The Results-Oriented Information Technology Workplace

Information technology jobs, whether programming, network administration or security, are involved in a lot of detail. When information technology people are so engrossed in the details of their jobs, it's easy for them, for anyone actually, to lose sight of the job's major contribution.

A Results-Oriented Information Technology Job Description is different from a traditional job description because it focuses an employee on the several job results that answer the question: What results must this information technology affairs job accomplish for the organization?

Information Technology Job Standards added to job expectations tighten management controls by clarifying how well and when results must be accomplished.

Information Technology Job Objectives establish management and employee plans by highlighting important current and future results needed.

Job-specific Information Technology Employee Management Forms maintain consistent and legally sound management actions by basing manager-employee interactions on job results.

The Purpose of Information Technology Jobs

Stated in a results-oriented, three-line style, information technology affairs jobs--

PROVIDE INFORMATION SYSTEMS AND SERVICES by

evaluating organization needs and applications; investigating technology advancements and opportunities; designing, developing, testing, and servicing operating systems, application programs, hardware, and software; providing system access guidelines and disaster recovery programs.

Types of Information Technology Jobs

Some information technology jobs operate information processing equipment and the operating systems on the equipment while other jobs study the information that will be processed on the equipment in order to design and program the software that is processed on the equipment.

Still other jobs set-up security systems and keep information safe and restricts access to the information. Somebody needs to keep all of the information systems working together within an organization as well as to plan for improvements. And, of course, somebody has to manage and supervise the information technology people and processes.

Information Technology Job Management Tools

Here are actual job examples of how information technology affairs job actions can be focused on results and kept on track using each of our job management tools:

Results-Oriented Information Technology Job Descriptions form the foundation of all job management tools. Our uniquely structured job descriptions focus on the result to be accomplished first and prominently, followed by the duties performed in order to accomplish the result. For example,

RECOMMENDS INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY ACTIONS by

analyzing system controls.

Information Technology Job Standards sharpen employee attention and management control by defining and communicating how well the information technology affairs results must be accomplished and what benchmarks will be used to measure job results. For example, for the job result above, the job standards might be:

• Information Technology situations are correctly understood.
• All options are identified and evaluated.
• Information Technology recommendations are ready when needed.

Information Technology Job Objectives point the direction for employee actions by focusing job efforts on current and future information technology affairs issues. Job objectives are written in the three-line, results-oriented structure. For example, for the job result above, a job objective might be:

SPEED-UP DECISION MAKING by

reducing time to deliver information technology affairs recommendations by 10% by (date).

Information Technology Employee Management Forms tied specifically to each information technology affairs job description are more helpful (and legal) than generic forms used for all different kinds of jobs. Job-specific forms are used to state job qualifications, guide job interview questions, orient new employees, plan job training, and appraise job performance.

Information Technology Job Qualifications are stated in the same terms used in the job description. They are not translated into generic (typically behavioral) terms. For example:

RECOMMENDS INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY ACTIONS by

analyzing system controls.

Information Technology Job Interview guide questions are inserted directly below each job result in the job description: For example:

• "What specific job responsibilities have you had in this area?"
• "Where did you have these job responsibilities?"
• "When did you have these job responsibilities?"
• "How did you go about accomplishing these responsibilities?"
• "What accomplishment in this area gave you the most pride?"
• "In this area, what were some of your biggest challenges?"
• "How did you overcome the challenges?"

The Information Technology Job Orientation guide reformats the job description sequence so that job explanations, policies, protocols, processes, and procedures are logical and complete and can easily be checked off. For example:

RECOMMENDS INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY ACTIONS by

analyzing system controls.

The manager might say: "Here's the procedure and format we use to analyze and present information technology affairs recommendations."

The Information Technology Job Training plan guides a thorough examination of actual job knowledge, skills, and abilities as described in the job description that need improvement or that might be enhanced. For example:

RECOMMENDS INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY ACTIONS by

analyzing system controls.

The manager might say: "Analytical skills would be improved by enrolling in a statistical analysis class."

The Information Technology Job Performance Appraisal guide is a job-specific form. It is not a universal form used for all jobs. The guide adds an appraisal scale below each job result in the job description so that attention can be drawn to each job requirement and expectation. For example:

RECOMMENDS INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY ACTIONS by

analyzing system controls.

__ Great! Just want we wanted.
__ We have a problem.
__ Improvement is needed.
__ Much, much more than we asked for.

Comments: _________________

Information Technology Résumé Template

Potential employers want to know what a job applicant has accomplished in his/her information technology affairs work career. They don't want to be bored with minor details. Our Résumé Template provides:

• an outline to help assemble personal background information.
• a Results-Oriented Job Description to provide the information technology affairs job language-focused on results-needed to write an effective résumé.
• Information Technology Job Objectives to orient thinking in terms of accomplishments.
• instructions on how to use a Results-Oriented Information Technology Job Description and Information Technology Job Objectives to express job accomplishments.

Use the information technology affairs job description responsibility statement as a base:

RECOMMENDS INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY ACTIONS by

analyzing system controls.

Select the information technology affairs job objective that fits your experience:

REDUCE COSTS 10% by

improving information technology affairs processes.

Combine the two into a résumé statement:

Reduced costs 10% by analyzing, identifying, and recommending new information technology affairs system controls.

Information Technology Career Links

Career Voyages, Information Technology

Collaboration between the U.S. Department of Labor and the U.S. Department of Education to provide information on high growth, in-demand occupations along with the skills and education needed to attain these jobs.

CareerOverview.com, Information Technology

Non-commercial website dedicated to providing aspiring career professionals and students with relevant, reliable and up-to-date career and job information whereby helping them to make better, more informed career choices.

iseek.com, Information Technology

Minnesota's gateway to career, education, employment and business information.

KHake.com, Vocational Information Center, Computer Sciences

Originated by Kathryn Hake from her experience with helping students in vocational programs research topics for their school projects.

American Health Information Management Association, Careers

Professional association for management of health data and medical records needed to deliver quality healthcare; authority for professional certification.

Association for Computing Machinery, Computing Degrees and Careers

Professional organization for computing professionals; resources for advancing computing as a science and a profession; professional development.

elearners.com

Online information technology degrees.

eThemes, Information Technology

Age-appropriate resources organized around specific themes for educators to use in their classrooms.