(s) or thinking or they start to tune you out. Neither of which is overly positive. While in our case the use of acronyms and jargon isn’t typically meant to harm or belittle…it can be interpreted that way. Others may feel a sense of inadequacy or they may feel you are trying to “talk above them.” No one really likes that situation.

So when we communicate in any situation, think about what you want and what you have to say. Consider your audience and their position…then communicate your thought. I believe there will be less chance for misunderstanding or hard feelings.

As far as my experiences this past week…I tend to believe most of the examples I listed were harmless, but if different words or sentences had been used, likely I would have had no initial doubts. AS a now famous man has told most of us time and time again: “If you are not sick and tired of communicating, then you are not doing it enough…” Let’s make sure our communication is clear and easily understood and not open to second guessing.

TAFN

Bottom Right....

2007-06-21T05:08:00.000-07:00

Even though I knew what to expect it was still nice to get that letter in the mail this evening when I got home. A letter from the Director of the Missouri Department of Conservation….informing me that I was going to be receiving a raise in my July 31st pay check. Welcome news for me and my family!

The letter reminded me of an earlier conversation that I had with an IT Staffer about worker productivity and giving the Org. what they are paying for. Our conversation took numerous twists and turns as you might expect, but what stuck out in my mind was our dialogue about hours worked and the expectations. Somehow the conversation got to the point the question was asked, “How many hours per day is the Org. paying you for?”…I think we both agreed they were paying for a minimum of eight, (more so I believe they are paying for “whatever it takes” but, that is another point). So we tried to pick that eight hours down a little in terms of what could be the “typical” day for an employee.

We painted a scenario similar to the following: Typical work hours, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Employee walks in the building door at 7:58 a.m., makes their way to their desk, flips on the light and fires up the workaholic (their PC). AS it is booting they put their water bottle somewhere and decide to get a cup of coffee while they wait for the PC. They see their neighbor on the way to the coffee machine, say the courtesy hello and ask how the evening went with the kids. All is well and head to the java machine…..someone else is pouring coffee so I’ll squeeze in a bathroom break so they can really be focused and productive when they get back to their desk. Down with the restroom visit, grab a cup of coffee---say hey to the CIO on the way by and head back to the work space. Sit down at the desk and FINALLY the PC is waiting for log on, they log on and PC loads profile, start-up programs etc. They are ready to rock and roll for Conservation. Bottom right of the flat panel monitor says the Atomic Time is 8: 12 a.m.

Employee begins checking email and replies to a few, they check a few of the RSS news feed relating to their work and then get settled into serious work. Phone rings, it’s the kid, “Can I go to the pool with Jason today,” …..Sure kid be careful, obey the lifeguard, lock your bicycle at the pool and wear sunscreen! OK, now where was I….OH yeah, work….(bottom right says it’s 8:44 a.m.). The “work” begins in earnest now…a solid 35 minutes is spent head down, focused and getting `er done. Hmmm, what’s that feeling in my lower abdomen?....they glance at the time keep bottom right---it says 9:19 a.m….sure could use that second cup of “joe” and a quick potty break…off they go… Along the way, Charlie is in his office…a quick, polite shout out to him and they take the change to stab him a little about how poorly “his” Cardinals are playing. A little kidding and they move on to the task at hand. Finish the body functions, grab a fresh hot cup of liquid caffeine and back to work. Bottom right says 9:28 a.m. MORE work now….

They notice a few folks walk by their office door….they look bottom right….man it’s 10:00 o’clock already!! Time for my morning smoke break with the gang. They grab their smokes and head outside to the “permitted area” and inhale some carcinogens. Someone comments well, we better get back in there before the “time nazi” says something about our taking too long a break---back inside now and they sit down at their desk….bottom right says 10:19, close enough to 15 they think.

More work!...really focused this time, gettin` things done now. A few phone calls later, more PC work and one visit from the boss and they notice DANG! It’s already 11:55…I better take a quick potty break so I can get to lunch. Off to lunch they go….the Grub and Chub is really busy today so it takes a little longer than they expected, but you know what, the work ain’t goin` anywhere, it’ll be there no matter what time I get back. They finish the grub and head back to work. Sit down and begin the afternoon of chores…bottom right now says 1:14 p.m.

A meeting at 1:30 in the Conference room so they check the email quickly and reply to a couple and figure I better get to the meeting…but better visit the restroom first, it may be a long meeting. Meetings over and man it was a time waster! Back to the desk at 2:45. Check email again, that dang stuff really piles up! Cool I got one from Bobby---a quick shout out to him and confirm the plans for Friday night. A crowd shuffles past the door again….MAN it’s break time!!! Great, I’m ready for some fresh air after that boring meeting. Out they go….that cancer stick sure tastes good. Some dialogue with the others present, mostly about how fast their darn grass is growing and time to head in. They contemplate… how come breaks go so fast and work time just drags by…..?

Down at their desk and right on time…bottom right says 3:17 p.m. Back to the grind….recheck email to see if Bobby has responded and they reply to some work stuff. More work now…. They notice the room has darkened somewhat, they look over their shoulder and notice it’s darker outside….they hear a distant rumble….WHAT? the channel 8 weather goddess didn’t say anything about rain…they left their windows cracked so the heat could escape. A quick check on weather.com and sure enough a band or red is on the way. They select “map in motion” to see how quickly the storm has been moving…coming fast and looks potent. ON the way out, they announce to their friends…”rain is coming, if you’re windows are down…better get out there!” Out to the car, windows up and back inside before one drop touches the ground…Success!! They think, I better call home and see if Jason is back from the pool. They call, yes he’s home, a short visit about the scuffle in the restroom at the pool and the conversation ends. Bottom right 4:22

Martha stops by the door at 4:27 on her way home (she works flex time). She pokes her head in and asks if I’ve heard about John….NO, they say, what happened. A quick story is told about the horrible seafood incident that put John on the disable list for two days. She heads out complaining about not having her umbrella. Bottom right 4:35 p.m.

Another check of the email…crap, the boss wants to meet tomorrow at 9:00 a.m. to discuss projects---they wanted to come in a little “late” tomorrow as tonight is the poker game and usually is a long night. Oh well, suck it up….it is work. Scan the email….COOL! Bobby has replied….they read it and send a quick note back….no problem they think…it’s rare I do any “personal” stuff. They look bottom right thinking…”it has to be close to 5, this has been a long day”…sure enough the time keeper says 4:53 p.m. I better get ready to go they think….a quick potty break before the ride home, grab my stuff out of the fridge and back to my desk to shut down that dang machine that makes me work….They select the shutdown command and the last flicker bottom right says 4:58 p.m. They grab the umbrella and get out the door thinking…”I’m a couple minutes behind…I hate the traffic right at 5…”

….and the day is done! They have put in their “8”

Perhaps you’ve drudged through this long “tale” and are thinking….that’s a bunch of …..baloney. That’s horribly exaggerated and not true. If that is true and you are giving the Org. what they are paying for…they there is no issue. If you are not, now is a good time to rededicate your efforts to the job.

While the story, may be fictional….I’ll offer that it happens and without much guilt or remorse from the employee. The staffer and I further surmised that there is a mindset with “some” employees that they feel this Org. owes them….for whatever reason. Taking small liberties like in the story above, really don’t matter…”it’s only a few minutes a day…” Well those minutes add up over the course of a week, month, year…lifetime!! I read an article several months ago about worker productivity---their data showed that the MOST an employer could hope for would be a 75% worker productivity rate. Even though they are paying for 100%.....
Minutes do count and the fact is that we are being paid for a solid 8 and then some….

TAFN

Where Do You Stand....?

2007-06-20T04:07:00.000-07:00

Where do you fit in with the age old adage?
LEAD-- FOLLOW-- or GET OUT OF THE WAY

Are you doing what you can to lead? Are you putting forth the effort to demonstrate you are willing to lead....willing to make the tough decisions--even if unpopular? Making the easy call is NOT being a leader...making the ones that may be unpopular, (but none the less best for the Org.), are tough but needed. Are you willing to change "your" idea/plan to make room for better ideas? Do you allow room for negotiations...do you invite in an alternate view in order to arrive at the best answer? Or do you hold fast only to your idea? ...or

Do you follow....are you supportive of those who do are willing to lead?...or perhaps you're one that smiles and nods your head when you are around a supervisor acknowledging agreement and then head back to your work space to criticize every word that they said? Or are you one that provides the support both in word and deed that respects the word and direction of your leadership. ...or

Are you trying to get out of the way? Just buying time, hoping the issue passes without you having to break a sweat. Do you try to keep things nice and orderly in your corner of the world---don’t rock my boat. I've heard it said MORE than once---"laying low", "trying not to be noticed..." I just don’t see how that is productive, nor do I think that is what the Org is paying for.

Well I'm willing to say that I want and need two of the previously mentioned folks on my teams; well intentioned leaders and supportive followers. Anyone else has a detrimental effect on the progress of the Org.

I like Leaders---those who lead for the good of the cause. Those who are looking for ways to challenge and improve beyond where and what we are today. I favor those who are willing to make a stand because it is the RIGHT thing to do---not just because it's an easy thing to do. Positions of leadership are not easy. Frequently they may be unpopular due to decisions that may vary from popular opinion or perhaps they have made a decision that didn't make it "easy" for others. If the decision is based upon what is right, then the decision is proper. I don't expect everyone to fully understand that line of thinking....I'll tell you why.

It's in part a matter of perspective, your view of the world and the situation. Not everyone can fully comprehend, nor appreciate, the sheer magnitude of being a good Leader. Throughout my life I have been blessed with reasonably good promotions and new challenges. Each time I progressed "up the ladder" I saw things in a different light. i.e. When I first started back in 1982, my task was to mow grass, camouflage blinds, check in waterfowl hunters and manage water manipulations on ONE Conservation area. That was my world.

I took on another job that involved similar tasks, but on several areas and now required that I supervise the work of others. Wow, my eyes opened considerably--I not only had to worry about me, but now about others and their struggles. Then I moved on again to take on responsibility for people and programs for an entire District---now even more things to consider. Competing thoughts, wants, desires. I had more people to be concerned with. My world grew some more.

