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In a recent Computer World article - The Unspoken Truth of Managing Geeks , Jeff Ello says he can sum up every managing IT article in 2 sentences: "Geeks are smart and creative, but they are also egocentric, antisocial, managerially and business-challenged, victim-prone, bullheaded and credit-whoring. To overcome these intractable behavioral deficits you must do X, Y and Z."

But he doesn't think that perpetuating this stereotype is going to get us anywhere and reminds us that it's all about respect and understanding where the IT person in your organization is coming from, just like any other staff member.  He expands on this by describing the ways we elicit these stereotypes and also shares ways that we can fix this to have healthy IT departments that are playing the ever-important role of ensuring technology is in align with mission.

Join us for our January Ask the Expert with Jeff when we'll ask YOUR questions about effective IT management.  

> Get the Recording - FREE for NTEN Members!

Jeff Ello is a 20 year veteran of Information Technology development and management, currently tending to the technology needs of the Krannert School of Management at Purdue University. He started in the news and advertising industries, providing installation and training support, to help usher in the "new era" (at the time) of desktop publishing… developing my own graphics and design expertise along the way. Today, he concentrates on automation and development of inexpensive but reliable alternatives to so-called "enterprise" solutions.

He still consults occasionally, but prefers being part of an organization where he can concentrate on strategy and emerging technologies. A lot of people throw around the word strategy… here’s what he means by that: Jeff gets a great deal of satisfaction knowing that the work he does has saved *many* millions of $$$s and tens of thousands of man-hours or more, simply by anticipating problems and making possible things that previously were not. Picking the right thing at the right time for the right price and getting people to go along with your plan to best meet an end for whatever business you’re in – that’s the mouthful that he sums up with the word, "strategy".

IT is a hobby for Jeff… so if he's not enjoying himself, there is something very wrong. The quickest way to know if your IT department is screwed up is to check his mood.

How's It Work?

This will be an online chat event where you will listen on the phone and simultaneously sign into a live chat. This event is only available to NTEN members, so if you aren't - become a member today! 

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