The Manage IT Newsletter:

This issue explores the new competencies needed by IT managers and starts the year long series that will focus on various components

Welcome to this months issue of the "Manage IT Newsletter." This monthly publication is dedicated to helping IT managers enjoy a richer career experience so they can reach their full potential.

Please share this newsletter with your network, friends and colleagues. If you are an IT executive or HR professional, pass a copy of this newsletter on to your IT managers. A FREE subscription is available by sending a blank email to:
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With warmest regards, Joe Santana,
Co-author Manage IT
www.joesantana.com

***************************In this Issue ****************************
* Focus Topic - The New Core Competencies for IT Managers
* IT Management News & Trends
* Free Gift of the Month: Tips on how to expand your skills
* Closing Comments and Announcements
*********************************************************************

--------------------------- Focus Topic -----------------------------
The Need for New Core Competencies for IT Managers

I don't think we need to make a strong case to convince many readers that what is expected from IT managers has changed in the past few years.

From. . .
* Being respected as their companies technology gurus
* Managing a large in-house staff of technical specialists
* Buying a few services from time to time
* Running IT operations

To being expected to. . .

* Manage a smaller staff of versatilists (people who are skilled in multiple technical and non-technical disciplines)
* Act as the relationship liaison with a local and/or offshore supplier
* Participate or lead a cross-functional project that has IT and non-IT components
* Provide an ROI forecast and then managing to that ROI target
* Maintain the alignment of their team in a dynamic ever-changing business and IT environment, where an alignment chart is outdated shortly after it is published
* Act as an internal and possibly externally spokes-person for their IT team
* Prepare a marketing communication plan for a major IT rollout

I could go on, but I think this makes the point. IT Managers today need new core competencies in order to succeed and meet the new demands placed on them. What's more, the skills needed by the IT manager are sure to continue to evolve.

The bottom line is that in order to remain valuable and grow in worth, IT managers today need to broaden their portfolio of skills beyond technical abilities and the ability to manage technical people.

In the issues that follow, I'll introduce you to experts that will help you explore the drive behind these changes, the mind of the new CIO and how you can continue to learn and evolve. Each of the guests will share ideas, experience and tips that you can put to immediate use in your supporting career.

In this month's issue, I will start by focusing you on the need to broaden your skills as part of your re-tooling for the demands placed on the 21st Century IT manager. To this end, the IT Management News and Trends section will contain a list of articles on some of the recent developments impacting the IT manager role. Also, this month's free tip sheet at http://www.joesantana.com/freenewsandtips.htm will contain a list of suggested areas for focus for IT managers who seek area where they should focus to broaden their skills and competencies. Finally, as always in the "Announcement" section, you will find additional resources to support you and some of your key initiatives.

JS

-------------------- IT Management News and Trends -------------------
This month, we have some select articles that focus on recent developments and future predictions relative to competencies needed by IT managers.

Darwin article about an IT manager doing more with less
http://www.darwinmag.com/read/020104/survivor.html

A short piece on the future of the IT organization
http://www.computerweekly.com/Article124987.htm

The role of the manager
http://builder.com.com/5100-6404_14-5034845.html

The new pressures of being an IT manager
http://www.thejournalnews.com/newsroom/011604/d01a16burbs.html

The traits of a successful IT manager
http://asia.cnet.com/itmanager/project/0,39006404,39123423,00.htm

This article presents the new path to being valuable by widening skills beyond just IT
http://washington.bizjournals.com/washington/stories/2003/07/21/focus8.html

An article on what people who hire IT managers have begun to look for, flexibility beyond IT
http://www.informationweek.com/story/IWK20010906S0020

------------------- Free Gift of the Month ---------------------------
For your free copy of list of the areas to focus on developing new competencies, please go to http://www.joesantana.com/freenewsandtips.htm

----------------- Closing Thoughts and Announcements -----------------
WANT TO KNOW WHAT IT PROS AROUND THE WORLD THINK?
Join to the IT Professional World Wide network at http://itpww1-network.ryze.com (Membership growing at a phenomenal rate and it is still free).

WANT TO LEARN WHAT TO OUTSOURCE FOR TOP RETURN ON INVESTMENT?
Get your copy of the audio program titled "Doing more with less through IT Outsourcing," at http://store.mixonic.com/joesantana

WANT TO HELP YOUR FRIENDS LOOKING FOR ADVICE ON HOW TO FIGHT BURNOUT AND ACHIEVE PEAK PERFORMANCE
Have them visit www.joesantana.com and sign up for the free TIPS DRIVING PEAK PERFORMANCE EMAIL SEMINAR. Delivered over seven days, this program is packed with advice that can immediately be put to use by a rookie or a veteran IT manager. (HR pros will also find it a rich source of ideas they can use to coach IT managers).

WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT IT MANAGEMENT WITH JOE?
Visit www.ULiveandLearn.com and register for the IT Management webinar. This information packed program comes right to your desktop and offers you advice on one of your most important career decisions.

NEED HELP QUICKLY BUILDING A PIPELINE OF CANDIDATES.
Contact EmployeeROI www.employeeroi.com/1-888-654-8845

I hope you enjoyed this issue of the IT Managers Newsletter and as always I look forward to continuing to serve you in 2004.