Next I was provided the opportunity to supervise and manage a number of Conservation Areas in several counties. Then I moved on to providing my services and oversight of 1/3 of the state. Talk about an eye opener! My view had changed...what used to be important to me locally, now had to be evaluated on a much larger scale.

Skipping ahead, now my responsibilities include management and supervisor of a number of people, programs, and projects for the entire state. My perspective has grown even more. No longer can I consider just what is important to one small area or person in the State. I must consider what is best for the entire State---make my decision based upon the "greater good"...not just what is good for one small part of it. Yep, your decisions and perspective does change--I can vouch for that. It has too...but if you haven't experienced those leaps or in some other way gained that insight....likely you will continue to view and make your decisions based upon you own little view of the world.

Now, back to the point---Leaders make the call based upon the greater good---not what is happening in a small corner of the Org or what is best for one person. It must be bigger than that. At times, those decisions may be unpopular and perhaps some cannot even comprehend why that decision would have been made to start with....but perhaps that person should expand their horizons and try to look at it from another perspective.

And of course those who are defined as followers (supporters) are a good thing too. One who follows another typically does so for two reasons: 1) no other choice and 2) because they support the direction and decision of the Leader. I want the latter on this Team. I desire those who are willing to put in the sweat equity to make the program better. We don't need robots or zombies who blindly follow along. We need THINKING supporters who will do what it takes to make us successful...AND who are willing to speak up and offer suggestions and ideas to make it even better.

As for the "get out of the way" folks....they are just that...a hindrance. A road block to success and those folks are obvious to everyone, not just the Leader(s). Their time is short lived unless they decide to get off of dead center and take a position and join the TEAM.

We have a very bright future in the IT arena within this Org. I'm excited about the future technology tools that we can and will bring to bear. But it will take committed, fully engaged, supportive followers and Leaders to bring it all together. I, for one have signed up for that challenge....What Say You?

TAFN

"The Review"

2007-06-19T05:30:00.001-07:00

It’s that time of year again! Summer vacations, end of the Fiscal Year and the …..Performance Appraisal review process. Most of the IT Supervisors have been putting some time and effort into preparing performance reviews for that past year. While many Supervisors will likely tell you that this process is laborious and time consuming it does provide an opportunity to review past accomplishments and give a hard look at the near future.

This process is always interesting to me. At times in my career, the process has reminded me quite a bit of a Psychology 101 Lab event. It’s amazing to me to learn of the “expectations” that can be a part of this exchange. If I have heard it once, I have heard this a hundred times regarding the Performance Review itself: “nothing my Supervisor said is true…” or “my supervisor only put the bad stuff in there…never the good things I do…”, “it’s such a waste of time—it means nothing…” As one of my friends typically says....Hmmmm do you really think so?

I’d like to share of my thoughts on this topic …. Having been a “supervisor” for the vast majority of my 24+ years with this organization, I do have some experience in this area.

First and foremost, this process can be extremely valuable---but only if it is taken seriously and BOTH parties approach the exchange with an OPEN mind. The annual review is not the place for dumping from either party. It should be a place to review all past accomplishments, areas where the employee has performed well and areas where an employee could make some adjustments (improvements).

Secondly: Neither party is GOD, neither is the Alpha or Omega, NOBODY is perfect. A Supervisor WILL NOT remember ALL of the “good” things you have done in the past year..And likely they will not recall all of the not so good things that were done. To expect anything different isn’t realistic. Expecting a Supervisor to not take note of areas you’ve fallen short, is unrealistic and frankly, they wouldn’t be doing their job. The same is true for the areas you’ve done well….

Third: The process itself is meant as a conduit to meaningful discussions from both directions. A formal chance to interact, share, recall…and PLAN. Don’t sit there and let the Supervisor perform a “solo”…jump in, share your thoughts…EXCHANGE information!

Fourth: A little know fact…..Supervisors are HUMAN too! As hard as it is to believe, we make mistakes too, we may not recall all the details or facts….if that’s true, bring it up. If you disagree with a rating or comment---say so…but do so in a professional respectful manner and you might be surprised at the reaction.

There are many stories I could share about my experiences giving performance reviews, some good and some not so good, but the bottom line is that I feel this tool is a valuable one to help understand where the employee stands on performing to expectations. Like it or not…we do have to measure up to something.

As the reviews are being written and rewritten to find the right words to express, it is also a time for you as the employee to devise your work objectives for the coming Fiscal Year. We have many new and exciting projects budgeted for in the coming year; Exchange and Outlook, IDF, Office 2007, Visual Studio upgrade, CMT device changes, and numerous Applications to be written, etc, etc. I’m actually excited this year to read the Goals that each of you will devise this year. I’m looking for staff to “stretch” themselves this year, challenge themselves to grow, while at the same time addressing the normal day to day operations of the IT business.

Put some thought into your Goals and Objectives (IT IS your future!) and lets prepare ourselves for a challenging and yet rewarding new Fiscal Year. Also give some thought, prepare yourself for your Performance Review and take the opportunity to make the process work as intended.

TAFN

Technical Challenges

2007-06-18T04:14:00.000-07:00

If you were asked the question: What are the top five future technical challenges that Conservation will be faced with….How would you respond? Could you respond comfortably and confidently? Likely those are expectations of your IT Leadership. Some challenges are probably obvious…those would be the easy ones to identify. I think part of the challenge in this business we’re in is NOT to let the day to day emergencies become your primary technical challenges….if they are, something is amiss.

GCN states from a recent poll that the top five future technical challenges from the government orgs were: (current challenges listed in parentheses)
1) Compliance with security directives (same)
2) Data quality (same)
3) Infrastructure & Software Security (Disaster Recovery)
4) Data Management (Infrastructure & Software Security)
5) Disaster Recovery (Data Management)

Do any of these sound familiar? They should…..I would offer that all five of the current and future challenges are very much our concerns also. Perhaps we’ve not done a good enough job of tying the work priorities/objective and budget into a short crisp word or two like the above….but our project list, budget, and work priorities certainly tie directly to this list. I’ll spell a few out with examples to prove the point:

1) Compliance with security directives: our efforts = computer and password policies, screen lockups, documentation of security and processes, etc.
2) Data quality: our efforts = redundant systems, SAN storage, bigger pipes, credential access to data, etc
3) Infrastructure & Software Security: our efforts = internal controls and documentation, “A” account controls, standardization practices, tools to evaluate our code writing, software testing personnel, etc
4) Data Management: our efforts = budget request for Centerra, discussion internal & externally re: data lifecycle management tools, etc
5) Disaster Recovery: our efforts = DR documentation created by the CIO, budget requests for DR hardware, documentation of hard/soft-ware build processes, redundant systems installed, etc.

Now I’ve only listed the first few off the top of my head…I guarantee there are many, many more examples. So what’s the point? The point I’m trying to make is that we have a pretty good IT Team in place. We are looking at the future while trying to address the current. We are addressing many of the common issues, we are looking down the road, we are being proactive when and where possible. Are we there yet…..No….but we’re not just sitting on our hands watching the world pass us by. We are trying to address immediate customer concerns, while trying to be visionary and seeing what issues lay in road ahead.

I’m encouraged to read articles like this…and to know we have solutions in place to help this Agency deal with many of them…in some cases, without our customers evening knowing it’s an issue. That’s part of the value we have by employing quality technical staff who understand the business of Conservation. Our work isn’t finished as we must continue to build upon the foundation established by others before us. We must continue to address current wants/needs in a timely fashion, but we must place even more emphasis on visioning, strategic positioning, and costing advantages that technology can bring to Conservation.

TAFN

-3 of the Top 4-

2007-06-15T04:54:00.000-07:00

Happy Father’s Day!

Pardon the personalization of the message today, but events in my life dictate that to some extent. This weekend will mark days in my life which reflect two of the four (number 2 and 3 in fact) most absolute greatest blessings in my life…Wedding Anniversary and Father’s Day. Later this year, another milestone and blessing that I rank fourth in my life is the date marking my 25 years of service within Conservation work. Some didn’t think my marriage would last (there will always be nay-sayers) and I’d bet there were a number who didn’t think I would make it very long working here either.

During the entire time I’ve spent preparing for and reflecting on my anniversary, (ok for the past hour…), I got a little sentimental and thought about how blessed I was to have the woman I do and how she has given me (us) the two most precious gifts in the world (our daughters). Certainly not everything in our marriage or in raising our children can be characterized as being “easy”…but I can honestly tell you it is worth the effort. I spent some time thinking about how long we’ve been married (23yrs, yes Dear, I remembered), but even more…how long we’ve known each other…how long we’ve shared similar thoughts, ideas, beliefs… We were exposed to one another at a relatively young age and have shared common habitat (Stover) and proceeded along similar directions (HS->College->Profession…etc). We have worked very hard to try to be successful in everything we do…we are willing to put forth the effort because we believe the mission! I do what I can to make her better…to compliment her life…to show her—that she made the right choice!

Perhaps it’s the ADD or can be attributed to my ADHD, it’s your call…but during my reflections, I thought of some similarities between my “personal” life and my professional one. It occurred to me…that the similarities were great. The core principles were the same. I haven’t known “Conservation” my entire life, but we were exposed to one another at a relatively early age… We shared many of the same interests…. We have grown through the past 25 years… We have both become bigger, stronger, more educated… In essence, we both chose each other too. I decided I wanted to work for Conservation and they in turn decided I was worth the time also.

There have been some bumps in the road for both of “us”…it’s not always been easy. But we are both committed to ensuring success and that my friends’ is what sets “us” apart from the average run of the mill situation. The commitment—the dedication—the desire to do what it take. Both, I think, understanding that there will be some rough times but both willing to endure those times because we recognize that because of those efforts the outcome will be beneficial. Certainly a lot of similarities between my marriage and my work….

I wonder how many of you view your work in that respect. Do you consider it a commitment? Are you willing to “do what it takes” to strengthen that relationship. Do you care enough about what you do and who you work for to put forth that extra effort?

My thinking about my personal life AND my professional one is that if it’s worth doing it’s worth doing right…. That’s the commitment needed to make ANYTHING a success. Take a look at yourself…evaluate where you are…are you giving it your ALL? If so….you are WELCOME on this bus. If not, figure out why and fix it, because the bus has a schedule and seldom waits for anyone….

