We can be heroes: IT Roles, Archetypes and You

Management & Technology

We can be heroes:We can be heroes: IT Roles, Archetypes and Youyp

Matthew HodgsonR i l L d W b & I f ti M tRegional Lead, Web & Information ManagementSMS Management & Technology

Australian Computer Society (ACS), March 2009

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A little audience participationA little audience participation . . .

Not too long agoNot too long ago . . .

IT Roles and StereotypesIT, Roles and StereotypesWh it t IT j t l d j bWhen it comes to IT projects, roles and jobs:

• People often have no idea what we do• People often have no idea what we do• People think we’re all about computer toys• Often we don’t know our own career paths• Often we don t know our own career paths• Do we really know what’s out there?

are we more than just the stereotypical. . . are we more than just the stereotypicalIT-Geek or Computer Nerd?

Is the IT profession more than this?Is the IT profession more than this?

I thi llIs this really:• Who we are?• What we do?Is this how:Is this how:• Should we be portraying our IT industry?What:• Are the IT archetypes of the 21st century we should Are the IT archetypes of the 21 century we should

be talking about to others?

IT Teams Roles and ArchetypesIT Teams, Roles and Archetypes

Archetypes are:• A useful way to communicate human roles needs A useful way to communicate human roles, needs,

attributesC lt ll i l• Culturally universal

Archetypes are not:• Stereotypes: exaggerated, culturally-derived figures

RorschachRorschach

• Careful observer• Refusal to compromiseRefusal to compromise

• Do nearly anything to li h hi iaccomplish his aims

• Black-and-white valuesac a d te a ues• Short-term oriented

Nite OwlNite Owl

Th t ti i• The tactician• Logical, strategic and operationalLogical, strategic and operational• Employs technology and gadgetry• Has the stamina to go the distance

Doctor ManhattanDoctor Manhattan

• The theoretical thinker• Manipulates objects with easeManipulates objects with ease• Analyses, creates and destroys• Sees patterns and relationships

in the Universet e U e se• Understands the ‘big picture’

Silk SpectreSilk Spectre

• The voice of reason• Provides emotional balanceProvides emotional balance• Understanding, empathic• Intelligent, analytical• Flexible agile team player• Flexible, agile, team player

OzymandiasOzymandias

• The leader• Smartest man on the planetSmartest man on the planet• Thinks “outside the box”• Thinks about the long-term goals• Fast adaptive agile – “so fast he can • Fast, adaptive, agile – so fast he can

catch bullets”

IT ArchetypesIT Archetypes

D lProject Manager Developer

IT ArchetypesIT Archetypes

Business Analyst Test ManagerBusiness Analyst Test Manager

Typical IT ProjectsTypical IT Projects

Solution TestSolutionArchitect

TestManager

Initiation Analysis Design Build Test

ProjectManager

DeveloperManager

Matt’s ProjectsMatt s Projects

T diti l A ilTraditionalIT-focussed

AgilePeople-focussedIT focussed

Products/deliverablesPeople focussed

Adding valueLinear

For usersIterative

With usersFor users With users

What do I mean by ‘with users’?What do I mean by with users ?

S ft kill b th f thi ki d ti Soft skills – both a way of thinking and acting :• Talking to people about their work

I l i l h h h j j h • Involving people throughout the project – not just at the requirements stage (and then vanish)G tti th t h l ith th l ti• Getting them to help with the solution

Good for:• Change management – people own the solution• Aligning the solution with how people think about the

way they do their work – means less training!

