What does IT manager mean? Who is an IT manager? I. General provisions

Responsibilities of an IT manager is the head of the IT department (Information Technology), his function is to manage this department. The IT department deals with everything related to computers. The number of department employees and the manager’s functions depend on the size of the company. In a small company, the IT manager does everything from top to bottom. It is possible that he is the only employee in this department.

Places of work It should be noted that we examined in detail the IT department, which performs only service functions. That is, when the main activity of the company is in no way related to IT technologies. These could be banks, publishing houses, retail, wholesale trade, etc. What happens in those companies that specialize in providing IT services? They also have an IT department that performs exclusively service functions, but along with this, almost all other departments (except for accounting and security) deal with information technology in one form or another. For example, the development department programs applications for programs, the sales department sells them to clients, the implementation department installs these applications at the client, etc. This is in the most general form. There are companies that do one thing: they only program, or only implement, or only sell. You can apply your knowledge in any of the structures described above: in the departments of development, user support, system administration, sales, etc. You can work both in an IT company and in a company that simply has an IT department.

Where they teach Usually this is the department of automated control systems (automated control systems) or applied mathematics of any technical university. Plus Physics and Technology State University, Faculty of Mechanics and Mathematics of Moscow State University. Although all this has little to do with IT. There is no such specialization in our universities. Everyone chooses it for themselves and receives and accumulates knowledge in the process of work. Required Qualities You do not need to have any special qualities. Those who are familiar with a computer and know it well, are interested in programming, will find their way everywhere and will come to the court. And, of course, it would be nice to know English.

Appearance Typically, IT departments have the most democratic attitude towards appearance. But the higher the position and the more reputable the company, the stricter the rules, the closer they are to standard office requirements for white collar workers. What to be prepared for if you choose this profession If you think about it, an IT manager has a great responsibility: the work of the company as a whole may depend on how smoothly and smoothly his department works. Of course, he will have to deal with the nervousness of users - employees whose computer breaks down at the most inopportune time, and with the reluctance of users to delve into basic situations. And those who provide IT services need to be prepared for any whims and impatience of the customer, even if they are unreasonable. How much does a Computer Specialist earn from 2000–2500 to 7000– dollars. However, there may be deviations, both in one direction and the other.

Olga Shpuntenko,
Leading consultant at KA "Vis-a-vis Consult"

The basis of modern dynamic business has become various information technologies, which are actively being implemented in all areas of entrepreneurship.

The IT manager’s task is to select the automation tools necessary for the enterprise while minimizing the cost of time and resources for their development, configuration and implementation. In particular, he is responsible for automating areas such as management of network equipment, servers and corporate applications, data storage and security, personal computer fleet management and help desk management.

This position has two main components - technological and social management. On the one hand, it is necessary to introduce an information system at the enterprise that best satisfies the needs of users; on the other hand, it is necessary to explain its structure and functions, teach the rules of use, distribute duties and areas of responsibility among personnel to maintain its functionality.

In addition to higher (technical) education and experience in the field of information technology, the following personal requirements are imposed on the IT manager:

systematic analytical mindset;
the ability to prove and defend one’s point of view;
understanding the essence of information processes and end user problems;
ability to combine automation strategy and self-organization of automation work.

The main tasks of an IT manager are:

introduction of advanced information technologies to automate enterprise management;
using a minimum of IT tools to achieve automation goals;
creating a culture of corporate work for users.

Requirements for IT managers

On June 4, 2007, the Steering Committee of the project to develop professional standards approved the qualification requirements that can be presented to an information technology manager.

The Management Committee sets professional standards for the most popular professions in the field of information technology (these are positions, professional competencies, requirements for educational levels, work experience and certification) - for example, programmer, system architect, database administrator, etc. Representatives of the most famous and influential IT companies in Russia took part in their development, so you can confidently rely on these requirements for specialists.

The creators propose to use the standard as a regulatory document applied:

for selection and placement of personnel;
for planning and rationing of labor;
for the development of personnel management systems;
to solve problems in vocational guidance;
to create a system of voluntary certification of personnel and assess the level of competence of workers;
to develop educational standards and training programs in accordance with the requirements of employers;
for professional training, retraining and advanced training of personnel.