No one ever promised me when I joined the Conservation ranks that it would be easy, but it was obvious to me that there were many rewards awaiting, if I chose to invest the time and the effort…..hmmmm kind of like---marriage and children….

TAFN

Knowledge Management

2007-06-14T04:11:00.000-07:00

“Knowledge management is about asking yourself: Who has done this before? Who can I collaborate with? Who needs to know this? Where can I post this so that someone can use it when they need it?” (David Wennergren DOD Dep CIO) Wikipedia defines Knowledge Management as: comprises a range of practices used by organizations to identify, create, represent, and distribute knowledge for reuse, awareness and learning.

Seems to me there is some value to ensuring we have a good knowledge management system in place. Where else can a better example be thought of where knowledge is key to success than right here in the IT world? We use internal and external knowledge to solve complex problems on a daily basis…that knowledge is typically organized and presented in a way that it can be found and utilized. Why should our entire Organization think of it any differently? Knowledge exists in every single corner of this organization and just imagine how valuable some of that information is…..

There have been lifetimes spent within this organization finding answers/solutions to resource management issues…..shouldn’t this information be available for the new kid fresh out of College beginning his work for us? Imagine how much further ahead of the game he will be armed with the knowledge that took someone else 20 years to figure out. That, my friends, is of value!

Playing off of a current playing commercial …..Information is critical…..having ready access to it in a format easily understood is….Priceless! Information drives our world and some current, but certainly most future, employees will expect the tools to be in place to help them retrieve that information. Well, this is where I see IT fitting in once again….we should be providing the tools for that information retrieval…or at least putting the requests in for those tools.

I believe we are making inroads into that arena. We currently have some of the tools in place to assist with a reasonable Knowledge Management system….we have Sharepoint, we have the Intranet, and other tools. I believe there is a growing interest amongst current employees to use those tools to store some of the knowledge. We must continue to grow the technology to facilitate that maturing process. Some keys to that success include: IDF; a document management system (complete lifecycle management); I believe improved collaboration software will help (Exchange, Office `07, Sharepoint `07, IM, etc); and certainly an educated technical staff on the tools will only help improve the odds of success.

While we may still be in the infancy in fully understanding and implementing this concept, we are heading in the right direction. Keep thinking about ways we can present information that is of value to those we work with and those we serve (Conservation Supporters). We owe that to those who put in the effort to create the information as well as to those that will follow that will benefit from having it readily available.

TAFN

Purge the Mundane...

2007-06-13T04:35:00.000-07:00

I’ve been vocalizing for some time now about the need for change within our IT Group. I’ve also thrown out some suggestions/ideas of where we should be going as a Technology Services group and even why or how that would add value to Conservation. Ran across an article by Michael H. Hugos that puts some of the things I’ve been talking about into a pretty clear perspective.
He writes: “The IT groups that remain within companies will change their focus from data center operations to the design, construction and constant adjustment of systems that meet ever-changing business conditions. The value of IT groups within most companies will no longer be measured by how well they operate information technology but by how well they combine technology with business processes to create a stream of responsive and profitable products and services for their companies’ customers.”

Farfetched? Pipe dream? I don’t think so….I believe the writing is on the wall—in that technology employees must learn the business…understand the processes that drive the organization. Otherwise we need to relegate our future to total reactionary practices as other business units will be driving the technology they want/NEED down our throat. We’ve seen examples of that pushing already within our Organization….others are doing our research & development and asking for specific technology. We must change for face extinction or be relegated to basement vault. While being exposed to outside (of IT) suggestions is NOT necessarily a bad thing…we need to be in the foreground in researching, investigating, developing NEW technology solutions that move Conservation forward.

If you read Michael’s article, he goes on and describes other scenarios that I believe are critically important for us to consider also. For years, “outsourcing” was the bane amongst IT Staffers….the tide has turned and like it or not, organizations must do what is right for the business. They must be looking for costing advantages, productivity and efficiency gains, and ways to be more responsive. Looking at offloading run of the mill tasks within an IT group may be the perfect opportunity to gain back some valuable time from an IT Staff. That time can then be spent working on new ideas, new approaches, and new technology that continue to add value to the org.

I don’t believe total outsourcing is of immediate value to this Organization. But, we owe it to the folks we work for, to find ways to continue to “do more with less.” If we ignore that challenge we only provide more fodder for those who would believe outsourcing is the less expensive and best solution. We need to become more educated on the value that some offloading can provide. We should be investigating and recommending those opportunities to free up some of our time to work on more important tasks…..

TAFN

“Real change opens doors.”

2007-06-12T04:40:00.000-07:00

Just read an article by Steve Duplessie on the Enterprise Strategy Group web site. I think this guy hits the nail on the head as he talks about business process and its effects on the costing structure of an organization. If you have the time, I’d encourage you to read the enter article.

This particular article uses an orgs IT Test and Development process as an example of how things are not done efficiently. I do see a few similarities…. While the power and cooling savings are a consideration my main interest was in the process itself and how broken that seems to be. The process exudes non-efficiencies which translate into loss of revenue or the wasting of operating capital better invested elsewhere.

As a member of the Application Development Group, I can vouch that we will be looking more closely at this process internally and trying to figure out ways to improve it. Hmmmm sure like the sound of “Data Repurpose Policy”…..food for thought.

TAFN

2007-06-11T04:58:00.000-07:00

Sitting in Church on Sunday morning listening to the Pastor’s Sermon, a thought occurred to me. Our workplace wasn’t much different from the points he was trying to make in the Sermon. The Pastor’s topic was on “Submission.” He offered that all too often the word submission is viewed in a negative context. He presented a simple definition of the word as: “under the mission/control of another.” He related one story of when discussing marital plans with new couples, he often asks then to define submission. Again, he emphasized that the replies by these couples were mostly negative of the word and its meaning. Dictionary.com defines submission as: “the act or instance of submitting;” in turn submit defined is: “to give over or yield to the power or authority of another.” Pastor suggested a different take on the word---He offered that when you submit to someone/thing you care greatly for (love), you are more open to creating the best possible experience. You have the opportunity to learn and experience things on a deeper level…because “you’ve checked your pride at the door.” If you practice submission in a positive sense it IS something positive. Most of us experience and practice submission (the act of submitting) in a positive sense at least occasionally in our marriage. There are times we recognize that for the good of the marriage, it is best to submit/yield to the desires of the other---the negative view would be to “give in.” Yet, this give and take is a positive….it is a growth experience for both.

So my revelation? I took notes during the Sermon for the first time in quite a while. Some of the notes I’ll share in short snippets:
1) “In a work environment we (employees) are submitting to the direction of the company…we are following their lead, their direction.” This isn’t negative either---if fact is can be quite positive. In a work place setting, following the direction of others is common and typical.
2) “Team effort is required in any relationship.” It’s the common goal thing all over again. We all share a common interest here….whether it the love of wildlife, rivers, or another aspect of natural resources….or even the attraction of things IT related. That is our common bond.
3) “On any Team, the art of submission is practiced.” “On any highly successful team, the art of submission is refined…” Meaning that the most successful teams are some the best at knowing when to acquiesce to others at the appropriate times. Everyone has a role to play and they have the mature ability to recognize the fact and how it will help move the Team forward….no matter what the Teams mission is.
4) and the final note I’ll share: “Once the bigger Mission is recognized the value to MDC and to the resource will benefit much more…It’s not about IT, it’s about Conservation.” IT is but one member of this bigger Conservation team…

I guess my way of thinking about what Pastor was saying (aside from my Faith) and how those words tied to a work place is that submission is NOT a bad thing. In fact just the opposite, it is required of all SUCCESSFUL TEAMS. No Team is successful due only to one team member…NONE. Information Technology Staff as a whole is but one Team member on the Conservation Team. We are an important team member without a doubt but we still must play within the boundaries established by Leadership. My thought is that by submitting (again a positive thing) to the bigger picture, we actually accomplish something much better than we could ever accomplish alone. We must focus on the goals of Conservation and provide technology solutions that are good for it...not just technology solutions that are good for IT. While our individual pride would sometimes lead us to take a different course….it is the greater good that we need to look out for and strive for. We must evaluate our interests, our motives and put them to the test of comparing to how does this technology move Conservation forward...or lets be sure to look at new technologies with that thought in mind.

Individualism is and will continue to be rewarded…it has a role to play; but more importantly so does the Team concept….the efforts put forth to grow the team…to further the cause---the mission. This is where the real value of our efforts comes into play. Working as a team, giving when that’s the best course of action and standing firm when that is required too. It’s about maturity and I would offer that the ultimate sign of maturity and devotion is that of submission….

TAFN

...as a child....

2007-06-07T04:52:00.000-07:00

"When I was a child I spoke as a child I understood as a child I thought as a child; but when I became a man I put away childish things." I Cor. 13 v 11.

As most any parent of a child still residing in the home can tell you, this time of year is busy. As a parent of one High School and one College age child myself, this year has been every bit as busy as any that preceded it. Parenting has been a humbling, exciting, disappointing, and challenging experience at times. Not unlike the world of Technology and for those of us in the IT world. I have compared working in the IT world many times to that of raising children. If you think about it, there are many similarities.

Children begin life almost totally dependent on a parent; Information Technology (as we recognize it today—applications, PC’s, Internet) began in a similar fashion…in that most employees were very dependent on others who knew something about the technology. As the child grew they become a little more self-sufficient, i.e. they can walk and talk; Information Technology grew in favor and was being used by more and more people in the work place and home and becoming a little less dependent on the IT gurus. The child becomes a teenager and while still needing some protection, some guidance, some money, etc, they are beginning to exert a lot of independent thoughts and actions; IT grew to that point also, people used technology in many ways and began to implement some of their own thinking about what tools to use at work and didn’t just follow what the IT staff directed.

If we have done our job as a parent, the child continues to grow and mature and becomes a self sufficient adult. One who is able to walk, talk, THINK, act and survive in the world with much influence from Mom or Dad. While the child still has a very strong bond to their parents, they are not totally dependent upon them for survival. NOW---the question is where is IT in this maturity process? I would offer that Technology as it exists today in our organization has matured to the point of a late teen. It has developed a great deal and is being utilized extensively throughout the organization. There is some independent (contrarian) thinking (teenage trait) that exists, there is some freedom flexing, and there are some direct challenges---all of which I would point us back to the child and what we have or do experience with them.

