IT should focus improving the system

IT should focus on doing its part to improve the system (in systems thinking terms) of the organization. In the short run a big part of that is likely in improving process type activity, supporting others in doing their jobs. There also should likely be a role for building the capacity of the organization. Information technology is critical to long term success. Most organizations today do not have the knowledge they should have in management ranks, and elsewhere. IT should be working on that in various ways. One way is by helping people find and use good technology solutions today (this not only can improve results today but builds the capacity of the organization to further exploit technology going forward).
Here are posts on my blog about IT and management

IT should help build sales by providing good tools to those in the organization and by providing good tools to customers and potential customers. Make it easy to buy. Make it easy to find what you might want to buy. Make it easy for those in the organization to learn what customers might want (mine what they are searching for, where they seem to abandon the web site...).

Re: Where Should IT Focus?

Leaders Worth Following: Tony Hsieh and Jeff Bezos

Tony Hsieh and Jeff Bezos are leaders worth paying attention to. And that is rare among the well know business leaders I think. They both focus on customer focus not spreadsheets. They build successful businesses and know that it is critical to build a organization of people (not inter-changable figures on a spreadsheet).

I must admit I wouldn't have thought Zappos could be so successful. But Tony Hsieh made it work. Paying new employees to quit is not a practice many managers would have dreamed up.

Response to With 1800 employees, Hsieh is still an entrepreneur

Related: Zappos and Amazon Sitting in a Tree... - Akio Toyoda’s Message Shows Real Leadership

I have started to post some of my comments to other blogs to this blog (so I have them all in one place). My current management posts are made to the Curious Cat Management Improvement Blog.

Can I back out of my new job if I get a better offer?

Can I back out of my new job if I get a better offer?

I recently accepted an offer with an organization and started this past week. Four days into it, another potential employer I'd interviewed with once (at the same time I interviewed for my new job) has asked me to talk with them a second time. While I like the job I just started (and the employer), I would love the other position more - it feels more closely aligned with my interests and values, and it is 20 miles closer to home.
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response from Alison Green:
There are very few cases where I'd advise even considering taking a different job right after starting a new one, because doing so can harm your employer, your reputation, and even other job-seekers.

I don't see a significant problem with leaving. Alison Green has a great blog I just disagree with her on this question, but the points she makes are probably shared by far more people than share my views on this topic. There are costs to others and yourself, and risks to you and others. But that is part of business.

I have had candidates (that we offered but hadn't actually started yet) and new hires leave and seen other people think this is bad or unfair. I tell people to expect a higher level of turnover precisely because they were looking for jobs and the offers might not all come at the same time.

The world isn't all perfectly fair, sometimes you lose for no good reason. I don't see any reason to worry about it.

Also if you do a great job of showing people how great it is to work at your place then they probably wouldn't leave. Focus on that, not being mad at them.

But yes, if you do this, some of the people at the company you leave will probably be mad.

I do tend to take unconventional views. I like Zappos paying new employees to quit more than the idea of intimidating employees to stay because it is unfair to leave.

I would weigh the costs, myself. And the judgement would not just be what is best for me. The costs to others would definitely be a factor in trying to decide what was acceptable and what was the right decision.

I use this blog to post some of the comments I make on others blogs. You can follow my main management blog posts via RSS.