Top 8 must haves for any IT manager 1. Technology Organization Chart What is it? Diagrammatic representation Technology team.
Why do I need this? of Technology org chart provides a clearer and better view of the Technology team. It clearly lists out the roles and responsibilities of each person. This will come in handy when your client or vendor or customer or internal user insists on knowing the technology structure within the organization.
2. Job Description What is it?
Why do I need this?
Clearly list out the each job role & Every technology member is aware of responsibility of Technology team authority and responsibility from the members. Authority and day one. responsibilities of each team member from the Head-technology to Trainee engineer is listed here.
3. Technology Handbook What is it?
Why do I need this?
Technology Handbook is like the department manual for the technology department within the organization. This includes the technology org chart, network diagrams, infrastructure diagrams, technology team beliefs, best practices, standards followed etc.
This can be shared with your customer/client/prospective client/vendor to showcase the strengths & capabilities of the technology team. It can also form a part of induction document whenever a new team member joins.
4. Technology Overview Presentation What is it?
Why do I need this?
Technology presentation has the same contents of the handbook but in condensed form. This is in the form of a presentation which can be presented at meetings and seminars.
This can be shared with your customer/client/prospective client/vendor to showcase the strengths & capabilities of the technology team. It can also form a part of induction document whenever a new team member joins.
5. Network Diagrams What is it?
Why do I need this?
Network diagrams - High level & Low level network diagrams
Network diagrams can be used for internal purposes to get a clear view of the existing network setup, to understand the security requirements, for troubleshooting, to showcase to prospective clients or service provider and for various other requirements.
6. Technology Performance Reports What is it?
Why do I need this?
Technology related performance reports - Helpdesk performance, Server, network, security, telephony, uptime, capacity, availability etc. Weekly, Monthly Reports
These reports play a key role in highlighting the technology infrastructure performance and the health. Monthly and annual reports will help in trend analysis, business planning and continuous improvement. These reports typically include Incident reports, outage reports, helpdesk calls and call analysis reports, incident reports etc.
7. Technology Process Documents (Policies / Procedures / Work products) What is it?
Why do I need this?
Technology related documents - User ID creation, Privilege management, backup management, remote access, DR, third party access, vendor management, asset management, security practices, training plans, acceptable use policy etc. There are around 35 such documents even though the exact number may depend on the organization.
This helps in aligning technology operations to a process driven approach and makes it person independent. This set of documents includes policies, procedures, guidelines, checklists, forms, and related Technology infrastructure and operation management documents. This also includes standard operating procedures such as backup/restore process, user ID creation, change control process, how to provide third party network access, Internal audit, Inventory of assets, vendor contact list, escalation matrix etc.
8. Technology Cost Sheet What is it?
Why do I need this?
This is a master sheet of all technology expenses including capital expenses, operational expenses such as salaries, hardware cost, maintenance cost, bandwidth cost, repair cost, service provider cost etc.
As an IT Manager knowing your technology expense is one of the key and essential component for cost control and effective technology operations management. Knowing your previous expenses will also help you in planning your forth coming budget planning.