I.T. Department Functions

I.T. function responsibilities:

• Software Development
  • Development/acquisition of application software for payroll, accounting, stock etc.
• Data Management
  • Covers data design, data models and data security.
• Network Management
  • Provides network services.
• Operations Management
  • Responsible for running network, hardware and software as well as back up and security of data.
• End User Support
  • Interfaces with users, covers user support, help desk and user training.
• Capacity Planning
  • Plan future capacity requirements for power, disc capacity and network capacity.
• Technical Services
  • All non-database and non-application related software, supporting operating systems.

May be issues in assigning responsibilities and workloads of above departments.
E.g. Software Development, how to split resources between supporting/maintaining existing software and developing new applications. Choices are:

• Separate development and support teams.
  • Support may not always be fully occupied therefore less productive.
  • Some support issues may require highly skilled staff taking them away from dev work.
• Combined team working on both dev and support.
  • Maximises use of skills.
  • Lack of focus as priorities unclear.
• Development team plus support team who work on small enhancements.
  • Dev team work on new software.
  • Support can work on small scale enhancements helping to even out highs and lows in support.