The IS manager at the heart of the development and evolution of systems
Project governance almost systematically requires a steering committee. The job of IS manager consists of controlling, managing and optimizing all of a company’s IT systems to best serve its development strategy. Depending on the nature of the latter, the main mission of the IT system manager will be based more on business development, salary management, logistics or customer relations. It is therefore a job that requires in-depth knowledge in the computer field, but also an ability to adapt to the company’s sector of activity.
IT Strategy
The missions of the IS manager
Achieving the objectives set by management
The missions of the IS manager are multiple and can be very diversified depending on the size and activity of the company.
The primary role of the IT manager is to achieve the objectives imposed by his or her hierarchy. To do this, he must define an appropriate strategy for his sector. Among other things, this strategy must address several imperatives, such as:
- the adaptation of the IT service to the needs of the users;
- the implementation of a technology watch ;
- proposing new development areas and reporting to management.
Management of the IT department and business projects
The IS manager also has managerial and steering functions. Indeed, since he/she administers an entire department of a company, he/she must also participate in the management of the latter. In order to carry out this mission, he is required to perform several tasks:
- Manage and control the budget of the IT department and related projects,
- plan the activity of the department,
- supervise the internal IT teams,
- ensure the piloting and management of service providers (if necessary).
Maintenance, support and assistance
There is another facet of an IS manager ‘s activity : maintenance and technical assistance. To fulfill these roles, it is first necessary to define the company’s maintenance policy (purchase of equipment and software, optimization of performance and IT security).
Next, we need to define the procedures that will allow us to test and validate this maintenance policy by defining the standards for network systems, databases and computer tools.
Finally, on a day-to-day basis, the IS manager provides technical assistance and logistical support to the other departments of the company and supervises IS projects with these same teams (use of new software, development of new IT procedures, etc.).
Diplomas and skills required to become an IS manager
What training?
There are several possible paths to becoming an IS manager, accessible at different levels. A minimum of 2 or 3 years of computer science education and several years of experience are required. But, in general, the key to this type of position is a master’s degree specialized in computer science. These courses can be taken at a university, business school or engineering school.
What are the essential skills?
The skills needed to become an IS manager are mainly related to the technical aspect of the job. An IS manager must therefore be able to master: the most common applications and technologies (computer languages and operating systems) used in companies; current events in the IT sector, particularly with regard to cybersecurity; the functioning of the IT sector’s outsourcing market. In addition to these technical skills, the IT systems manager must also have excellent management skills to be able to manage his department, his teams and his budget. Of course, a knowledge of technical English is essential for this job.
Career development
The IT manager’s job tends to be more management-oriented. Respecting budgets, planning resources and improving the productivity of the department are at the heart of his activity and are becoming more and more important in relation to the technical aspect. This phenomenon can also be seen in external relations, particularly with subcontractors. Indeed, with the global economic context and the permanent need for evolution, companies tend to outsource some tasks, especially in the IT field. The IS manager is increasingly managing the creation of calls for tender and the contracts of service providers and freelancers. Finally, the competition in all sectors and the constant technological advances also have a significant influence on the job of IT manager. The latter must constantly adapt to the needs of users and the new global context. For example, today, data protection has become paramount in all areas of the economy. The demands on the IS manager are constantly changing, which adds some challenges to his or her tasks.
DOWNLOAD OUR FREE WHITE PAPER
” ALL ABOUT PROJECT GOVERNANCE IT “
Also read in our “project governance” file:
- Project comitology: the governance bodies of an IT project and their roles
- Steering and governance of an HR project: which profiles should be involved?
- Steering and governance of a Finance IS project: which profiles should be involved?
- Steering and governance of an IT project: which profiles should be involved?
- Project governance: what role for the steering committee?
- The actors of a project team: organisation, role and skills
- The IS manager at the heart of the development and evolution of systems
- HRIS Manager: what role in the evolution of HR Information Systems?
- IS project manager : what role and responsibility in an IS project?
- Functional consultant: a role close to the business processes
- Technical consultant: a profession at the heart of technological development
- Solution architect : a profession that manages development and deployment
- DevOps Consultant: role, missions and development skills
- Data Protection Officer (DPO): what roles and missions?
- CISO: a key job within the business for system security
- The service delivery manager at the heart of team management
- Scrum master, a key profession for Scrum project management
- Data scientist: a strategic profession at the service of management
- MOA / MOE: how are the roles divided on an information system implementation project?