I often times feel very frustrated with the organization I work for and I apologize for coming here and venting. I work for a non profit organization which loves to bring on technology. The IT department (one man show here) was started a few years ago with myself being the first member. Since that time I have been trying to understand/find the role that this department should assume within the organization. Currently this role has been all over the board:
– desktop support
– network administration
– data integrity
– data security
– ….etc ..etc
The department does not have any funding of its own. All of my department’s needs are funded out of one administrative budget. So because of this all other staff IT needs are funded directly out of their own budgets. So if an employee needs a something new they get billed for it directly.
My IT background is in corporate environments where the IT departments have their own budgets and I have always felt that this has allowed for the IT department to retain some control on what is implemented.
The problem that I am having is trying to control the aquisition of new computers, notebooks and printers. Since the old culture of purchasing everything when they needed still exists I am having fits. I offer my opinion on IT related purchases and but am never allowed to “veto” a purchase. There have been times when employees have felt that certain equipment was needed to budgetted for it and then tell me to move forward and make the purchase. However I am usually in disagreement with the reasons why the equipment is needed.
Can anyone describe to me their IT departments and the relationship it has with the rest of their organizations how do you handle IT aquisitions. How are your departmental policies implmented? Who creates them ? ..etc
…any and all advice is welcomed. I apologize for this rant.