Distribute the Work--and the Resource: Syracuse University's Distributed Computing Environment

Abstract

Syracuse University is working through a distributed work model which encourages client departments to assume a broader role in system implementation by distributing more than just the work. When a client department decides to hire a functional business analyst and/or computer consultant, the Distributed Support Program provides partial funding for that new staff member's salary, training, and hardware, and offers regular opportunities for support and interaction with the IT organization. They have also developed job broadbanding programs with their Human Resources Department to encourage and reward IT staff members to reskill, retrain, and develop new roles for themselves as they transition to a new environment. This combination of support for both clients and IT staff, described in this paper, helps to ensure success of the distribution of leadership and technology from a central to a local model.