How to do this approachHow to do this approachIdentifyIdentify

People’s needsUnderstand

contextof use

Specify user andE l t / lid tSolution

lid t d! Specify user andorganisation’srequirements

Evaluate/validatewith users

validated!Start Build

Produced idesignsolution

Case Study: IntranetCase Study: IntranetIdentifyIdentify


BusinessAnalyst

contextof use

Specify user andE l t / lid tSolution Specify user and

organisation’srequirements



Produced idesignsolutionUser-experience

Designer

Case Study: IntranetIdentify

Case Study: IntranetIdentify


contextof use Contextual

EnquiryCard sortingWorkshops

Specify user andE l t / lid tSolution

Workshops

Specify user andorganisation’srequirements



Produced idesignsolution

Case Study: IntranetCase Study: Intranet

M l th j t?My role on the project?• Team Lead• Information architect• Usability engineer• Usability engineer• Business analyst / business architect• Solution designer• Trainer mentorTrainer, mentor• Change manager

But how did I get here?…But how did I get here?

15 years ago:• Played with emerging web technologiesPlayed with emerging web technologies• Built websites• Built computers• Taught myself to program early MMORGs• Taught myself to program early MMORGs• Psychology Degree


11 years ago:• ACMA – Web Manager ACMA Web Manager • ACIAR – Information Systems Manager• AFMA – Online Coordinator• ALORA – Website builder trainer • ALORA – Website builder, trainer,

consultant


5 years ago:• Masters of Knowledge ManagementMasters of Knowledge Management• NLA – Information architect


Today:• Consultant – help people with their Consultant help people with their

business problemsP t t h l b t• Presenter – teach people aboutsocial media, information architecture, user-centred design, agile, business analysisbusiness analysis

What did I do to get here?What did I do to get here?

Adaptive:• Open to new experiences, roles and titlesp p• Stole Applied theories and practices from

one role to anotherone role to another• Took skills and tools from one discipline and

applied it to new situationsapplied it to new situationsFocus on:• Soft-skillsHands-on:• Be Zen – learn by experiencing it first

How can you do this?How can you do this?

Role v. Title v. Discipline:• IT roles are no longer all about a single path of BA to PMg g p• Business value people with people skills – title doesn’t matter• Don’t box yourself in – explore different skill sets• Don t box yourself in – explore different skill sets• Don’t limit yourself to labels or titles• Learn lots of people skills – communication is keyContinuous learning:• Find a mentor• Share what you know – be a mentor• Share what you know – be a mentor• Learn from others inside your community

What does ‘Community’ mean?What does Community mean?

Groups like:• ACS, ABAA, WIPA, WSG, IAI, etc.Join:• An association to learn from others• An association to learn from others• An association that’s different from yoursContinuous learning:• Be open minded• Don’t be afraid to think ‘outside the box’• Don’t be afraid to teach others what you’ve learned – the • Don t be afraid to teach others what you ve learned – the

fresh perspective of newbies is like gold!

You and the CommunityYou and the Community

N t h i l d li i l t kNurture your physical and online social networks:• Communicate using Blogs, Twitter, LinkedIn, g g , , ,

Facebook and connect to others• Share discuss comment critiqueShare, discuss, comment, critique• Attend workshops

f• Present at conferences• Find a mentor for yourselfy• Mentor others

ConclusionsConclusions

Much of IT now revolves around:• Our relationship with people – soft skillsp p p• The business unit they work in• How well we understand their needs and can • How well we understand their needs and can

transform them into solutions

This is transforming IT roles:• Move away from just a technology-focus• Move toward roles about people & communication –Move toward roles about people & communication

becoming the hero of the business and its people

Take home messagesTake home messages

As IT professionals we should be:• Involved in our IT communities – create networks Involved in our IT communities create networks

with social media is a good place to startL ki t l t t h i l kill ith • Looking to complement our technical skills with human-centric ones

• Promoting our heroic archetypes, not geeky stereotypesstereotypes

… we can all be heroes …


FIN

Q ti ?Questions?


We can be heroes:We can be heroes: IT Roles, Archetypes and YouIT Roles, Archetypes and You


Matthew HodgsonMatthew HodgsonACT Regional Lead, Web and Information Management

SMS Management & Technology

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E: [email protected]: 0404 006695