One of our important IT tasks that we have is to help that “child” grow into a fully functioning, almost completely self sufficient Adult…with the goal of being able to function completely (if possible) all by themselves. Is that possible? Can we implement technology solutions that mimic that scenario? Well honestly I don’t know if we can ever get technology to the point of 100% self-sufficiency. I believe IT Staff will continue to play a critical role in this Agency for the foreseeable future….BUT I do think we can help grow our work force to the point of being much more self-sufficient and less reliant on us for common day to day issues.

I have long professed that our Agency is on the edge of great change….including technology change and workforce change. For many years we have served as “mom and dad” to many staff whose expertise was not understanding technology, but rather resource management and biology. Well, that ship has sailed….the work force coming to us today is much, much more technology educated. They don’t need to be trained on the basics of file folders, storage devices, tools to use, etc…in some cases they bring those ideas/suggestions to us!

The new breed of Conservation Worker requires a different service from IT---more advanced tools, forward thinking, advanced troubleshooting, strategic visioning, etc. They, themselves, can figure out the basics of PC operations, spreadsheet functions, graphics manipulations, file storage, E-mail, etc, etc….they are wanting (and needing) for us to be looking forward, helping with future technologies…the next tool or a tool that helps them even more than the current one. They look to us to know down the barriers in the road ahead of them, i.e.—in many cases they know the value of technology and how to use it…they want us to find ways for them to use that technology where ever they may be, at home, the office or in the field.

Our tasks are numerous of course….we must continue to support an aging workforce that still may require that lower level technical support, but we must also be moving (at a accelerated pace) towards meeting the technology needs of the new breed of worker. What are those needs---look around, if you are paying attention, technology is used in almost every aspect of day to day living. “Speed Passes” at the gas pump, card readers at toll booths, 10MB pipes into homes, Wii game stations, GPS devices in VW’s, RFID tags, etc, etc. The expectation exists for technology to help people do the basic functions….that won’t be any different in the work this Agency does. But the basic functions won’t be enough, we must do more. We must develop new ideas, new ways of tackling and completing the tasks needed to move Conservation forward. It will be expected….check that…..it will be DEMANDED of IT .

TAFN

Documentation...

2007-06-06T04:23:00.000-07:00

Have you heard me preach about the need for documentation enough yet? lol.... Well, hopefully it doesn't come across as preaching necessarily, but nothing has really changed since we placed an emphasis on it a few years ago....the need still exists for it and we are not completely there yet. YES! we have made some great strides towards filling some of the gaps we've had in the past when it comes to documentation...But, we are not there yet.

All of you have helped bring our documentation up several layers from where we (and countless others) have been in this business and that is a good thing. While documentation of systems, builds, development, etc may not be on the top of our "want to do" list, it needs to be near the top of "things I will do."

Documentation isn't just something your IT Management Team wants...it is part of the SOP for our world. Best practices call for adequate and through documentation. Auditors clamour and sing praises when it exists....and even IT Techies appreciate it, when a system goes south and it aids in the recovery process. It needs to be just a natural part of the work that each and every one of us do here.

I will placing a higher priority in the coming Fiscal Year on quality documentation and will insist that our IT Managers/Team Leaders address that priority in our work plans for the coming year. Yes, it is that important..... I ask that each of you be thinking of ways in which you can improve our documentation. Where are we weak, what would benefit this group/this Agency if it were documented or perhaps better documented. Are we missing critical documentation---if so, address it or bring it to your Supervisor's attention.

We have many processes and some of which are adequately documented. We have other processes that we fully understand.....today.....that are not well documented. The goal here is to document it well enough that a new person could read it and be able to accomplish the task without much assistance. That's the value of documentation. Perhaps you could think of it as leaving a legacy....

I look forward to moving our documentation up a few more rungs on the ladder this coming fiscal year and helping this group better position ourselves as a critical component to the business of Conservation.

TAFN

"The" Future....

2007-06-05T04:30:00.000-07:00

Do you think technology is important to the work force of today? This article would indicate that the work our (and others) IT group does is very important…and not just for people who come into the office. This information should also point out a few very specific things to us. The need for technology and the need to provide hardware and software to allow employees anywhere (everywhere) to perform their work is here… Our focus must shift from the give them tools in the office to …give them tools they can access everywhere.

I believe we are well on our way to helping with some of the requirements to make this happen. In production or soon to be examples for us: Bigger pipes to haul the load; Clean Access and CSA to allow non-Agency owned hardware access; mobile PC’s (tablets/PDA/Laptops); SharePoint for collaboration and file sharing; the Portal; Web base applications; wireless infrastructure; Live Meeting; plans for Office `07, Instant Messaging and Exchange-----all these are tools preparing/laying the groundwork for such a work force. Believe it or not, there has been considerable thought given to bringing in the tools that enable our work force to be ultra-mobile and perform effectively as “Teleworkers.”

Random happen-stance or planned order….whatever you want to call it—we are positioning our teams to provide the Technical Services required to move this Agency forward. The work performed by all of you on a daily basis helps us to bring this Agency one step closer to being a solidly position organization for the future. Keep the ideas, dedication, and hard work coming and we’ll be there in short order and if done correctly, few will even notice all of the groundwork that has been laid….

TAFN

Idea....ology

2007-06-04T04:59:00.000-07:00

Was reading an article Friday night that was talking about new technologies and how they would/could impact the future of businesses and technology itself. One thing they were really touting was the Web-based storage systems that are rapidly developing. Several players in that field that are (will be) competing with the EMC and Hitachi systems in existence today. Part of the thinking encompasses; 1) online storage (web based) and 2) non-proprietary solution (lower cost). Both of which are very attractive for organizations to consider. Biggest downside to date…performance and security---what else is new… So what does this technology mean to us?

Ran across another headline: “Agile development aligns tech, business better. Studies show agile development works, and yet few companies follow its principles.” Hmmmm what does that mean to us?

How about this one….”Social networking: Not IT's problem. Blogs, wikis and user-driven content can get out of hand if not managed by dedicated human resources….For social networking tools to be successful, the buck has to stop somewhere other than IT, according to technology pioneers and experts.” Does this one have any impact on our Organization?

And finally: “Google has released a new Javascript API this morning dubbed Gears that adds offline support for web applications”

I wondered if any of the TS Staff has read any of these articles. Then I wondered further, as to what thought process they might have undergone when/if they had. This line of thinking then lead me to my next question…. When was the last time one of our technical support folks approached me and submitted a thought or idea that tied technology to the work we do here…something they read somewhere, (like the above) or something they experienced somewhere else. I can honestly say, it took me awhile to answer that question. Bottom Line: Not often enough!

While Leadership within an IT org should have thoughts and ideas and they should be bringing technology solutions to bear….they should not be the only ones on the team to do so! If we rely solely on Leadership to provide that insight and way of thinking, we will miss some valuable opps and we will not be providing the best value to this organization. IF only one or two people come up with all the ideas…then why would they need anyone else? The solutions would likely be narrow in scope and vision. The real benefit is to have the entire TEAM on-board and thinking of ways to move Conservation forward.

I would argue that we did not set out to hire “robots” within this IT group…we hired walking, talking, THINKING people. That is the value you bring to this group! Help us to think about ways technology fits….listen….read…..TALK. Try to understand what impacts that new piece of hardware/software or how a new technology could solve a problem for US. Bring ideas to the forefront, talk to your Managers/Leaders. …. I guarantee they will appreciate the thought and time you’ve invested.

TAFN

New Day is Dawning...

2007-06-01T04:13:00.000-07:00

Ran across another article that was speaking to IT Professionalism, once again. I'll include the text that hit home with me....

“Years ago, IT professionals took pride in their own oddball culture. We were different than the rest of the business professionals. The business needed us and was willing to overlook our quirks if we just continued to make things work and fix them when they were broken. It was good to be the IT king because we owned the data; we could afford to live in our world and occasionally treat the business and our customers irreverently. But this also caused a negative perception of our function---deservedly so.

But times have changed, and for the better. The business is now driving the bus and taking IT with it, to more cost-effective, greater fiscal knowledge and accountability, and crating business value from IT-enabled initiatives and innovations. Now we need to bring professionalism to the forefront of the IT makeover.”

A couple things about the text: 1) It confirms the thinking of many people and how IT employees were viewed in the past,; 2) It speaks to how things have changed and, 3) It mentions my favorite mode of transportation....the ever present "Bus." While the author likely isn't speaking about the "bus" in the same context as Jim Collins does...we can still use the analogy to help us focus on where our future lies.

If indeed, the business (Conservation) is now driving the bus and if we want to be passengers (employees) on the bus, we certainly had better be paying attention to the wants, needs, and direction of the business. We cannot introduce technology just for technology's sake. We cannot expect funding for technology, because "it's the latest,"...we need to be able to make the case for how it moves the business forward. What value does the technology add to Conservation...how does it help people do their job faster or better...does it raise more quail or does it grow more trees, etc.

I believe the entire workforce has become much more educated on technology and the days are gone when the IT person was the absolute sole information source and idea harbinger for technology solutions. We need to adjust our posturing, be nimble, be creative, and be fully prepared to move the business forward by adding value in the ways that the majority can understand and embrace. Cost effective technologies that are not overly complex will be embraced by the masses long before more costly things that are difficult to use. ....seems so common sense-ish....

So how do we become the "new breed" of IT employee? (...for those of us who may not be just yet...) We need to pay attention to business needs, developments and trends. We must be better fiscal agents...we must understand ROI and be able to demonstrate in a manner that is easily understood. We must be well rounded--educationally--have an understanding of the business drivers within Conservation. We must understand the business fully in order to recommend/secure/provide the best technical solutions. Bottom line, we need to grow in every aspect.

To borrow a term being used extensively in our org---the "Next Gen" of IT employee will have the skill sets of many: business training, management training, resource training and of course solid technical training...and the ability to see the big picture. Are you positioning yourself today to become that type of value added employee? I sure hope so! Not sure if you are or where you are short...let's talk about it...

