The Employee and Organization of the Future -- A Partnership at All Levels

Abstract

Information technology organizations have an obligation to focus their staff resources on their future employability rather than on current jobs. Skills sets must include adaptability to change, lifelong learning, service orientation, and responsiveness to the institution's business needs. The success of the individual and the organization are interdependent--a true partnership. University Computing Services, Indiana University, has made efforts to ensure this partnership at various levels. First and foremost, to reinforce the role of the new manager/leader, they invest in training and redefining reward systems centered on staff development and empowerment. Simultaneously, they emphasize and reward among staff the value of seizing professional growth opportunities and of balancing individual initiative with a teamwork orientation. The partnership extends internally between staff and user training initiatives and goes beyond the departmental borders to other academic and administrative departments and technology vendors to make it work. Collaboration and partnership diminish the challenges of the rapid pace of change in the midst of budget restraints.