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Includes
over 300 checklists essential for today's IT professional
The
IT Manager’s Handbook provides information technology managers and staff
with a comprehensive and practical tool for their everyday activities as
suppliers and purchasers of IT services and products. It contains over 300
checklists for carrying out business planning, dealing with customers,
planning and managing projects, analysing business requirements,
specifying and designing IT systems, evaluating and purchasing IT
packages, managing staff, managing one’s own career, carrying out
administration and health and safety procedures, and managing finance and
property. In addition, there are sections outlining the UK’s national
management standards and defining accounting and IT terms.
The
handbook does not replace the need to read around subjects in detail but
brings summary guidelines together into one place. It is a document that
is easy to read and contains in a concise form much of the detail needed
to carry out the daily tasks of IT management. As with any set of
checklists, problems should be thought out first and the lists used to
pick up missing points. Some of the lists are in a logical sequence for
carrying out tasks; others are in alphabetical order.
The
handbook will be of assistance to anyone involved with customers, projects
and staff, not just those employed in IT and many of the guidelines apply
equally to non-IT organisations.
The
handbook can be used by students to assist with IT and management courses
and will be valuable to colleges, businesses and other organisations as a
teaching aid resource, to assist with the production of training materials
and as a guide for discussion workshops.
The
handbook incorporates my 30 years’ experience as an IT manager. During
this time I observed many occasions when individuals re-invented the wheel
when asked to carry out a task. Sometimes this was valid when carrying out
new work or reviewing existing methodology but often it was routine work
such as recruitment and procedures were already established which should
have been used as a basis for further improvement. Occasionally not using
tried and tested methods led to disaster when some vital activity was
forgotten or an incompatibility emerged. I found it better to document
successful methods wherever possible without stifling the need for
innovation where appropriate. In addition, written business procedures
form an important element of quality service delivery.
In
designing the handbook consideration has been given to the UK’s
National Standards for Operational and Strategic Management and
the requirements of NVQ Management levels 3, 4 and 5 including
the management of activities, resources, people, information,
projects and quality.
Copyright
David Miller 2001
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