Under-performing employees do not necessarily lack talent. Instead, they might lack other factors such as appropriate training or management. There are several approaches that an IT manager can take for dealing with underperforming staff in order to avoid the costs associated with termination. |
Low morale is not just an employee issue, it is a business issue, and it can seriously affect an organization’s bottom line. Employees don’t stay at a company because of team-building events or department dinners – they stay because their work is fulfilling and motivating. It is the IT manager’s responsibility to ensure that IT staff morale doesn’t slip. Follow these suggestions to avoid the costs of low morale. |
In light of the 2008 economic downturn, the word “motivation” may be far from employees’ vocabularies. In fact, as a result of the current financial downturn, only one in ten IT professionals feel secure in their job, according to a survey by the Chartered Management Institute (CMI). So it is vital that IT managers harness their most creative motivational tactics to beat the motivation slump. |
The current economic crisis has prompted many enterprises to explore new cost reduction venues. An increasing number of enterprises in Canada and the U.S. are looking at alternative working arrangements as opportunities to reduce their operational costs. |
Protect against attrition, and ensure that staffing requirements are met, by using the McLean Report “Ideal Staffing Mix Tool” to determine the optimal distribution of junior, intermediate and senior level staff. |
Creating an agile workforce involves examining tasks, skills, and staff from a variety of angles to really understand how they fit together. Adopting an agile approach will ensure that the right skills are available at the right time. Follow this seven step process to keep pace in a rapidly changing IT environment and increase the efficiency of IT staff. |
Ability to respond to changing business needs is imperative to IT success, especially in light of pending economic changes. How agile are your individual staff members? Find out using this agility calculator. |
During an economic slowdown, fear of a recession or budget cuts can take the focus off of constant improvement and negatively impact productivity when it is most needed. Stay focused on creating value by following these five simple steps. |
As managers progress in an organization, more and more of their time is spent dealing with people problems instead of technical or operational problems. To get the most out of employees, managers must be able to coach them to better performance. |
Coaching an employee can take place in a formal meeting or in an informal, ad-hoc manner. It is easy to lose track of what was communicated during these coaching sessions, be they for educational or disciplinary purposes. Use this tool to document all coaching sessions with staff and build a multi-year historic record. |
With an economic downturn underway, IT departments are looking for ways to cut costs fast. Unfortunately, one of the first items to go is training. Info-Tech recommends finding economical ways to fit training into a tight budget instead of cutting training all together. |
The benefits of applying coaching techniques in business settings have been widely publicized. However, coaching can be risky if it is applied in instances where it is inappropriate - it can prove to be disempowering and uninspiring. Follow this guide to learn when it is appropriate to use coaching techniques to improve employee performance. |
Teleworking has specific help desk challenges that must be addressed and accounted for in the project planning stage of the program. Doing so will prevent the help desk from being inundated by teleworker support requests and help mitigate teleworker performance and frustration issues. |
Companies need to define their basic teleworking requirements and make sure they are adhered to. To improve the effectiveness of IT support for teleworkers, companies should standardize the equipment and software they use. |
The organizational structure of IT, effective in the past, can become insufficient to support the needs of enterprises that are growing or diversifying. Recognize which recent or planned business changes could stress the current IT organization structure and then take corrective action. |
The next generation of knowledge worker has a decidedly different take on information use, communication, and the work environment itself. Tapping into the psyche of these forward-thinking employees can unlock new innovations and productivity benefits; failure to understand their needs will lead to employee dissatisfaction and costly turnover. |
Worlds are colliding. The lines are blurring between personal time and time spent "at work." The growth of wireless connectivity and mobile computing is making working from home or while on the road a reality for many employees. |
End-user devices that improve staff productivity and mobility also serve the personal needs of their users. Reduce enterprise equipment and support costs for mobile and home devices by leveraging equipment employees already have. Prepare the IT infrastructure to support devices selected and owned by staff rather than by the enterprise. |
Many managers struggle with how to validate these initiatives in terms of business value. Info-Tech's "ROI Calculator for Corporate Training" quantifies the value and helps enterprises prioritize training initiatives. |
Managing change to the organization's tech strategy is a difficult task. Minimize IT employee resistance to new technology adoption by developing solid support and training plans. |
Although the avian flu has yet to transition to pandemic status, regular strains of influenza promise to reduce worker attendance this winter. Ensure that plans compensate for widespread illness among staff. |
Technology giveth. It also taketh away. And guess which one happens more often? When I first installed instant messaging software on my computer about six or seven years ago, I was blown away by its apparent utility. Because of its immediacy, it was like email on steroids. |
IT plays a critical support role in getting new employees equipped for day one. As an IT thought leader in your organization, you can help speed the return on investment your company has made in recruiting. Find out how. |
