Computer and Information Systems Managers
Can you believe that the small computers we hold in our hands today were once the size of an entire room? Your personal computer, no more than a few centimeters wide, would have been impossible to carry in the past except by a group of strong men, and computers used to be limited to serving armies and certain sovereign government institutions in various countries. But all of that changed completely over the decades, and computers are now everywhere. Nearly all business today is fundamentally built around computers — there's no big or small company today without computers, which is why different types of computers have been developed to meet companies' needs. For example, financial institutions need specific types of computers, software, and systems different from those used by engineering firms, and factories that manufacture cars may need different systems and technologies than those that make food products — and so on, with every sector needing specific computer technology to help it carry out its work efficiently and smoothly. All of these developments and the massive changes happening in the world of computing have made it essential for companies to have someone who can keep up with these changes and help them choose the computers, software, and technological systems that let them do their work efficiently and smoothly. This person is known as the "IT manager." An IT manager at any company is responsible for everything related to its technological infrastructure, from networks and internet cabling to choosing the right computers and the advanced software and systems that companies rely on for their various operations. They're tasked with making sure everything runs smoothly and that there are no glitches or problems affecting the company's employees and customers.
Meet the Writer: Waleed Abo Omiraa
What You'll Actually Do
The core tasks and responsibilities that fill a typical day.
- Consult with users, management, vendors, and technicians to assess computing needs and system requirements.
- Direct daily operations of department, analyzing workflow, establishing priorities, developing standards and setting deadlines.
- Assign and review the work of systems analysts, programmers, and other computer-related workers.
- Stay abreast of advances in technology.
- Develop computer information resources, providing for data security and control, strategic computing, and disaster recovery.
- Review and approve all systems charts and programs prior to their implementation.
- Evaluate the organization's technology use and needs and recommend improvements, such as hardware and software upgrades.
- Control operational budget and expenditures.
- Meet with department heads, managers, supervisors, vendors, and others, to solicit cooperation and resolve problems.
- Develop and interpret organizational goals, policies, and procedures.
- Recruit, hire, train and supervise staff, or participate in staffing decisions.
- Review project plans to plan and coordinate project activity.
- Evaluate data processing proposals to assess project feasibility and requirements.
- Prepare and review operational reports or project progress reports.
- Purchase necessary equipment.
- Provide users with technical support for computer problems.