Doing IT: The Reflective Practitioner

Disruption. Uncertainty. Volatility. The higher ed IT organization is buffeted daily by external forces beyond our control and internally by accelerating expectations for cheaper, faster, and better tools and services. How do IT professionals adapt to shifting winds while continuing to provide reliable and robust IT services, expand access and capacity while managing security, bandwidth, rapidly changing learning technologies, and device performance, and meet the demands of today's problems while investing in the skills required for tomorrow? We all share a common predicament: that of having to thrive in an emergent context within institutions steeped in centuries-old traditions. Finding the right balance of reflective thought with decisive action is a central challenge. In this session, Ann Kovalchick will use an anthropological lens to identify and suggest ways that IT professionals can enable the development of a change-oriented IT culture and offer insights into leadership practices that can be used across the IT organization.