TAFN...

Input....What Makes you Tick?

2007-05-31T04:26:00.000-07:00

I've been deluging you with some of my thoughts for a few weeks now....it's time to see who is paying attention and who is willing to contribute. See the little area at the end of this blog called "comments"....here is your chance to speak up.

My questions for are : 1) What do you think is the biggest motivating factor for most people in the work place today? and 2) What is YOUR number one motivating factor...the one that motivates you the most? (they could be different). You are welcome to choose the anonymous reply button too....just looking for some thoughts.

I'll allow a few days for the comments to be added and then I'll blog about motivation, my thoughts and even a few "outsider" thoughts on the subject. Even thoughts as extreme as, "the workplace shouldn't have to care what motivates you, that's your problem...."

TAFN

Challenge Yourself to Grow...

2007-05-30T04:06:00.000-07:00

It’s no secret that our Director has encouraged employees to participate in Professional Organizations, especially those that are somehow related to Conservation. As IT employees what has that meant to you? Let’s take a little quiz… How many of you currently belong to a Fish, Forest, Wildlife Professional Organization? Unfair? …cause we don’t work in a resource job…? If you believe that…then I need to open the bus doors for you. OK, let’s change the question then for you: How many of you belong to a professional IT organization? Hmmm not many hands there either…. Why not?

What do those organizations have to do with you and your job you say? Well, I’d offer that those groups offer OPPORTUNITY… the opportunity for growth, to challenge, to stretch you and your thoughts. Not to mention they provide an avenue for you to learn and to help further exposure to Conservation and the work we do. The more folks you know, the more chances you have to learn and espouse the good of Conservation. I’ll bet there are a good number of you who belong to PTO groups, hobby related clubs, women’s/men’s type clubs, etc…obviously you saw the value there to “enlist.” So what’s different about work or your desire to participate in groups that are related to it?

I’ve heard it stated publicly, that “if I’m supposed to be in a Conservation type organization, then it should be on the Dept. time and dime…” Sends a pretty clear message to me about the quality of Professional making that statement. Which camp are you in? Do you see the value in participating in Resource and IT related organizations? Do you see that you can add something to those groups and perhaps even glean some information that may be of value in the workplace too? I’d challenge each of you to give this some serious thought and see if there isn’t some group out there that would add value to what you do here at work ….and at home.

TAFN

....Mission Statement...?

2007-05-29T04:37:00.000-07:00

I read this on a web site (corporate technologies/Careers) that spoke to how they feel about hiring IT staffers: "People are our most important asset. We invest in this resource by encouraging and rewarding superior expertise, professional development, and thorough training. And we provide all employees equal opportunity for advancement and personal achievement.
We attract the best and the brightest IT, sales, support, and general business people to help our clients tap the power of technology to drive their business success. And we provide a collaborative climate that encourages professional growth. Engineers, for example, even though they may concentrate their work in one area, receive cross training in others. And their assignments are balanced between doing product research and testing, implementation, and initial assessments at clients.
We encourage our employees to become an instrumental part of a dynamic team of smart, innovative, highly motivated professionals working in a highly collaborative, consultative environment and helping clients meet their toughest IT challenges."

I thought WOW, what a place to work! Then I thought-- with a little effort our "sales" pitch here might read something like this.... People are our most important asset. We invest in this indispensable resource by encouraging and rewarding superior expertise, professional development, and thorough training. We provide all employees equal opportunity for advancement and personal achievement. We attract the best and the brightest IT people to help our Agency tap the power of technology to drive Conservation success. We provide a collaborative climate that encourages professional growth. We encourage our employees to become an instrumental part of a dynamic team of smart, innovative, highly motivated professionals working in a highly collaborative, consultative environment and helping Conservation Employees meet their toughest IT challenges.

Sounds nice...but I think we might be missing a couple of things to make this a reality... 1) Realism --about who and WHAT we really are TODAY and; 2) all the pieces to make such a statement an honest reflection.

A statement like the above is a two way street...the company AND the employees. One side cannot make the statement true without the other doing their part. While the "company" can provide opportunities, etc...the employees must be dedicated, professionals also. One is not true without the other.

Are we there yet? No, I don't think so, but we could be...and I WANT to be. I'm planning to do what I can to see it happen.....are you? ....see any ties to the "Good to Great"...?

TAFN

Too Old?

2007-05-25T04:08:00.000-07:00

I read a blog recently titled Is 30 too old to start a company? I found it interesting to equate the entrepreneurial spirit (ability) primarily with age.

For much of my life I have fought against age being used as a determining or defining factor for many of the things I wanted to do. For instance, as a boy, I wanted to do some of the things my older sisters were doing—“No, you are too young.” As a Junior High student I wanted to play varsity basketball, “No, you have to be older; you have to be in high school.” As a freshman in High School, I wanted to drive, “No, you have to be 16 (older).” As an employee entering the work force, I was interested in upper level positions in the Organization and was told, “No, you don’t have enough experience.” Funny how in all those instances, there were assumptions being made that just because someone was “older” that there was more value to that…. Looking back, I still feel that I had similar if not more abilities to perform adequately at the next level…than some of the existing people who were doing what I wanted to do.

The angle of the recent read is that as you grow older you become less idealistic….less able to think outside the box---to dream…to create. They cite specific examples of leading entrepreneurs and they younger age. (chart on this page). I say HOGWASH! Abilities can and should be proven...not assumed! While there are certainly valid points about age and circumstances that make GOOD sense to limit to a specific age (Social Security), the thought that good ideas and/or new ideas are limited primarily to the younger folks isn’t accurate. I tend to think the limiting factor is more a matter of drive and determination that an age thing. In addition, why is it even tied to how old you are?…that takes me back to my personal experiences. Shouldn’t I be judged on my ability and capabilities, regardless of my age or how much experience I have? To dismiss anyone just because they don’t meet your traditional ideology of someone representative of that position is foolish and quite likely a mistake.

Where are you on this subject?.... Because of your age are you less idealistic?....less able to come up with new solutions…be creative? Are you judgmental of new ideas, thoughts, or approaches because they come from much younger or older folks?

“Is 30 too old…”? I’d argue that it's circumstances in life that dictate less “older” folks are in the entrepreneurial world. Many past the age of mid 20’s are married, kids, etc. Some indeed have lost their fight, vigor. Other issues that occupy their time…it isn’t that they can’t or don’t think that way. They certainly can and do; it’s all a matter of priorities.

As we chart our future, I encourage all to break down the barriers of preconceived notions. Judge others or their projects on its’ own merit and less on tradition. Expand your thought processes and step outside what you view as “the role” you are supposed to be playing as a 47 year old male…or 22 year old female…and figure out where you can add the most value. Don’t accept the labels of you are too young or too old….challenge the thought, prove them wrong.

While I did not win all of the battles I fought when confronted with the “age thing” …I did win a few and I have to say…those were sweet victories. When given the opportunity to be able to prove yourself and to be able to do it…wow what a feeling! The people who took that chance on me and gave me the opportunity quickly earned my respect, trust and full support. …sure go ahead tell me I can’t because of my age…I dare you….

TAFN

Are You ...Out of Touch?

2007-05-24T04:20:00.000-07:00

I ran across an interesting article in a recent edition of the CIO Insight ezine. The article discusses a number of points and centers around staying current on a number of fronts. Certainly in the work that we do...staying current is absolutely critical! Not keeping pace with the changing technology and trying to understand how it can add value to the work our Agency performs is a guaranteed meal ticket to a job....somewhere else.

The expectation that comes with our job, our line of work, is that we stay current....stay abreast and informed. We must also have the ability to digest the new information and try to see where that new idea/technology fits into our future.

The article lists seven signs that would indicate you (we) are...out of touch:

1) Research is considered to be a waste of time. "We have been very successful and our experience speaks for itself."
2) Lack of critical thinking. "That may work well within such and such an organization, but we are different."
3) An inability to take constructive criticism and lack of respect for varied opinions. "We are the originators of this method/product/theory. Who are they/you to question us?"
4) Maintaining a positive image at all costs. "What would people think of us if this didn't work as expected?"
5) Lack of effective practice. "We have been advised by the best minds in the business. We can skip the experimental phase."
6) Blind faith in experts and top executives. "How can we go wrong? These people have worked with the top companies around the world for years."
7) An aversion to introspection. "We don't need that fuzzy self-examination of feelings, thoughts and motives around here. We are practical people."

So, what say you?...Do you see any of these signs within our group? Do YOU exhibit any of them? I've heard it said, the best way to treat a problem is to admit you have a problem... Let's look hard at who and what we are...can we make some changes that will change/improve our work life, our work productivity? Even better...do you have suggested that can help move us forward? Thoughts that would help us add value to Conservation?

I challenge each of you to critically evaluate yourself...are you staying current with the technology...no I mean really staying current--not just know that Microsoft has a new OS out there. Are you forcing yourself to learn more, to find new ways....Likely we would all benefit from reading more, asking more questions, keeping our eyes and ears open for opportunities to move Conservation forward from a Technology perspective....Commit yourself towards improving your knowledge and understanding....you and MDC will benefit as a result.

to check out original: http://www.cioinsight.com/article2/0,1540,2127750,00.asp

TAFN

"Good" Isn't Good Enough

2007-05-23T03:59:00.000-07:00

For those of you who know a little about me, one of my all time favorite reads was the book by Jim Collins titled “Good to Great.” The book is recognized in almost every corner of the globe for its views on Leadership and it even displayed on pedestals in some companies "trophy"cases. The book has had that profound an effect on some! The content of the book certainly impacted me too. The book is essentially a description of research of some very successful companies and what commonalities they shared along the way from being a "good" company to becoming a "Great" company.

One particular aspect of the research that hit home with me and seemed to be the very building block was the “First Who, then What” concept. What does this mean?...a quote from the JimCollins.com web site describes it best…and I quote: “The main point of this concept is not just about assembling the right team—that’s nothing new. The main point is to first get the right people on the bus (and the wrong people off the bus) before you figure out where to drive it. The second key point is the degree of sheer rigor needed with regard to people decisions in order to take a company from good to great.” Hmmm sounds like the ability to make decisions, even if they are difficult ones...doing what's right for the future of the Organization... It's not about doing what's popular, but more so about doing what is ...right.

