Does your IT Manager go by the nickname of Dr. No?
Herb Cannon
All too often, I have come across IT managers who believe it is their job to say no. Or worse yet, tell you why something you want to do can't be done. Computer geeks (I use that term with love) have a language all their own. I
know that all professionals have a language only they understand, but computer
geeks lead the pack with confusing alphabet soup techno babble. ISP, TCP/IP,
T1, RAID, DDRAM&. The list goes on forever, leaving non-techies like us with a
glazed over look - waving the white flag of surrender.
 Instead of reacting to a question in a creative
way, they find it easier to say no it can't be done... 
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-- Herb Cannon
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If our in-house IT professional were really creative in nature, he would
probably be a programmer for a software company. So if they were trained as a
techie and are now working in an A/E firm, they are probably less than ultra
creative in their thinking. Instead of reacting to a question in a creative
way, they find it easier to say no it can't be done - followed by an explanation filled with their alphabet soup techno babble. They think that the company exists for the benefit of the IT department.
Unfortunately their thinking is all backwards. Just like marketing, accounting and other support functions, the IT department exists for the benefit of the company. What can we do to turn around a Dr. No? Remind them that they exist for the benefit of the company. The company
does not exist to accomondate the IT department.When they say no it can't be done, do one of the following. Tell them you
know it can't be done, but ask them if it could be done - how would we go
about it? This might stimulate their creative thinking. In the
alternative ask if an outside consultant might know how it could be done.
I have found this technique very useful in stimulating their creative
thinking about the problem.Forbid the use of alphabet soup techno babble that you don't understand.
Have a time out whenever you don't understand and have them explain it to
your satisfaction.Make good communication skills and cooperation part of the job criteria -
and part of their performance evaluation.Ask people from other firms if they know of an IT consultant that is
knowledgeable and has good communication skills - a rare combination
indeed!If you have any other ideas, please For more information, please Let me know
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