Transcript Successful Decision Making for the CIO

Successful Decision Making
in IT management
 John
Bucher, Director Information Technology,
Oberlin College
 Robert Paterson, Chief Information Officer,
Salem State College
 H. David Todd, Vice Provost and Chief Information
Officer, University of San Diego
ACM SIGUCCS Computer Services
Management Symposium, 2003
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Abstract:
Senior IT managers make key decisions that can
greatly impact their chances of success.
What are the opportunities and pitfalls to be
aware of when making decisions?
How do we continually reinvent ourselves to
remain effective in our jobs
A panel of CIOs will provide guidelines for
assessing opportunities and share what they
might have done differently.
ACM SIGUCCS Computer Services
Management Symposium, 2003
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Categories of decisions
Technical
Emotional
Communication
Budget
Ethical
Personnel
Career
Relative Importance
ACM SIGUCCS Computer Services
Management Symposium, 2003
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How do you decide ?
What is
the basis for your decision?
What are your ground rules for making
decisions?
What is the role of your moral compass?
ACM SIGUCCS Computer Services
Management Symposium, 2003
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Range of decision making
Too Slow
Too Quick
• Procrastination
• “Ready, fire, aim”
• Indecision
• Impulsive, compulsive
• “Analysis paralysis”
• Arbitrary
ACM SIGUCCS Computer Services
Management Symposium, 2003
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When do you make the decision?
Do you have all of the right information?
 Do you know how much latitude you have?
 How are people expecting you to handle
decisions?
 You’re the boss - they want a decision.
 You gained their trust, now keep it.

ACM SIGUCCS Computer Services
Management Symposium, 2003
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How do you keep your views fresh?
Reinvent yourself
 Talk to others, ask for their input
 Read, read, read
 Slow down to fully analyze the situation(s)
 Learn from experience, but respect each new
circumstance
 Pinch yourself occasionally

ACM SIGUCCS Computer Services
Management Symposium, 2003
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Presenting your decisions
How? What mechanism?
 To what audience? In what order?
 Developing the decision; involving others’ input
 When to “go to the mat” with an issue
 How widespread should it be?

ACM SIGUCCS Computer Services
Management Symposium, 2003
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Small decisions
Who makes those decisions?
 Small decisions… sometimes big consequences
 Getting “off the dime”

ACM SIGUCCS Computer Services
Management Symposium, 2003
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How to handle “Bad” Decisions
Define a “bad decision”
 Admit when you’re wrong
 Take the responsibility for your staff
 Discuss what needs to happen to change the
situation
 Keep your boss in the loop

ACM SIGUCCS Computer Services
Management Symposium, 2003
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How do you improve your
likelihood of success ?
Solicit input
 Listen to everyone
 Develop common values

ACM SIGUCCS Computer Services
Management Symposium, 2003
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How do you know you’ve made
successful decisions?
No news is good news
 Acknowledge the focus of the IT committee
 Read the campus newspaper
 Anticipate the next question

ACM SIGUCCS Computer Services
Management Symposium, 2003
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Categories of decisions
Technical
Emotional
Communication
Budget
Ethical
Personnel
Career
Relative Importance
ACM SIGUCCS Computer Services
Management Symposium, 2003
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