It seems so simple, so basic, so…..common sense like, and yet it is quite obviously so utterly difficult that few ever achieve it fully. What makes this so difficult either to grasp or to implement? I tend to believe it all boils down to the commitment and belief of the individual. Are they willing to put the end result (goal) ahead of themselves…for the “good of the cause?” Are you willing to make unpopular decisions, even if they are the right ones to make? Most say they would…few actually demonstrate it. But, those that do demonstrate it (live it); can and do achieve something extraordinary. The essence of Good to Great…. If achieving greatness were easy…wouldn’t everyone be there by now?

The good-to-great leaders understood three simple truths. First, if you begin with “who,” rather than “what,” you can more easily adapt to a changing world. If people join the bus primarily because of where it is going, what happens if you get ten miles down the road and you need to change direction? You’ve got a problem. But if people are on the bus because of who else is on the bus, then it’s much easier to change direction: “Hey, I got on this bus because of who else is on it; if we need to change direction to be more successful, fine with me.” Second, if you have the right people on the bus, the problem of how to motivate and manage people largely goes away. The right people don’t need to be tightly managed or fired up; they will be self-motivated by the inner drive to produce the best results and to be part of creating something great. Third, if you have the wrong people, it doesn’t matter whether you discover the right direction; you still won’t have a great company. Great vision without great people is irrelevant. (JimCollins.com)

Where are we on this trek? I would ask each of you to help with that answer…. Are we Great? What are you doing to help us reach upwards towards that end? Are you considering the Agency goals ahead of your personal ones? In your daily work, are you focused on the goal that will move Conservation forward? Do you belong on the Conservation bus…are you making every possible effort to move Conservation forward…are you thinking outside the box….are you challenging yourself to be an important part of this work….?

I believe in order for Conservation to continue to be successful, we all must do our part to help. No resting, waiting for others, hoping someone will tell us to do the right thing…we need thinkers, we need action people, we need to be proactive…..We need to move Conservation forward by providing technology value that is affordable, relevant, and adds value. We need to be helping add that value to Conservation. THOSE are the people who belong on this bus….

[If you’re interested this short mp3 provides an example of The Right People.]
TAFN

Vacation Mind Set

2007-05-22T04:15:00.000-07:00

As we draw towards the end of the month of May, many a thought is given to the summer vacation plans. I doubt you will talk to many people who couldn’t provide you quite a bit of detail about where they are taking their vacation this year and how they will spend their time and money. Vacations mean a great deal too many folks and are highly thought of…..they are often looked forward to with great anticipation and excitement. Yet, this vacation season, many are concerned about the price of gas and how that will impact their travel plans. Many are forced to readjust their plans…..

Two thoughts come to my mind: 1) wouldn’t it be neat if we could get that excited about our work? and, 2) MDC as an Organization is no different in terms of being affected by everyday economics, including higher fuel prices.

While I do believe there are folks working for us that are excited about their work and actively engaged, it’s not very often that I see it to the same level as a personal vacation. Yet, we spend more of our lifetime in the work place than most other places, so why not make every effort to make it a pleasurable place to be? If we would give as much thought and preparation to our work detail as we do to planning our vacation, I think you would find many improvements in the work place. While vacationing, we maximize every minute of our time to ensure we get the things done we had planned. We also budget our money to ensure we can accomplish all of the things we want to do while vacationing. We are tenacious about ensuring vacation success.
Give some thought as to what makes vacation time fun and think about ways to bring that level of excitement to the work place….. Can you imagine how much different work would be? I would offer that in some case it would be a marked improvement. Not only would those around you sense your excitement but eventually they too would begin to “catch the fever” and perhaps you could change their work perspective too. Productivity would increase, efficiencies would be realized and our excitement would be obvious.

I believe that vacation is similar to your first day on the job. Remember that first day of work?....the “excited nervousness” you felt…recall how you wanted to make a positive impression….you arrived early and stayed late….you were focused, committed, driven. Not unlike many are for their vacations……

The other relationship to this year’s vacation is financial. It seems everything is going up in price, not just gas prices. Those same rising costs to you and your family are also hitting our Agency hard. The goods and services we purchase to perform Conservation work is more expensive also. The fact is that income/revenue has tightened; we must be better planners….quite similar to getting the most out of our dollar while on vacation. Look for opportunities to get costing advantages, stretch our dollar so we can do more with less. Why should Agency money be any different than your money? Be smart with it, find the best prices, evaluate whether the item is a must have or a desired one….use the same thought process that you do with your personal bank account…and in most cases, the decision will be a good one.

As we go our separate ways for our vacations this year, please be safe, enjoy the time you have with the ones you care most about.... and if you have the opportunity give some thought as to what makes your vacation fun and see if there isn’t a way to bring that energy and good decision making back to the work place upon your return.

Telework

2007-05-21T04:10:00.000-07:00

You may have heard this term being thrown around the office lately. Some of you may have been exposed to the term Telecommute in the past…how is this different and why are we talking about it. Telework, to me, is the ability to perform your work functions from numerous locations that could be considered your office for the day. Whereas telecommute has typically meant to work from home by using a computer terminal that is linked to your workplace. Teleworker is slightly different from a telecommuter in that the worker does not necessarily have to work from home…they could work from another office (MDC or partner office, virtually anywhere), basically anywhere there is Internet connectivity and floor space for the person to occupy.

IT Management has been considering the possibilities of supporting a teleworker workforce for months now. Trying to understand the issues associated with supporting such a worker is a time consuming process. There are many, many issues that must be thought through…..from office phones, network connectivity, application accessibility, accountability, not to mention the numerous business processes that could be impacted and/or change. It is not a simple decision of whether or not to do it….it is far more complex than that. The question of whether or not we should consider it seems simple…when looking at the price of fuel, commute distances, and environmental issues associated with the combustible engine…the answer is a resounding yes…but there is more to it.

Is it the right solution for MDC at the right time….that’s a tougher question. Technology can certainly be utilized to have save business expenses….just think about the possibilities if this Agency embraces (and can afford) the telework scenario. Imagine that 30 to 40% of its workforce now does not need an office provided to them. The building space itself, the office furniture, the utilities….all things associated with providing an office space goes away….think about the cost savings that could be realized! Now that technology isn’t necessarily without a cost though. Our infrastructure would have to be able to accommodate such a business model and certainly our Organization would have to be willing to change a number of internal processes too. So while there are many things to consider for such a program, I for one am willing to do the “leg work” to see if this opportunity can become a viable solution for the Agency to consider.

What do you think...?

TAFN

The Evolution...

2007-05-16T04:55:00.000-07:00

A long, long time ago in a faraway place, I was attending College with course work in Evolution. Evolution has always been a fascinating subject to me and certainly one in which can be hotly debated. Aside from my Religious convictions, I believe evolution is a viable process. While we could debate as to scope and magnitude of any evolution process, I’d like to focus on the evolution of the MDC IT worker in particular here.

Dictionary.com defines evolution as: “any process of formation or growth; development” Hmmm, see any relationship to the field we are in? There are few fields of work that are changing any faster than Technology itself. I’ve wondered at times, is technology a result of change or is change a result of technology…..while both views may be accurate; I tend to lean towards the latter. I don’t believe anyone can dispel that change is inevitable, and many people are demonstratively resistant to change. Now can you imagine that if that change is accelerated, through rapid technological advances….how that process or result will be accepted…? That I believe is in part what we are facing with as Conservation Information Technology workers.

That change is part of the attraction for many of us, but we must also recognize that it also serves as a reason for reluctance or resistance of some. Humans tend to be drawn into situations where they are most comfortable, we’ve all heard it stated many times….”in my (the) comfort zone.” So as workers of change or even harbingers, we will encounter resistance and we must anticipate it (expect it). As a result we must put processes in place to help mitigate those obstacles. We should PLAN for it.

How do we do that...Education is a key ingredient in my mind. We (humans) tend to shy away or be un-accepting of the unknown, (not everyone, but many). So we need to help make the unknown or unfamiliar more familiar. The technology (change) should be presented in an understandable (geared towards your audience) way. It’s part of our job to make sense of the Technology and how it can and will be used by our customers. In addition we need to be evaluating and pursuing technology that FITS into our Organization. Few people embrace change strictly for the sake of change. Good research, sound technology, exhaustive planning, and adequate education are all key components towards successful implementation of any technology. That is part of our job….and frankly we need to do a better job of it.

Evolution should also be an integral part of whom and what we are as IT workers. Due to the very nature of our business, we too should be embracing that change and positioning ourselves also. That means staying abreast of the latest technology…what adds value to Conservation---not the latest gadget, BUT what truly adds value. That means we need to understand our customers work/thinking, our line of business….we need to grow ourselves as technology itself grows. Are you staying current? When was the last time YOU (not suggested by your Supervisor) sought out technical training? When was the last time you observed a technology while away from work…and thought…hmmm we could use or adapt this to work for Conservation…?

We want and need dedicated IT workers that understand IT and Conservation...does part of your evolutionary process include adding that value back to the work place?

Little Boy Blue and The Man on the Moon...

2007-05-15T04:06:00.000-07:00

I believe I'm on record for stating I like music and it tends to resonate through me in different way. Heard an old favorite of mine by Harry Chapin recently and reflected on some of the words. As a father I can certainly understand and relate to the juggling that has to be done between all the priorities that can get in the way of quality time with my kids. But, the words, "..He'd grown up just like me, My boy was just like me," made me stop to think. For whatever reason my mind drifted towards envisioning someone being exactly like me, yea I know, scary thought.

I wondered, is that a good thing...? Most definitely in the work place, I'm convinced that I'm not interested in "clones." While there are great advantages to having some similarities in certain areas, (hard working, dedication, commitment), there is still greater value in having surrounded yourself with those of different skill sets. My belief is that a good leader/manager will "hire towards their weakness"....that is, hire folks who have the skills in areas you do not. For instance, if you are strong in logic then hire someone who is strong in creativity; if you are rash or quick to react then hire someone who is more methodical.

