Distributed Computing Environments and Required Coordination Sarah C. Michalak, Julio C. Facelli and Clifford J. Drew
Strengths of the Distributed Environment Scales better More responsive to local needs Mitigates problems of monolithic systems Good distributed environments are planned
The Unplanned Distributed Environment Lack of leadership in academic and administrative computing. Lack of central funding to provide system coherence. Failure of the mainframe/cost recovery computer center.
Why the Unplanned Distributed Environment Emerged Growth of the myth: “Central involvement is bad.” “Poor performance of central units” equals “central units are bad.” Culture of “can’t fix it - build a new one.” Low level technicians become local unit policy makers.
Reasons for Change Increasing user needs and demands. Need to maximize use of scarce human talent. Increasing security threats. Increasing requirements for regulatory compliance. Increasing demands for services without new funding.
Guiding Successful Change Cannot be mandated from the top. Buy-in from deans. Strategic planning. Encourage policy makers and faculty members to get control of their IT environments.
What is Working Good will of some key IT middle managers. Reasonable support from administration. Increasing community desire for improvement. Leadership from Research. Development of consultative coordination structures.
What Is Not Working Coordination takes inordinate amounts of time. Mixed feelings about demanding ultimate accountability. Territoriality among local level technical staff. Coordination is still nobody’s single job.
What Can Go Wrong Changes among current key coordinators. Pace of coordination could cost credibility. Lack of funding at critical moment for change. Political sensitivities in central administration. Coordinators managing fires in their own units or losing interest.
Conclusion Community education. –Deans –Central Administration –Local IT managers –Users Coaching, mentoring, leading. Strategic thinking. Patience Will to take action