The success of Phase I transformation projects opened the
eyes of potential collaborations for Information
Technology. As UBIT workers across campus
collaborate on standards, shared systems and improved customer
communication, the question remains: What is the best
organizational model for Information Technology toadvance UB 2020
and contribute to UB’s mission of academic
excellence?
The process to answer the organization question began in
fall 2008. Budget reductions added a sense of urgency to the effort
to find further efficiencies and savings throughout the campus.
Information Technology is no exception. Early retirement
incentives leave IT with fewer workers having less
experience.
UB’s initial information technology reorganization
plan was proposed in fall 2009 by outgoing CIO Elias G.
Eldayrie. The plan proposed formation of support
organizations based on geographical/hierarchical groupings of UB
units. At the center of the plan was enterprise-wide support
for underlying networks and systems, end-user support and
administrative systems.
The plan proposed a comprehensive set of memoranda that codified
the migration of old support methods to the new organization model.
Once the migration framework was in place, supervisory changes
would ensue.
The appointment of Thomas Furlani as interim CIO, and
announcement of the new information and libraries services/CIO
organization has placed implementation of the initial
reorganization plan on hold indefintately. Organization changes to
address service needs within the CIO’s organization will
happen regardless because there are fewer workers to maintain
operations.
> Read
the announcement in the UB Reporter