According to the professional standard, an information technology manager can have four qualification levels (from fourth to seventh), the seventh being the most honorable. An IT manager of the fourth qualification level manages the company’s internal projects, the fifth - the work of the department, the sixth - develops the organization’s IT strategy, and the seventh - forms the organization’s development strategy in the field of information strategies. It is interesting that in the job responsibilities of all qualification levels there is a mandatory item - “self-development”. In addition, the IT manager must have an understanding of:

on the Labor and Civil Codes;
about business communication;
about the basics of psychology and conflictology, pedagogy (methods of adult education), economics, marketing, management, personnel management;
about decision-making methods;
on the principles of planning, financial management of the organization's resources, office work, and management control.

What does the coming day have in store for us?..

The report "The New Chief Information Officer - Exploring the Changing Role of the Chief Information Officer" by London Business School and Egon Zehnder International describes quite well how the role of the IT manager has changed over the past five years.

Based on this report, some conclusions can be drawn about how this role may change over the next few years.

What do researchers expect from information technology managers in the near future? IT professionals will have to master two relatively new roles. The first is the “master of change”: a leader in organizing, managing and supporting change in the business sector. The second and most important role is the “business strategist”: a person who directly influences the enterprise development strategy, is responsible for the technological aspects of e-commerce, etc. As we can see, the impact of the changes was manifested in the emergence of new roles for the IT manager, and these roles were transferred to him from the general management of the organization.

Requirements for directors of information services (for their qualifications) can be reduced to four points:

they must be well versed in technology;
be service-oriented;
have strategic planning abilities;
be ready for change.

The report indicates that information service managers spend approximately half of their working time on establishing external contacts (working with information technology suppliers, participating in solving problems related to the integration of information technology into production, business modernization, participation in strategic planning). And the share of this part of the work will grow.

The researchers were able to identify factors that are decisive for the successful activity of the head of an information service. There are fourteen such factors. Among these factors:

the ability to build relationships with senior management and gain their trust;
creation of a high-quality information technology management team;
quick response to emerging needs and wishes of employees and management;
openness and honesty regarding the capabilities and functioning of information technology;
maintaining a reputation for reliable service;
having a reputation as a person who understands business, etc.

An analysis of the new role of IT managers in the organization, their qualities, and success factors allows us to conclude that in addition to narrow professional qualities, an IT manager must acquire and develop the qualities of a general manager - leadership, communication skills, teamwork, support for initiative, and a general understanding of the business. companies.

CISO Models

And lastly, regarding the impact of changes on representatives of IT management of organizations and the formation of a manager of the 21st century. What is the ideal model of a chief information officer?

Four ideal models of the information service director of the new millennium have been formulated. The most preferred model, chosen by 41% of respondents, is “a leader with IT experience and management experience, capable of shaping business strategy and supporting IT, who loves his job.”

However, the most likely, although less desirable, model for the study participants seems to be in which the functions of the information service director are performed by two people: “one person is engaged in solving strategic problems and modernizing production, paying more attention to information and systems than technology and infrastructure, and the other takes on the responsibilities of technology director, looking after technology, infrastructure and production processes.”

The third model is “a director who has good technical knowledge and is primarily involved in the problems of technical support, maintenance and development of systems, the creator of a powerful infrastructure, a long-lived IT worker.”

The fourth is “a universal manager, a manager by education, who has reliable assistants - technicians, who is also engaged in the development and modernization of the business and has good prospects for career growth.”

Let's sum it up

Today, IT specialists must remember two components - directly technical and, of course, managerial. Unfortunately, IT managers often forget about the influence of the human factor on solving technical problems.

While the information revolution is unfolding, another, no less significant process is in full swing - a revolution in the methods of doing business. The paths of the information revolution and the business revolution will cross sooner or later, but the question is, will IT specialists find themselves at this intersection?

