Evaluation of IT Leader Pilot Program – January 2005

Presentation to IT Steering Committee – February 4, 2005

The IT Leader Program concept was born out of the IT Strategic Plan entitled “Strategic Directions for Information Technology at the University of Windsor” which indicated that IT Services shall coordinate the process of identifying IT Leaders in AAU’s, programs and administrative departments campus-wide who will serve as local IT resources and liaison persons.

The IT Leader Program provides IT education to individuals located in departments across the University campus who have been identified by their respective department head as participants in the program. IT Services will provide training in the following areas to those individuals: Advanced Training in Office Suite Software, PC Support & Security, End-User Best Practices, Networking, Lotus Notes, Supported Software, and Services Offered by IT Services.

IT Leaders would be responsible for:

  • Basic PC troubleshooting including the application of security patches to operating systems and the ability to configure a PC to take advantage of the automatic updates option for O/S patches.
  • Becoming knowledgeable with the basic concepts and features of Novell including file sharing and storage and network printing.
  • Becoming model end-users. IT Leaders would be trained in best use practices for end-users (i.e., the importance of keeping O/S patches and virus signatures up to date) and would be living models by following the best practices and passing them on to the members of the respective area. Best practices would extend to other items used in technology such as the appropriate and inappropriate uses of e-mail.
  • Acting as first contact point from IT Services to their department for IT related issues.
  • Developing a thorough knowledge of IT Services and their available services.
  • Providing assistance in their respective department for supported software.
  • Becoming knowledgeable in the specific application and practicality of the advanced features of supported software (i.e. TeamRoom and Calendaring in Lotus Notes) for use in their respective areas thus furthering the use of technology across campus with the result of the campus community working more efficiently with the technology available to them.

Participants for the pilot program were solicited during spring 2004 and the pilot was launched in June 2004. Two sets of orientation/training workshops were conducted in June and July 2004. There were 24 participants in the pilot program from various areas across the University campus.

During the Fall 2004 semester, monthly information/workshop sessions were held on the third Wednesday of each month. Topics covered were: Lotus Notes Document Library, Security, PureMessage Spam Filter, and Lotus Notes Calendaring. IT Services staff made presentations to the group.

In November 2004, a short survey was forwarded to all participants in the pilot to obtain feedback concerning their perception of the success/relevance of the IT Leader Pilot Program. The program was very well received by all participants and was seen as very worthwhile as both a communication tool for IT issues and as a networking tool for the participants. All respondents indicated that the knowledge acquired through the workshops and information sessions was applicable in performing their IT Leader duties in their department.

In December 2004, an additional short survey was forward to all participants to obtain their immediate supervisor’s perceptions/concerns with respect to the IT Leader Pilot Program. All with the exception of one of the supervisor respondents agreed that the program should be expanded to the campus community on a voluntary basis. One of the supervisor respondents indicated “This program will increase the university’s total bank of technical knowledge, while reducing the call for centralized resources (i.e. HelpDesk). It will serve to empower employees, reduce waiting lists for service, train additional staff with additional skillsets they otherwise would not acquire. As a voluntary program, it will draw the most motivated participants. It will be very worthwhile.”

Based on the feedback received from both the participants in the pilot and their supervisors, IT Services recommends that the IT Leader Program be rolled-out to the campus community, as soon as possible.

Guy Allen

IT Leader Coordinator

January 31, 2005