The advantages to such a style I think should be obvious to most. One person can not be all things to all people....but together and if many diverse skill sets, personalities, etc. are represented, the combined effort (product) will most likely be more successful because it has the best of everyone represented. Not to say, one person cannot have great ideas that are of value, quite the contrary. I'm saying there is value to having a workforce that is not cookie cutter in design. We can learn from each other and I tend to believe that the more we know, the better chance we have to arrive at the best solution.

...now back to Harry....I continued my thinking about the work force in Technology Services.... I asked myself are we clones? ...do we all think alike? Quite similar to the outcome in Harry's song, (growing up just like me) and having a non-diverse work force or not taking advantage of the diversity..... is NOT a good thing

My conclusion is that no we are not clones....we do have DIVERSITY represented in our group. We have different skill sets represented, different styles, different goals/likes/dislikes/tastes/motivation/interests...etc. That is a good thing! As different as we may be...we are all similar in one distinct way---our desire to work for MDC. That fact has brought us all together in this place.

We should capitalize on taking advantages of our differences, but focus on utilizing what makes us the same....our desire to see MDC succeed. We should understand and recognize what makes each of us different and devise ways to utilize those differences to improve our output...our product...our service. For example, as a Developer, say you're writing code to help with a waterfowl hunter check in/out and bag check system and you've never hunted ducks. We have staff members who have....visit with them, understand how duck hunters think, understand the obstacles, the opportunities that present themselves....and as a result perhaps the application will be even better because you have a new level of understanding. The diversity of whom we have on staff can and will help in those cases.

We are a diverse group of individuals who share many common interests and the most common denominator of which is that we all work and love Conservation. Let's use that common bond to fully utilize our diverse skills, our unique personalities, our different abilities. I guarantee that if we do that, our products will improve.....noticeably.

So the challenge to each of us is--- what can we bring to the table to add value to this group. Each of us should understand our own strengths and develop the ability to see where those skill sets fit into the Team. Be an active part of the Team and use your different skills/experiences to improve the work we do. Give thought to how your past experiences can help? (Education and knowledge is a wonderful thing!) Learning new things from each other just makes all of us more informed and perhaps as a result, a better decision is reached.

...and although Harry's song didn't necessarily end on a happy note, I'm confident that if we all work together and take advantage of the work place diversity and learn from each other that this story line......will end much more successfully....

coming:....Telework, New technologies, Fiscal responsibilities, The Edison factor,

TAFN

...The Vision

2007-05-14T04:12:00.000-07:00

Well, I hope everybody had the opportunity to enjoy the nice calm weather we had this past weekend. I noticed many folks had the time to mow their lawns that had flourished with the spring rains. Speaking of rain, I was happy to hear the crest forecast for the MO River had dropped, while still high and troublesome to many....it was as bad as first predicted.

Also this weekend we celebrated Mother's Day. Now that is something every human on Earth has in common...a Mother. Have you ever spent any time wondering about the things you have in common with others? Do you wonder what we have in common with other members of the human race?... or perhaps a smaller sub-section of it... as members of MDC. I've given that thought numerous times. From the 10,000 foot view, I believe most of us working here believe we work for one of the best Conservation Agencies in existence, many believe very strongly in the mandate, many believe the Fish, Forest and Wildlife resources are better because we (MDC) exists...We believe we, together, are making a difference...

What creates that common bond? Well, in our Mothers Day example...it is genetic, by birth we have that common bond. But what about in our work? What brings all of us together to worry about the critters, trees, or the fish? What do you say?

I'd offer that it is because we all share a very similar "vision." We share a keen interest in some aspect of what we all believe MDC stands for. This doesn't necessarily mean we all share the same thoughts or ideas or even that we all completely believe in every aspect of the ideology. We are human, we are not genetically identical to everyone else around us....we have differences. We can and do view things differently...and that can be very good. This leads to creativity within the Organization and helps it grow and move forward. What is important for the creativity to be of value...is that we all share the Vision.

While we are not all visionaries....we do have visionaries within this Organization. We need those individuals...they help us to make sense of a more broad vision. These individuals help identify specific, strategic initiatives that help the entire organization focus their vision, thoughts, and efforts. They are LEADERS....!

So what does this mean...? Well, perhaps if we are paying attention to what is happening around us...we would see that the "Visionaries" have helped streamline part of our "Vision," case in point--"The Next Generation." Broad but clear, strategic ideas have been placed in front of us to help focus our vision, our commitment, and our individualized expertise, towards improving Conservation. Now its our job to utilize our individualism, our own expertise, our own drive/desire to begin implementing that more broad Vision.

That my friend is one of the highest compliments I can think of in the work place...."Here's an idea/concept or task....now go implement it" That type of directive is one of trust in our competency....what I hear is: "We want to go here, now use the skills we know you have, to get us there....we trust you."

Give that some thought. We've heard from Leadership, (The Next Generation), we have skills/resources available, we all share a common vision and support for the work we do....Now it's up to us to make it happen. All should give this directive serious consideration. We all have an important role to play in implementing this plan. I would encourage all of you to study the plan, understand its intent, "see" what the visionaries have laid before us, make it your own. Add your touch of creativity and make it meaningful to the people we serve...and in the mean time, I'll bet you even enjoy that part of your work.....isn't that why you are here?

TAFN

I Can See Clearly Now....

2007-05-11T04:11:00.000-07:00

I have always had an affinity for music. I love it. The beat, tempo, words, instruments used, etc. all interest me and I certainly have great respect for those who possess the gift of vocals. Amazing talent! Driving to work the last several days reminded me of an older song that contained the words, "I can see clearly now...the rain is gone..." The song came to mind for two reasons, obviously a relationship to the spring rains we've been having, but also due to driving through some pretty intense fog in pockets between Columbia and Jeff City. When breaking through the dense fog to an opening ....the words of the song came to mind.

What in the world does this have to do with work, you might ask. Well, as I do have a good 45 minutes usually to "think" as I drive to and fro....I got to wondering how many of us could use those lyrics to describe our job/work?

Can you see clearly....as it relates to job expectations?...where IT is heading?...how you fit it?....what value you add to Conservation? If you answer no to those basic questions, something is broke. Either you are in the wrong line of work, haven't asked the right questions, or you don't care. Two.....check that....all three of those responses are from people I don't need or WANT on this TEAM.

We all have a responsibility to be productivity in the work place. If you are less than productivity because you can't "see clearly" what is expected or what the desired outcome is...then the process is broken somewhere...and quite likely you have a great deal of ownership in that issue. The excuse of, "Well, nobody told me what to do." or "I didn't know that." are cop-outs. They are exactly that, an excuse not a reason.

I believe we all have the responsibility to be productive at work. To understand our jobs and what is fully expected of us. I also believe we have the responsibility to provide that realistic expectation back to our employer...if we don't understand something...we should ask. If we don't know where we (or our work) fit it to the overall plan... we should ask. If we are unsure of how to do something...we should ask.

Soon to be gone are the days of the day to day direct Supervisor contact with employees. We are moving towards more task based, project oriented work. You will not have that excuse of nobody told me or "he didn't tell me to do that"....you will given a task/project and the expectation will be to complete it and move on. Too much time is being spent on babysitting employees by Supervisors; assigning tasks, telling them how to do things, checking to make sure it's being done, etc. The day will come when people are hired to do a job, that they say they can do, and they will be expected to do it (and do it correctly) with little or no involvement from Supervisors.

Yea right, you say....I'd challenge you to look around and see what motivates the Gen X or Y crowd. How do they do things? How do they interact? They want authority (they don't respect authority just because your badge says "Super--anything" ) and autonomy to do things. They work independently and yet like contact with others/friends. They are bright, technology driven, and self motivated to learn/grow. All of those characteristics lead us toward a project/team based work environment. Not to mention the forecast downtrend in available employees to hire, due to retiring baby boomers.

So, can you see clearly? Are you preparing yourself to make the necessary adjustments to be successful in the changing work place. Are you paying attention? Not unlike another commonly quoted saying that I tend to associate with.... "Lead, Follow, or Get Out of the Way." Times are a changing everywhere we look...that includes the work environment and what is expected from each and every one of us.

Can you see clearly?

TAFN

...Do You Hear What I Hear?

2007-05-10T04:19:00.000-07:00

Some may recall the song that contained the lyrics..."Do you see what I see...." An interesting question to ponder...let me alter that a tad and ask, "Do (Did) you hear what I hear (heard)" yesterday at the Coffee with the Chief presentation? I would love to hear from all of the folks in Technology Services group what they heard yesterday.

It seems many folks interpret the written and spoken word differently. I've often wondered whether that is an innate condition, one that is exhibited due to sociological differences, gender based, or just purely out of the fact that we want to hear only what we want to hear....?? But if you pay attention, not everyone will tell you they heard the same thing. I believe that part of what you hear, is based upon how well you know the person doing the speaking.... Think about that for a minute, we'll revisit that momentarily.

Staff for the most part yesterday, from my observations, were attentive and engaged. That's a good thing when you are in the CIO's company. I am intrigued at people and their behavior in general and it was like a new movie release yesterday for me. A chance to watch people and see how they react to what the CIO was saying. ...And yes, there were reactions. I observed behavior indicative of: acute interest, excitement, engagement, dis-interest, disgust, and even opposition. ....and just to answer that question up front--NO, I am not a trained behavioral scientist, nor do I play one on TV.... Just my opinion and what people's facials, body language and tone spoke to me.

Now back to what you heard and how well you know the person theory....While some have known the CIO longer for more years than I...I feel like he and have have that "special" connection/bond that enables you to communicate on a higher level. Is that possible you might ask?...I'd suggest you consider the relationship with your spouse (provided you have one, and have been together for more than a few years). Don't you sometime anticipate what they will say or what they "mean" when they say something.....even if that isn't what exactly what they said? Or consider your relationship with a close family member, brother/sister, parent, etc.....aren't you sometimes able to glean something out of their words that others may not...
I would offer that all of us at one time or another have experienced that.

Sometimes we hear ONLY what we want to hear. Our predisposed attitudes won't allow us to hear, (even outright facts), what is being said. Our attitudes play an important role in our ability to listen objectively to pick out facts, exaggerations, and things in between. So where were you yesterday? Were you open minded or predisposed?