The confluence of these two revolutions requires IT to take on a new role. IT professionals are no longer purveyors of arcane technological artifacts. Now they are required to do something more complex than just setting up applications. They will have to abandon their own, incomprehensible language, subculture and abbreviations. Business expects something new from IT - consistency. Businesses want IT to align with their needs at all levels: strategic, tactical and operational. IT must deliver business results. Because they view the world from their unique perspective, IT must lead the business calmly and implement stable systems without unnecessary fuss.

Career in the IT industry

Study, study and study again!
V.I.Lenin

The main difficulty in the work of an IT specialist is that IT is a very changing field. If you don't constantly learn something new, you risk being unemployed. Let's finish with the common truths, you know them without me. Let's move on to practical advice. Since I have been specializing in the “dark side of power” (IT management) for many years, and have not programmed for commercial purposes for a long time (only for the soul and rarely - there is not enough time), the advice will be mainly for IT managers (project managers, team leads, team managers and so on and so forth, fattening on the necks of hard-working programmers and system administrators), but some of the skills will be useful to any IT specialist.

So, what should a current or future IT manager study, where to study and how much does it cost? Everything is purely IMHO.

1. English

This is the first thing that needs to be studied and maintained in good condition. I will leave outside the scope of this discussion its necessity for comrades who decide to “start a tractor” and will dwell on other aspects. The English-language pool of documentation, frameworks, communities, experts and books is MUCH larger than the Russian-language pool. You will not be able to develop normally as an IT manager (and indeed as an IT specialist) without knowing English, at least at the level of reading documentation without a dictionary - if you are just an IT specialist and have knowledge at the Intermediate level and above - if you are aiming for a proud title IT management pro. Where: It depends on your capabilities. Ideally, it would be great to spend a couple of months in a country of native speakers, but this option is suitable for 5% of those who want to improve their language skills. For those who can't afford it, there's a great resource - EF School. A good online school, with excellent material, live communication with native speakers and at an affordable price (2000 rubles per month). Among the accompanying recommendations, it is useful to watch an English-language channel every day for 30 minutes before going to bed, and an English-language film on the weekend. It’s better to start with films that you have already seen in Russian dubbing, and watch the first 10-15 films with English subtitles.

It is advisable to take the ITIL Foundation course and pass the exam (ITIL F course - $229). Work in help desk systems that support the ITSM approach (ServiceNow, HP OpenView, ManageEngine ServiceDesk, etc.). If you have a sufficient level of English, you can take up the books themselves in the original a little later. If your English is not very good, then it will be useful to read this book - Free ITIL (although it is probably worth reading even for those who have good English).

3. Project methodologies (ANSI PMI PMBOK, PRINCE2)

An IT manager is constantly faced with certain projects, so he must be able to manage them competently. There are no options here. This is the basis. Choose what you like and study (PMI PMBOK, PRINCE2). The issue price is within $1000, depending on the level of certification. Which methodology is better is a matter of personal preference and place of work (for example, Prince2 is more popular in Europe). I strongly advise you to choose one as your main one and be sure to familiarize yourself with the basics of the second methodology.

4. Agile

This buzzword hides a whole layer behind it, which is called a flexible approach to development (Scrum, FDD, XP and others). Where to read: you can actually read in many places. Only lazy people haven’t written about Agile. Here, for example, is a blog. You can even take a certified course (for example, here is a course - $549. A little expensive, but this is the price of popularity), although I would only do this if I decided to concentrate on working as a Scrum Master or if there are formal requirements from a “tasty” employer. What to pay attention to - flexible methodologies are not a panacea! In some places they are even harmful. They have shortcomings that are not immediately obvious. But, in general, this is what the doctor ordered for the needs of most development teams. The disadvantages of the agile approach can be mitigated if you delve deeper into the topic.

5. DevOps

To describe it in a nutshell, it’s like Agile, but for system administrators. This is very inaccurate, but it gets the point across. When developers switched to using flexible methodologies, IT operations became a lagging block that slowed down the developers who were producing “on-the-mountain” every two weeks. DevOps eliminates this problem (or tries to do so). Where to read: you can buy or find on the Internet a PDF version of the DevOps Cookbook and get acquainted with it. You can (if you have not yet spent all the money on certifications and courses from the previous points on the list) take a certification course approved by the DevOps Institute here - DevOps course. The issue price is $499.

