How Do I Become an IT/IS Manager?

link915 writes "For the last seven years I have moved around from job to job climbing the rungs of the IT ladder. I've worked in tech support, network operations, sys admin, and as a programmer. Two years ago I took a job with a company that has a small IT department. We are now hiring on more people and doubling the department, and along with this growth comes an IT manager. Now, I could stay and wait things out with the goal of taking over the IT manager's position someday; or I could look for a new job as a manager elsewhere. What are others' experiences with moving up the ranks in IT? Is it best to move on to another company or to stay where you are and try to get ahead there?"

Comments

Re: How do I become an IT/IS manager?

[dist_morph]

And why?

And the sterotypical response...

[blowdart]

Buy a tie, set impossible time scales and grow a fringe/bangs; they will cover the lobotomy scars.

Re:And the sterotypical response...

[angus_rg]

Don't forget to learn phrases like "I'm also gonna need you to go ahead and come in on Sunday, too..."

Re:I know this one

[gEvil (beta)]

Absolutely! This one can never go wrong.

PHB manual

[Lord Ender]

Start reading Dilbert. The manager in that strip is an oracle of insight, and his methodology has been perfectly replicated in companies throughout the world.

If you decide you would prefer consulting to management, a certain Dogbert would be an excellent example to study.

Based on personal observations

[Anonymous Coward]

From what I've seen, a brown nose helps quite a bit.

(Guess I'd better post this anonymously)

Well,

[Anonymous Coward]

You don't 'manage' the itis per se, it just happen.
Watch the boondocks for more information...

A few simple steps

[Anonymous Coward]

1. Forget everything you know about the technical operations of your organization.
2. Forget how to communicate in anything remotely resembling the English language. Practice stringing random words together and assume that your subordinates will be able to translate it accurately into a sentence!
3. Formulate a plan for actively sabotaging your operations. Bonus points if you can spend millions of dollars on an off-the-shelf software package that supports none of your current business practices and jumps you back ten years in customer service.
4. Congratulations, you're an IT manager!

Re:You serious?

[ale_ryu]

I then used my contacts from the '90s to land me a position in my current company as a supervisor where I was quickly promoted to DM based on my attitude, work ethic knowledges of the business and results.
Wow man, must be cool to work as a Dungeon Master, I don't see how this is related to the IT management stuff though...

Re:Questions...

[The Great Pretender]

Just start doing a really shitty job in the position you are currently in. Seemed to work at my old company

Re:Emphasis on that last line.

[jimbojw]

Do you have experience in the Business Understanding of Language and Linguistics? If not, you'll want to take some Special High-Intensity Training course.

Re:You serious?

[lactose99]

Re: DM budget for 2008

I formally request an allotment of 8,000 orcs for the year. While this is up 40% from last year with an annual experience point gain of only 18%, I predict big things for the land of Morkdor in the next 12 months. Players are up as our Q4 results show and market reports indicate a heavy influx of min-maxers which will boost demand 3-fold. Spell-casting is up, endurance bonuses are up, and saving throws are down. As a result more orcs are needed to handle the new typical player experience. If we're able to score a deal for some trolls or another Beholder by Q2 we may be able to scrape by with current inventories, but as it stands we'll deplete the orc supply in a matter of months, having to resort to tacky side-quests in some of the more fairy-populated areas.

Sincerely,
Arkto Buttlecock
Generic Monster Quest Inventories