UWM CIO Office A Collaborative Process for IT Training and Development Copyright UW-Milwaukee, 2007. This work is the intellectual property of the author.

UWM CIO Office

A Collaborative Process for IT Training and Development

• Copyright UW-Milwaukee, 2007. This work is the intellectual property of the author. Permission is granted for this material to be shared for non-commercial, educational purposes, provided that this copyright statement appears on the reproduced materials and notice is given that the copying is by permission of the author. To disseminate otherwise or to republish requires written permission from the author.

UWM CIO Office

A Collaborative Process for IT Training and DevelopmentSimone C. O. Conceição, Assistant Professor

Therese Bohn, Professional Development Coordinator

Ericka Mendez, Professional Development Coordinator

Kathy L. Heath, Director of Administrative Services

UWM CIO Office

Presentation Overview• Project background

• Project model

• Outcomes

• Next steps

• Q & A

UWM CIO Office

MilwaukeeStudent Population: 27, 840 Undergraduates: 23,640 Masters: 3,200 Doctoral: 1,000

Faculty and Staff: 3,360

Schools and Colleges: 12

Undergraduate programs: 155Masters programs: 49PhD programs: 20

UWM Campus93 acres

UWM at a Glance Major research university

UWM CIO Office

Project Background

UWM CIO Office

We ask…How do we determine and meet

the professional development needs

of a diverse IT organization?

UWM CIO OfficeInformation &

Media Technologies

CIO OfficeCIO Office

Strategic Planning

Strategic Planning

UWM Information Security

Office

UWM Information Security

Office

Unit Technology Representatives

Campus TechnologySupport Staff

Unit Technology Representatives

Campus TechnologySupport Staff

Core Service TeamsCore Service Teams

Network &

OperationsServices

Network &

OperationsServices

Administrative &

Management Services

Administrative &

Management Services

Client Services &

ApplicationDevelopment

Client Services &

ApplicationDevelopment

Creative Services

Creative Services

UWM CIO Office

Criteria for Solution• Responds to issues identified in IT Review

• Addresses challenges facing IT staff working in a collaborative environment

• Ensures all employees have a voice

• Aligns with mission, vision and values of organization

UWM CIO Office

From the UWM IT Review:

“Inadequate training in current and emerging

technologies and application development

tools inhibit I&MT’s ability to effectively

(re)deploy resources to meet changing

needs and expectations.”

UWM CIO Office

RecommendationThere is a “need to integrate

staff training and development as part

of an overall strategy that

fosters growth at every career stage…”

UWM CIO Office

Response

• Develop a training plan to identify and meet staff training and professional development needs.

• Develop a system to redirect and retrain staff as campus needs and priorities change.

.

UWM CIO Office

IT Collaboration at UWM• Partnerships with functional units

• Membership on campuswide teams and committees

• Ongoing interaction inside and outside I&MT

• Core service team model

UWM CIO Office

Project Model

UWM CIO Office

Prior model to assess employee training needs

• Individual training requests

• Soliciting feedback at meetings

• Conducting surveys

UWM CIO Office

Shortfalls of Approach• Staff not aware of training and support

• No consistent, clear communication about training and development priorities

• Need for understanding about integration of soft skills

• No explicit support from upper management

UWM CIO Office

Team Formed• I&MT director of Administrative Services

• I&MT professional development coordinators

• Faculty member with expertise in adult education

UWM CIO Office

Role of Faculty-ConsultantTo help develop:

• Training plan to meet needs

• System to redirect and retrain staff

• Assessment tools to align staff awareness with technologies

UWM CIO Office

Project Goals• Training plan to identify training and professional

development needs

• Plan for employee annual professional development

• System to redirect and retrain staff to meet changing campus needs and priorities

• Connect training expenditures to careful assessment of return on training investments

UWM CIO Office

Project Objectives• Identify approaches to determine and

communicate training and development priorities

UWM CIO Office

Project Objectives• Identify approaches to determine and

communicate training and development priorities

• Create a framework for implementing varying methodologies

UWM CIO Office

Project Objectives• Identify approaches to determine and

communicate training and development priorities

• Create a framework for implementing varying methodologies

• Implement training and development process

UWM CIO Office

Project Objectives• Identify approaches to determine and

communicate training and development priorities

• Create a framework for implementing varying methodologies

• Implement training and development process

• Evaluate training and development activities and process

UWM CIO Office

Project Outline• Develop framework

• Pilot framework

• Review framework

• Report results

UWM CIO Office

Framework Development• Research Needs Assessment tools

• Online survey

• Current model

UWM CIO Office

Development Director Supervisor Staff

Conduct Interview

Participate in interview provide perspective

Conduct Focus Group

Participate in Focus Group Provide perspective

Present Initial Findings

ProvideClarification

Data Collection

UWM CIO Office

Development Director Supervisor Staff

ProvideClarification

Present Initial Findings

PrepareRecommendation Establish Priorities

Create Staff Development

Plan

Reporting

UWM CIO Office

Development Director Supervisor Staff

Execute Staff Training and Development Plan

Track Staff Training and Development Progress

Prepare Quarterly

Report

Assess Progress & Reevaluate

Priorities

Update Staff Development Plan

Provide Feedback

Provide Feedback

Analyze Feedback

Implementation & Feedback

UWM CIO Office

Project Outcomes

UWM CIO Office

What We Learned• Complexity of broad organizational

professional development planning

• Value of conversational approach

• Limits of technology to address people-focused processes and decision-making

UWM CIO Office

Importance of Using a Collaborative Model

• Involves everyone in process

• Helps individuals consider own learning needs and training priorities

• Provides opportunities for employees to learn about available resources

UWM CIO Office

Importance of Using a Collaborative Model cont.

• Enhances communication across organization

• Encourages resource-sharing

• Results in a customized approach to professional development

UWM CIO Office

Unanticipated Results• Increased employee understanding of

division-wide and work-group-specific training needs and challenges

• Increased ability to identify, coordinate and facilitate appropriate training solutions

• Opened communication channels critical for ongoing success

UWM CIO Office

Next Steps

UWM CIO Office

Next steps• Complete training and development plan

with all permanent staff

• Establish steps for each employee linking directly to performance planning process

• Evaluate impact of process one-year from implementation

UWM CIO Office

A Collaborative Process for IT Training and Development

QUESTIONS?

Simone C. O. Conceição [email protected] Bohn [email protected] Mendez [email protected] L. Heath [email protected]