IT-related resolutions for the new year

The new year is ever nearer, and here are some new year’s resolutions for both information technology experts and technologists in general.

Pick up a copy of Time Management for System Administrators for productivity tips that speak to the sys admin life. I just read the first page of Chapter 4 and the best quote is “I’m a system administrator! I manage chaos for a living!” True, true. I’ve seen this in person.

Shadow or interview one of your typical users this year. Take someone who uses your applications to lunch.

Invite a co-worker in another area of business to coffee to gain some insight and perspective outside of your corner of the world (and perhaps outside of your influence).

Find a way to automate one of your daily or weekly tasks. I’m personally working on automating my digital photo backups at home.

Clear out your help desk inbox. We all have those tickets we just haven’t wanted to deal with. Start 2006 with a clean inbox.

Pick your favorite lifehack and put it into action, such as search shortcuts.

Find ways to examine your business’ needs and see how IT or any technology can help. You can choose just one BSM Route To Value as a starting point if you get stuck.

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IT managers wish lists for 2006

A summary description of an article featuring many IT managers and their wishes for 2006

This article called ” What matters most” in the Australia-based The Age newspaper gets to the heart of what IT Managers wish for most in 2006. At the top of many of the manager’s list is an even closer alignment of business and IT. Many have already seen the value of business services managed with IT service, and want to expand on that idea in 2006.

Managers also talk about the hiring landscape and wonder if the talent they need will be available in the coming year. Many saw a shortage in skill sets they needed in the market. Others note that finding the right people takes a lot of time and effort and wish for recruiting efficiency.

A manager in the banking business said that compliance work was a real pain point for 2005, and wishes for 2006 to have smooth compliance efforts while learning to live with regulators across the world.

BMC’s own Tom Bishop says that “His management wish list has already come to pass - “the recognition that in order to really deliver on the vision on IT service management, you need a good library of best practices [ITIL] that represent the collective wisdom of a set of IT”.” IT governance definitely fulfills the wishes of many IT managers. And on a personal note, congratulations Tom on an adopted daughter on the way December 27th! Now that’s a great wish to come true.

I also would note that it seems like more than half of these IT managers wish to improve their golf score. I read recently that statistically speaking, you can get a hole in one at least 1 in 5,000 tries. So by going golfing three times a week for fifty years, you should be able to get a hole in one. That ought to improve your game!

How about you? Any personal or professional wishes for the new year?

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