The Essential Five Responsibilities of IT Leaders
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Chapter 1: Daily Variability in IT Leadership
The day-to-day experiences of IT leaders are never the same; each day brings its own unique challenges and rewards, making the role both exciting and occasionally overwhelming. While there are numerous repetitive tasks, this article will focus on five critical responsibilities.
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Section 1.1: Purchase Requests
Receiving Purchase Requests (PRs) is an email I often anticipate, although my enthusiasm is laced with sarcasm. The expectation is that everything proceeds smoothly—IT gets what it needs, finance gives a nod of approval, and purchasing swiftly generates the order. In reality, I typically handle at least five PRs each day, which can be quite a handful.
Section 1.2: Board Meetings
In addition to regular meetings, if your organization is under Private Equity ownership, you'll likely participate in numerous board meetings. These sessions serve as a platform to update board members on various IT projects alongside finance and sales discussions. Preparation is key; crafting and submitting presentation slides to the CEO for review is essential. While some may find board meetings stressful, I actually enjoy these gatherings, as they provide an opportunity to demonstrate how investments are utilized.
Chapter 2: Cybersecurity Vigilance
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Section 2.1: Daily Cybersecurity Discussions
Cybersecurity is a critical focus, frequently discussed with system administrators, company leadership, private equity partners, and third-party auditors. Daily conversations may cover areas like employee training, phishing simulations, penetration testing, and infrastructure security enhancements. Vigilance regarding third-party software and hardware is crucial, particularly in the wake of a cybersecurity incident. Ensuring timely patching is essential, as cybersecurity is a significant concern for all organizations.
Section 2.2: Software Training Responsibilities
When new software is introduced, it's often my responsibility to oversee training for staff on its use. For instance, if we're compiling data across various branches for business intelligence with tools like Tableau or Phocas, I coordinate training sessions. The IT team collaborates to designate a project leader who will delve into the software and instruct others. My role includes organizing meetings, introducing the initiative, and providing an overview before handing over to the lead trainer. Patience is crucial here, as many employees resist change, preferring their established Excel sheets. Over time, they often come to appreciate the new tools.
Section 2.3: Importance of Capacity Planning
Capacity planning is an area often overlooked by IT leaders. Having skilled project managers is vital, as they can significantly influence the success of capacity planning efforts. Understanding capacity allows me to communicate with other leaders about concurrent projects and assist in prioritization. While each leader views their project as paramount, fostering collaboration through visual tools like Miro boards—rather than standard Gantt charts—can enhance engagement. Colorful project visuals illustrate milestones and clarify resource availability for different initiatives.
Dino Cajic is the Head of IT at LSBio (LifeSpan BioSciences, Inc.), Absolute Antibody, Kerafast, Everest BioTech, Nordic MUbio, and Exalpha. He also leads MyAutoSystem as CEO. With over ten years of software engineering experience and a B.S. in Computer Science with a Biology minor, he specializes in developing enterprise-level e-commerce solutions and advancing knowledge through writing. Connect with him on LinkedIn, follow him on Instagram, or subscribe to his Medium publication to read his insights.