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Downsize IT Staff for Future Gain with Minimal Pain

Apply a quick and steady hand. Cut, but don't amputate.

More Details
Downsizeitstaffforfuturegainwithminimalpain-storyboard
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Your Challenge

  • Staffing costs comprise the biggest piece of the IT budget. To really cut costs, staff must be a target, but cutting staff is painful and hard to do objectively.
  • Maintaining morale and minimizing risk are top priorities during downsizing, regardless of the time frame given to execute the change.
  • This solution set will help make quick, smart, and survivable staff reductions.

Our Advice

Critical Insight
  • Layoffs are often left too late in the cost-cutting game, leading to sub-optimal decision-making. Cut deep and early with layoffs to contain the pain and realize the financial benefits early.
  • Target administration, middle management, and applications roles first since they're least likely to negatively affect IT service delivery. Be cautious when cutting the help desk if service quality will be negatively affected.
Impact and Result
  • Understand the implications of different types of staff cuts to minimize the risks brought on by poor decision-making.
  • Be sensitive to the negative human impact of downsizing by being as fair, open and decisive as possible.
  • Leverage Info-Tech's exploration of IT leader experiences to gain real-life insight into staff downsizing practices.

Get to Action

  1. Explore the tactics and pitfalls of trimming staffing costs.

    Learn the fundamentals of staff downsizing based on different targets and time frames.

  2. Quickly prioritize where to make staff cuts first.

    Target specific functional roles in IT with the goal of preserving the quality of IT service delivery.

  3. Practice complete due diligence to make objective and optimal reductions.

    Understand the end-to-end downsizing decision-making process, from prioritization to reorganization.

  4. Manage communication and morale.

    Limit risk, keep the staff you need, and put your IT department in a position to thrive going forward.

Tags

Employee, staff, IT staff, IT staffing, reduce costs, reduction, Contractors, cost reduction, staff reduction, reduced labor, reduce, contract termination, contractor, IT cost reduction, Contract IT employee, layoff, Downsizing Staff, staffing budget, layoffs, layoff decision, number of staff, number of IT staff, staff reductions, employee termination, employee departure, reduce cost, staff costs, staffing costs, cost reducing

Related Content

  1. Storyboard: Downsize IT Staff for Future Gain with Minimal Pain
  2. IT Staff Downsizing: Targeting Specific Roles in IT
  3. IT Skills Inventory and Needs Assessment Tool
  4. Staff Cuts: Be Objective and Focus on Required Skills
  5. Staff Downsizing Case Study: A Lesson in Unionized IT Shops

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See how all the steps you need to take come together, with tools and advice to help with each task on your list.

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Apply a quick and steady hand. Cut, but don't amputate.

Solution Road Map

Other Solution Sets in IT Staff Performance Management & Development
1. Develop a Solid Understanding of Performance Appraisal
Clean up the performance appraisal mess.
2. Engage Employees with Career Planning and Succession Development
Get the skills you need, keep the staff you want.
3. Grow Technical Specialists into Leaders
Turn a tech head into a talking head.
View the full Solution Road Map