Consider this scenario, you study hard for 4 years, get your degree, and then land your first job in the field of Information Systems. After a few years of doing a great job and impressing your bosses, you get the offer you’ve been hoping for, the opportunity to be the information systems manager. You eagerly accept the offer and are excited to begin this new phase in your career.
As exciting as it may seem, you may feel a bit of trepidation. Are you adequately prepared for this new position? Will you be able to deliver on the tremendous responsibilities that you’ve now been entrusted with?
Many factors will dictate how successful you will eventually become as the new IS manager. As organizations continue to rely on technology to drive efficiency, innovation, and competitive advantage. Companies will be relying heavily on you to effectively steer it in a direction to allow technological initiatives to be realized and to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the business processes to benefit the company’s customers.
As the new IS manager, you should not only possess a solid understanding of information systems and information technology, but even more so, demonstrate leadership, strategic vision, and the ability to navigate complex organizational challenges. And perhaps most of all, have a solid understanding of what the organization should provide to its customers.
I will not delve into what kind of training is required to become an information systems manager, we can assume that someone may possess an undergraduate degree or years of experience in the field of information systems or both. This article is primarily geared toward some of the factors that make someone successful in this position. So let’s get to it.
When I talk about empowering people, especially in a modern organizational context, I refer to going beyond merely delegating duties for staff to perform. It’s about establishing a setting in which workers can feel entrusted, and are provided with the resources necessary to allow them the ability to perform their work most effectively and efficiently. Here are some ways to empower the people under your purview, as well as others who are responsible for carrying out the various business processes within the organization:
Allocate necessary information
This is rather self-evident, an Information Systems manager has to be able to provide the required information necessary for staff to perform their duties. The information that they facilitate will be required by the company to achieve their business processes.
For example, the information that the IS department provides not only includes information required to achieve the primary business goals but can also range from customer analytics, competitor analytics, and marketing campaign performance tracking, to system performance and scalability. As the IS manager, it is your responsibility to ensure that such crucial information is passed down to the required personnel effectively and efficiently.
Allocation of Tools
The amount of tools used in information systems can vary greatly, and it is up to you as the IS manager to provide the proper tools for the organization to meet its business objectives in a productive and secure manner. Here are a few tools used by modern companies today:
- Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Systems
- Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Systems
- Business Intelligence (BI) and Analytics Tools
- Collaboration and Communication Tools
- Document Management Systems
- Enterprise Content Management (ECM) Systems
- Workflow Automation Tools
- Cybersecurity Solutions
- Cloud Computing Services
- Mobile Applications and Device Management
Training
It is important as an IS manager that you provide the necessary training, particularly for your staff in the operation of the many tools listed previously. Proper training ensures that personnel understand how to leverage technology to perform their jobs more efficiently, which will eventually allow the organization to achieve its business processes. The benefits of training include:
- Reduction in errors
- Increase in productivity
- Promotes employee engagement, and boosts employee confidence
- Greater ability for staff to adapt to changes
- Maximization on Return on Investment (ROI)
- Improvement in collaborations
- Greater security awareness
- Facilitates continuous improvement
2. Strategic Vision
Any successful IS manager must be able to coordinate the organization’s IS projects with its long-term goals. They must also be able to recognize a new technology, analyze its potential effectiveness, and project how the new technology can help the company achieve and maintain a competitive edge and propel the business processes successfully forward. If you would like more information on information systems and strategy, please see my article on the Strategic role of information systems.
3. Strong Leadership Qualities
Having strong leadership skills is an essential component for any IS manager. The IS manager should have a strong vision, be skilled at task delegation, and create a collaborative work environment that encourages team members to give their best. As an IS manager, you should have a solid understanding of all aspects of the IS department, and be able to inspire and motivate the teams under your purview.
4. Excellent Communication Skills
Information Systems managers should possess the ability to communicate effectively not only to those under them but also to others within the organization, especially those up the ladder. In many instances, as the IS manager, you will have to report to those above you in the company, and in most cases these individuals are not technically inclined. Therefore having the skill to convey technical knowledge to non-technical stakeholders in a way that’s clear and easy for them to understand is very important.
Concerning those who report to the IS manager, it is important to be able to encourage fruitful conversations among members of the team and explain quite succinctly what you expect of them and how they should proceed. It’s not the military, you shouldn’t feel compelled to shout orders and expect your staff to follow them. Make your expectations clear and include everyone in the discussion. Get feedback, ask for their recommendations, and when everyone fully understands what has to be done, then proceed with the task.
5. Technical Proficiency
As the IS manager, you would be working with a vast array of technologies. A solid understanding of these technologies such as networking, database management, IT security, etc. is necessary as they are crucial to the business operations of the company. Although a solid understanding of these technologies is necessary, from my experience, as the IS manager, you may not necessarily have to know very intricate details of these technologies. There will be personnel in the department who possess specialty skills in the technologies used by the company.
For example, an IS manager should have an understanding of programming, but may not necessarily have to know how to program the software used by the company, specialist individuals will serve that purpose. However, it is the responsibility of the IS manager to ensure that the work submitted achieves the desired goals and objectives.
6. Versatility
Given the ever-changing nature of technology, an IS manager must possess versatility and a willingness to acquire knowledge of emerging technologies and processes. They need to take the initiative to keep up with industry trends and take advantage of developing technology before a competitor does. By taking advantage of emerging technologies, it increases the probability of the company’s business processes continuing to be successful, remaining competitive in its particular market, and prioritizing the needs of its internal and external stakeholders.
7. Problem-Solving and Troubleshooting Skills
There will always be issues and challenges that have to be confronted. The IS manager will be required to recognize, analyze, and respond to any information system-related issue faced by the company in the shortest possible time. They must be able to diagnose and troubleshoot problems and assign them to the relevant personnel for resolution if necessary.
8. Project Management
An IS manager must not be afraid to embrace new technologies, especially if a particular technology can significantly improve the business process or processes of the organization. The implementation of any new technology must be done in a structured and controlled manner and will include resource allocation, risk management, coordination with required personnel, etc. Proper planning is vital to ensure that the introduction of any new project is done on schedule, on budget and meets the desires and quality standards established by the company.
9. Continuous Improvement
As mentioned before, an IS manager needs to be aware of emerging technologies and advancements. Throughout their time as IS manager, they may have to participate in ongoing training and complete particular certifications that would be of benefit to them and the company. They should also foster a culture of continuous improvement, and encourage others in the company to think outside the box and embrace change.
Conclusion
An information systems manager is a highly regarded position, and a successful one not only understands the technology with which they work but also how that technology must be used to maximize the effectiveness and efficiency of the organization’s business processes. They possess the ability to lead their department effectively and can communicate their goals to the rest of the organization clearly and concisely.
Finally, information systems managers continually improve themselves and are willing to embrace and implement new technologies and align such technologies with the goals and objectives of the organization to maximize customer satisfaction. These qualities make them truly invaluable in today’s highly tech-focused world.