What I heard, relative to Tech Svcs in brief:
1) Budget approved soon, dollars similar to this FY.
2) IDF a big deal, lots of money and will require lots of staff time
3) Office 2007 coming, split between two FY's.
4) Exchange/Outlook coming (still considering joining forces with ITSD to host)
5) PC Drop Ship: proud of the work done to date, looking forward to costing advantages and staff time savings
6) Working harder and smarter MUST be a way of life for us.
7) Not disappointed in progress for Dev Group---notice he did NOT say it was great either...we've got work to do.
8) VOIP--implemented a few spots, more to come, integration and value should be apparent
9) Performance reviews will reflect honest performance/evals, not sugar coated
10) Telework---something we're working on...adds value on numerous fronts

etc., that's a few of the highlights that stick out in my brain. Did you hear the same things?? What is your "take-away" from the presentation? Was it just information....or do you now have "ownership" in some things? A key here....you hear what the big guy thinks, he laid out some direction...now how do you fit in? How will (notice I didn't say "can") you help move Conservation forward?

Is that what you heard?

TAFN

Dedication.....

2007-05-09T04:35:00.000-07:00

Sticking with a related subject to the recent theme in this blog... Yesterday while having some time to reflect, thanks to Mr Truman or someone else who was significant enough to have a State Holiday named in their honor...My phone rang, it was the CIO. Yes you are right, I'm thinking wow, cool, he's calling to see how my Holiday is going... OK, now back to reality. I actually thought, hmmm wonder what's broke.

He relays to me about the Emergency Task Force (ETF) assembly in Jeff and what he knows about the group. He asks me, "Do you know what's going on with Staff, to prepare for this?" Let me clue you in, just in case you don't know, I hate not being able to provide info when asked for it. In this case, I had nothing to say other than...."No".... As a result of my negative response, he's on his way over to the Head Shed to check on staff and the progress made.

So, reacting post haste and perhaps "in the rears" in this case, I contact my ever responsive Desktop Manager's (DM) cell phone. He answers!!!! (Wow, what a refreshing change from previous experiences I've had with other staff I've supervised over the years!!) Hey, not being cruel, I'm stating facts as they exist, there is no value for me to embellish the facts. ....and yes there IS a message there too. So my DM answers, we exchange quick pleasantries and I ask his understanding/involvement in the work for the ETF. He quickly relies his understanding and what he had done the previous day.

I ask if he's had any contact with the involved parties yet on this day....negative reply. He relayed he had plans to swing by the office to check progress (see the trend here----dedication). I passed along I received a call from the CIO and what that conversation was about and even shared with him some of my thoughts about how the CIO ticks.... I'll take the time here to spell that out for you in case there might be some value or enlightenment that can be gleaned for others. ----Our CIO likes to be INFORMED! When adequately briefed, he is like a elegant beautiful sail ship on the sea on a light breezy day. When not provided with enough info so he can answer questions AND feel confident that the situation (whatever it may be) is being adequately addressed---he is more like those vessels in the cable show "Deadliest Catch" during a horrible winter storm on the Bering Sea. The message here is: keep the man informed, let him know that we/you are all over the situation, provide details as to what has happened and what is going to happen as a result of our/your action.

Now, back to my DM conversation. I ask him to follow up with the CIO and relay his understanding and positioning---he acknowledges and affirms he will and he will head over to the office very soon (he uses his cell phone, his car and drives on his day off---....dedication). A short time later we have another phone conversation, he has touched base with the other IT staff and things are shaping up. He has made the effort to contact a Forestry Lead and confirmed the required set up (initiative) and let me know of the status and direction. He also relays he will come back to the office at 4 p.m. when the ETF group plans to assemble to ensure all is well with them (DEDICATION!). Armed with this info, I phone the CIO and tell him the status and plans to address the groups need---he has no other questions.

Moral of the story? We've talked about adding value to Conservation, also about whether or not Conservation is getting their money's worth from us.....I believe this short depiction represents a prime example of where the answer is YES! I'm proud I have an example of such on my team! Let's all work towards ensuring that we can all provide our Supervisors with many such positive examples....

TAFN

Moneys Worth?

2007-05-07T04:14:00.000-07:00

Had a little time this weekend to think/reflect....one of the best times for me to do that is when I'm mowing the lawn. Nothing to worry about there but straight lines, so I have a solid hour to just think. One of the things I was thinking about was related to an earlier blog about value and what we bring to the table for MDC. So continuing my thinking along those lines, I got to thinking about what folks within our IT group are getting paid.....seems there's a lot of money tied up in IT salaries.

Many folks within this group are getting paid significantly more than other MDC employees with more years experience in this Agency and training specifically related to the work we are constitutionally mandated to do---that is Fish, Forest, and Wildlife Management. Some folks who are not considered Managers, supervise no one, have no fiscal responsibility are paid more than others who do. Why? I asked myself. Is the value really there for MDC, for these folks?

I would venture a guess that if you would query those individuals, they would relate that they are worth every penny---they do what they are paid to do---they work hard, etc, etc. But, do they?? Are they really moving Conservation forward? Just being reliable showing up to work and doing what you are told to do by someone whom supervises you doesn't meet that litmus test in my mind. Why should you paid more than most and still have to be told what to do, how to do it, and when it should be done? Where is the value in that?

I believe the value in employees is when they can think on their own, independent of having to be told specifically what has to be done and when. They have trained animals in a circus that is able to do that! The ability to learn from past mistakes and being able to prevent similar things from recurring is something everyone could/should be able to do. Putting on blinders and only seeing the task at hand IS NOT adding value, IMHO. I don't see people in their private lives exhibiting that behavior---they make a banking mistake that costs them some money and BAM, that never happens again. They make mistakes in their home life and learn valuable lessons from that mistake....those mistakes are not made again, typically. There are exceptions to every rule of course....

So what's in this for me? As a paid Manager for this group, I honestly believe it is mandated that I ensure we (the company) are getting what we've paid for. Are we paying for mediocrity? I think most in this Agency would answer no to that question. OK, so if we're not paying for mediocrity are we getting what we pay for? That is my question.

My answer, ....I think not. Now, that observance isn't limited to our group, but my supervisor authority is. So, I will re-evaluating who is doing what, what we are paying them, their contributions to IT/MDC, etc. Frankly just because you've worked here a long time, doesn't mean you should earn more money than me---You must be adding value and be helping move Conservation forward. This job requires a thought process, we don't need robots or trained Monkeys. I'm thinking if you make twice as much as me, then you should be twice as valuable...your work should reflect that...your thought process should be better, quicker, more refined...you should make fewer mistakes....you shouldn't have to be told the basics...you shouldn't have to be reminded time and time again of the same errors.

The ability to grow mentally is critical to where we help lead MDC from a technology perspective in the future. We need people who can (AND DO) THINK---think outside what they are being told...question if we are doing the right thing...in the right way. Learn from mistakes...push themselves to be better, technically, to improve skill sets period. Perhaps a question to ask is...."What have I done in the past year to improve who I am in Conservation?" ...have I pushed myself ?... What sets me apart from others? Why am I more important to Conservation that someone they can bring in off the streets tomorrow for less money?

Bottom Line = Am I worth what they are paying me?.... That question, my friends, requires your serious thought...because I guarantee you, if others are not asking that question about you right now....likely they will very soon! It just makes sense.

TAFN

Friday TS View

2007-05-04T04:52:00.000-07:00

Today is Friday in our world of MDC IT work. On Friday's I often reflect back on the weeks work and ask myself...."Did you move Conservation forward this week?" Tough question sometimes as the answer is not always evident in the work I do nowadays. Years ago, it was easy for me to answer....Heck yea, I planted 100 acres of corn in Pool 1....the Mallards will be better for it in November.....or Yep, I got SE Regions computers up and running and now they can do their resource work faster so they can get more done---Conservation was better.

But, again I wonder how is my success or failure measured today? What difference do I make? More importantly what changes can I maker personally to ensure the answers to the questions are Yes I am successful and Yes Conservation is better..... Not always easy from where I set...my work is done through others and many times, my efforts are directed at helping make people "better." Attempts to broaden a (or THE) thought process, attempts to help troubleshoot a technical problem, trying to "grow" them.....many an abstract thought there I think. How do I, or anyone for that matter, measure my performance that an employee is better because of my efforts? Certainly I don't want or NEED clones of myself---in fact that's the last thing I want. But surely there is something about me that is good to emulate---or so I would hope....

I think I've decided the best way to measure my success and the tasks I have at hand now are to look around and answer the question---Is Conservation moving forward because of my efforts? If I can answer that question to the affirmative then in my mind, I'm on the right track.

How about you? How do you measure your impact....your success? Are you moving Conservation forward?....Everyday?

TAFN

Service Opportunities

2007-05-03T10:01:00.000-07:00

Not everyday do I hear from our customers....but it is most days. Almost without fail, I learn something from each and everyone of these interactions.

Today I received a call from the field that had to do with the recent implementation of printer duplex. The caller lead me to believe that our configuration of the device was incorrect...in that the documents were printing on the short edge and not the long edge. More information about the duplex change was discussed, including has this been discussed with our first line of support....the IT Help desk? Of course an ever vigilant TS Supervisor would of course deal with the issue and get it resolved post haste....

SO, the first thing I do is make contact with our Help desk staff and ask them to confirm the existing configuration of the sites printers. Ever dutiful staff drop everything and begin on this quest.... During the ongoing investigation, I stop in the Desktop Managers office and profess some of my thoughts about technical support and service levels. I even express some of my concern about who does what in our little corner of MDC. (He's played this game before and listens intently to my ramblings...and says something to the effect of yes, perhaps you're right). After a short walk back to my office, an email appears from the Help desk with the facts.

The printers are configured as they are supposed to be!

My takeaways:
1) Think first, open mouth later
2) Give staff benefit of doubt until they prove unworthy of the arrangement, and
3) Perhaps we could do a better job of touching base with our customers after "significant" projects/work items are completed in field. To check pulse, to gauge success, and to report results.

I promise to work on my end, if you will promise to work on yours....

TAFN