Abstract
The issue of obtaining support from upper management for IT projects has been framed historically as an IT issue, and thus focused on "tangible stuff" rather than on the real issue of "tangible use." Knowledge creation and knowledge management is the goal. If you want support from senior management, you must first identify and then propose to provide that which faculty, staff and students need in order to do their jobs better. You must engage the creators and users in the design of solutions and require people to be disruptive, to question the typical approach, and to be willing to take a risk.