6. Vendor-specific certification

Let me note right away that vendor-independent certifications are of little more than zero use (with very, very rare exceptions) and I will not dwell on them in detail. I can’t tell you which vendor to go for certification, it depends on the path you have chosen. For many, the path looks like this: in their youth, Microsoft, then “oh, there’s no way without Linux in serious companies,” then “oh, I need to understand SAP, they pay the most for it” (joke). What is useful is what is used in large companies. You have chosen such companies as your place of work, and not Doors Plus LLC? Then you need certification from Microsoft, Cisco, RedHat, SAP, IBM, HP. If you have set your sights on becoming a manager, then you shouldn’t go too deep into technical certification; you can stop at the basic levels. Examples: MCSA for Microsoft, CCNA for Cisco, and RHCSA for RedHat. Issue price: MCSA - $240, CCNA - $450, RHCSA - $400. If you are planning to develop as a manager, I would not recommend going deeper.

7. MBA

Many heated battles have been devoted to the question of whether it is necessary to spend time and effort on an MBA? My opinion is that if it is possible, then it is worth it. How to: choose a school that suits you based on price/quality/availability/rating criteria, pay attention to accreditation (AMBA, EFMD, AACSB), check accreditation and look for information. For foreign ones, you can see information here - FT rating. Please note that not a single business school from Russia is in the top hundred of this ranking! Therefore, the value of your education at a business school in Russia will only be relevant for Russia. Issue price: very varied from about $6,000 in the Russian Federation and up to $130,000-150,000 abroad. Example: An MBA from INSEAD, ranked 5th in the ranking, will cost approximately $80,000 + $50,000 will be spent on accommodation and other expenses. Also, do not forget about lost profits, since you will lose at least one year of income while studying full-time. It’s worth weighing everything very carefully.

8. Finance

An IT manager, in any form, has to deal with finances. Understanding such things as budgeting, cost types, depreciation, payback period and return on investment and many others are vital in everyday activities. Ideally, it would be nice to get a second higher education related to finance and economics. Price: from $4,500 to $7,500, depending on the university and study program. Pay close attention to the Financial Management process in the ITIL library and the Project Cost Management knowledge area in the PMBOK. If you have your sights set on a career as an IT manager in the banking/insurance industry, then consider taking the CFA exam. I note that this is not a cheap pleasure - without courses and other costs, the first level of CFA costs about $1100 - $1500, depending on the time of registration. Also, please note that about 40% of candidates pass it the first time. The exam, of course, is in English, like most significant certifications in the IT world (have you already signed up for English courses or do you know the language?)

9. Security

Ensuring security in information systems is one of the key aspects of the work of an IT manager. At a minimum, you must know the basics and know security software: antivirus, IDS/IPS/DLP systems, protocol analyzers, cryptographic software, firewalls, authentication tools and software, video surveillance tools and software. It is very useful to familiarize yourself with the ISO 27001 standard (

At the center of articles about IT projects presented on the Executive.ru portal are two main problems. The first is related to the choice of technical solution and assessment of its effectiveness. The second concerns a complex of various issues related to the relationship between the customer and the contractor. It is no secret that not all IT projects live up to the expectations placed on them. The purchased software products do not reflect all the features of business processes. Timelines for implementing solutions are delayed, and initial budgets are exceeded. And all these problems often accumulate against the background of mutual distrust between the specialists who develop solutions and the managers who order, accept and operate them. The authors of articles about IT projects analyze in detail the practices that have developed in Russian business, show the pitfalls that most companies face, and give advice on how to get around them. Among the experts speaking at Executive.ru are representatives of all interested parties: customers, contractors and consultants, summarizing the experience of IT projects and flexible methodologies to improve their efficiency.

Who should an IT manager be? IT specialist or manager? IT knowledge certainly matters in this position. However, IT managers who understand IT at the user level often turn out to be even better IT managers than those who come from system administrators. It's all about soft skills - management skills, which in any managerial position are much more important than special knowledge.

