Our Plan of Action

In order to most effectively meet the goals of the University and the Tippie College of Business, Stead Tech keeps a close look out for all things that drive, stall, or allow for progress for the department.

Examining the Factors

Internal Factors

  • The University has shown the willingness to commit to the high cost of having first-rate instructional technology available by implementing student fee structures for ongoing support and improvement.
  • STSG has been given the authority and responsibility to manage the technology funds collected from students.
  • STSG customers expect access to the latest technology and support in implementing that technology in their teaching and research.
  • The department is small relative to the support expectations of the college.

External Factors

  • Information technology progresses and changes rapidly.
  • The campus Information Technology Services has expectations of cooperation and communication with our technology staff on projects that affect the college now and in the future.
  • The campus Information Technology Services has changed pricing and fee structures, and it has begun extracting a tax from fees that the college collects from students.

Our Goals

We have broken down our aspirations for the future into two sections: short term goals, put into place within the next 12 to 18 months, and long term goals, implemented in 3 to 5 years.

Short-Term Goals

  • Create a process for identifying project life cycles, which will identify projects that are "pilots" and then, at the appropriate time, move those pilot projects to a "production" phase of total support, and discontinue support for those projects that are no longer viable or necessary.
  • Create a system of online work order and tracking mechanisms to create more consistency in responses to customers.
  • Create an organized structure of documentation regarding technology services, both for department use and for consumption by department constituents.
  • Revise department website. Include an Intranet section for department use only.
  • Create permanent staff positions dedicated to desktop support and database programming.
  • Identify and take advantage of regular training opportunities, including cross training, for each staff member.
  • Continually quantify, measure, and analyze outcomes to assure best use of current technology support resources, as well as for future planning needs.
  • Become more involved in the offer letter and welcoming process of new faculty.
  • Develop an assessment tool and process for gaining better understanding of customer satisfaction.
  • Develop effective communications/feedback channels with departments and programs.

Long Term Goals

  • Sustain and build upon the department's recognition and trust as the first place for college constituents to seek professional consultation for technology needs.
  • Grow the size of the department and the skills of the staff in order to meet the continually growing technology needs of the college.
  • Use available student technology fees to support instructional computing at the highest level possible.
  • Identify and implement the emerging technologies that best support the strategic goals of the college and the university, while doing so within the limits of available resources.
  • Advise college administrators on the ongoing costs of information technology and obtain increased funding support for faculty research and administrative computing.

Contact Us

Have questions about Stead Tech? Get in contact with us.

Phone: 319-335-0873
Fax: 319-335-1956
Email: stead-tech@uiowa.edu