Communications of the ACM
Making the Move from It Operations to the Applications Group
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What happens when you are re-assigned from one technology department to another, with a completely different set of expectations and workflow? In one example of a technology worker who was re-assigned from the IT operations group to the applications group, the transition actually created a unique opportunity to increase exposure within the organization and develop new relationships with other business groups. While some IT groups thrive when systems are functioning and running as planned, other IT groups thrive on delivering new projects on time and on budget. Your ability to adapt to the needs and responsibilities of each will determine how successful you are in your career transition. Success will depend on your ability to manage interpersonal relationships throughout the business and clearly define your job responsibilities to your subordinates and co-workers.
One important factor to consider is how visible your work will be within the organization. The more visible your work, the more time, energy and attention you need to devote to developing and managing interpersonal relationships throughout the business. You can start by making sure that every executive and middle manager knows who you are, likes you, and trusts you. If they do, they'll forgive the occasional bump in the road and work with you to fix it. If they don't, every problem will be magnified. You will also need to consider how much time you will devote to improving your technical skills, and how much for setting the overall technical direction. You will need to be able to explain what good performance looks like and outline a way to deliver it.
Make sure everyone is clear on what your job is and what qualifies you for that position. This will include such responsibilities as making sure everyone is in agreement regarding what success looks like; removing barriers and obstacles; preventing oversubscription (chartering more projects than can be fully staffed); and identifying problem areas and making sure the right people are given responsibility for fixing them. Somewhere in the mix should be a responsibility or two that leverage your operations knowledge. Finally, you have the same challenge every manager has when taking on a new role: getting to know everyone so that each of you becomes a person to the other. Technical skills notwithstanding, one of the best ways to get tagged as a bad boss is to give the impression you are not concerned about those working for you.
From InfoWorld
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