Battle for budgets

There is no company that has enough budget for all projects and all departments. You always have to sacrifice something. Production, marketing, sales, development, HR, etc. are all applying for the same money. and so on. Everyone believes that it is he who brings/saves/reduces costs, etc. I hope you don’t think that the needs of sales people and production people are more important than your own? In the fight for budgets, appeal to the company’s future profits, return on investment, the amount of possible losses, and look for common interests with the heads of other departments. An IT manager in a company is a seller of IT services and IT projects, no less than a representative of a vendor or integrator.

Quick action in emergency situations

The white fur-bearing animal has a habit of sneaking up unnoticed. Problems can be technical, production, strategic, legal, related to adverse weather conditions, caused by a political shutdown in the country, publications in the media or social networks, etc. and so on. Only in a small number of cases will a company's problem be related to an incident in its IT systems. If the situation is related to IT in any way, you must propose a solution and have a plan of action for most critical situations. In all other cases, offer a solution if you can and act without waiting for someone else to take responsibility. And by the way, if we are talking about IT, then you should have

Engaging and motivating employees

In the triad “people, processes, technologies”, only the third part is about IT systems. The success of any IT project and the reality of any business process embedded in IT systems depend on how company employees accept IT technologies and the work scenarios offered to them. For example, it claims that a 0.1% increase in employee engagement at the electronics supermarket chain BestBuy increases store revenue by $100,000 per year. Maybe in your case the final figures will be different, but

Team building

Of course, the main people in the company are your IT team. An unflattering remark from your employee about the project being implemented in an informal conversation with colleagues from other departments, and the likelihood of success drops sharply. “Good” IT people often help themselves in building workarounds for automated processes and in building shadow IT systems.

The only way to avoid all this is to bring IT development plans to their attention, inspire them with their own enthusiasm, and show them the coolness and advantages of new products and approaches. Make your employees interested in success and they will help you get the rest of the team involved.

The ability to be responsible yourself and demand responsibility from others.

The manager said - the manager did. In fact, a very important quality in management, which allows you to rely on a person, which is very... All discussions can only take place when the problem is stated. If you have agreed to the plans, deadlines and budget, then be so kind as to keep your promises. If you follow this principle yourself, then it is natural to demand it from your team. Unfortunately, part of the leadership is confident that in business, as in the army, orders are not subject to discussion. This is not true, this is still part of the big corporate game - if you think that the task assigned to you cannot be completed within the time frames and budgets determined by management, then try to record your disagreement in writing and receive a written refusal from management. In the end, the only thing that matters is?

Keep your team away from corporate politics

IT specialists are employees with a fine mental organization. That's what a manager is for... IT managers should take a close look at IT management practices. The authors of ITIL are great masters in corporate games. SLA and all other ITSM practices are, first of all, an excellent cover for the IT team, which works great even in large corporations. Under the cover of documented ITSM processes, your teams and you will be completely safe from corporate battles and unreasonable pressure from other departments.

Build relationships with top management

Politics means, in any case, colleagues from other departments. A manager may refrain from participating in corporate politics, but he cannot be outside politics altogether. Moreover, IT projects are, in any case, something that directly affects all departments of the company. Therefore, build trusting and open relationships with management and colleagues. This will not save you from trying to “frame” the IT department, but well-meaning colleagues will listen to your arguments much more attentively.

Watch out for burnout

The performance of an IT professional greatly depends on his personal interest in the work. Unfortunately, over time. IT employees need new technologies, new tasks, and opportunities for professional development. And at the same time, you cannot work for a long time in a state of emergency and unrealizable tasks. An IT manager must monitor the condition of each of his employees, give them the opportunity to move away from emergency tasks, switch to something new or even more routine. Sometimes an extra day off or a trip to study will help you retain a valuable specialist on your team.

Clearly set tasks and define project goals

IT professionals are very creative. If there is an opportunity to misunderstand your task, they will find it. Any project will be implemented the way it is easiest to do, and not the way it should be. In any situation, a simple workaround will be found that will work forever. A good IT manager sets the task in such a way that it eliminates any ambiguity. If in a project you need to pay attention to the formal aspects of the process, documentation, technical requirements, this must be done explicitly. All this is the responsibility of the IT manager.