Mike.Sisco

Mike.Sisco

Contributor

Mike Sisco was an operational IT manager and a CIO for more than 20 years prior to starting MDE Enterprises Inc. in 2000. His company's mission is simple: to help IT managers of the world achieve more success.

He has worked with hundreds of IT organizations and thousands of IT managers in the companies and management roles he has had during his career. He has extensive IT due diligence experience having led the technology support due diligence and assimilation efforts in support of more than 40 company acquisitions.

Mike's focus on having an IT organization deliver business value is consistent with his management approach and the guiding principle he uses to teach IT managers how to achieve more success in what he describes as "the toughest management role in a company."

Mike offers a five-day training program called the IT Manager Institute, which delivers a practical and effective IT management process and provides tools and templates that are designed to help IT leaders succeed. The program includes the IT Business Manager Certification (ITBMC), co-developed with Belmont University in 2005.

Mike's IT management processes and resources are used by thousands of IT managers around the world.

You can learn more at the IT Manager Institute's website.

The opinions expressed in this blog are those of Mike Sisco and do not necessarily represent those of IDG Communications Inc. or its parent, subsidiary or affiliated companies.

Articles by Mike.Sisco

Why are my projects failing?
Practical Management Tips for IT Leaders

Why are my projects failing?

Is your IT organization struggling to deliver projects successfully? If so, you're right there with a majority of the IT organizations in the world and it's killing your credibility.
By Mike Sisco June 26, 2019
What can managers learn from Tiger Woods’ 5th Masters win?
Practical Management Tips for IT Leaders

What can managers learn from Tiger Woods’ 5th Masters win?

Tiger Woods may have just completed the greatest comeback in the history of sports. His 5th Green Jacket win at the 83rd Masters has some great management principles worth noting.
By Mike Sisco April 30, 2019
Drain the swamp: an IT management model
Practical Management Tips for IT Leaders

Drain the swamp: an IT management model

Focus on eliminating the sources of problems in IT, rather than simply reacting to them.
By Mike Sisco October 17, 2018
Management requires special skills
Practical Management Tips for IT Leaders

Management requires special skills

4 criteria to consider before you start applying for that management role.
By Mike Sisco March 30, 2018
How much is client service worth?
Practical Management Tips for IT Leaders

How much is client service worth?

3 examples of companies that will show how you should never underestimate the value of client service in IT.
By Mike Sisco October 30, 2017
Focus and get more done with a simple To Do List
Practical Management Tips for IT Leaders

Focus and get more done with a simple To Do List

A simple To Do List can filter the noise and distraction you encounter so you can focus on important priorities and get more done. IT managers deal with considerable pressure from new and changing priorities that occur in today's dynamic work environment. These distractions will negatively impact your team's performance unless you do something to help you and your team stay focused on the important issues.
By Mike Sisco July 27, 2017
Practical Management Tips for IT Leaders

Calculate the Cost of Downtime

IT projects, especially infrastructure projects can be challenging to get approved. Discuss the "cost of downtime" in your proposal so senior management can visualize and understand the risk implications, and you will get many more of your projects approved.
By Mike Sisco May 22, 2017
5 key components in getting IT projects approved
Practical Management Tips for IT Leaders

5 key components in getting IT projects approved

Prove that your IT project is worthwhile. Answer the questions your CEO will want to ask: what are the benefits in doing this project, and what will it do for the company?
By Mike Sisco March 27, 2017
Boost staff morale with an annual IT kickoff meeting
Practical Management Tips for IT Leaders

Boost staff morale with an annual IT kickoff meeting

Jump start your year with an annual IT kickoff meeting. Follow a few simple steps to make it a truly memorable event and boost the morale of your IT staff.
By Mike Sisco January 6, 2017
Practical Management Tips for IT Leaders

6 steps to rescue a problem client

You might be surprised to learn one day that some of your IT people do not know how to troubleshoot a problem. Don't assume they do unless you know for certain because the ramifications are significant for your IT organization. In this article, I'll discuss a classic example and then give you specific steps to help you troubleshoot a client problem. The end result can win over a problem client and build trust in your IT organization.
By Mike Sisco October 13, 2016
Practical Management Tips for IT Leaders

Business value is key to IT success

For IT managers to succeed, they have to stop delivering technology and focus on the importance of delivering business value. The technology is important for sure, but what gets attention and creates real success for an IT manager is when you do things that helps the company succeed. Business value is key! In this article we define "business value" to be five very specific things, something every IT manager needs to be aware of and focused to as they go about supporting their company.
By Mike Sisco October 6, 2016
10 ways to think like your client
Practical Management Tips for IT Leaders

10 ways to think like your client

Your IT support clients are business people and they don't think like we do in IT. It will help you support them better if you can "walk in their shoes" or better understand their perspectives about IT support.
By Mike Sisco August 19, 2016
Practical Management Tips for IT Leaders

Understand supply and demand to manage client expectations

One of the keys to success as an IT manager is being able to manage your client’s expectations. To manage your client’s expectations, you need to know some things about the concept of “supply and demand” and how it applies within an IT support organization. This article will give you a foundation to use and example to measure programming staff productivity.
By Mike Sisco July 5, 2016
Your project war stories make great teaching tools
Practical Management Tips for IT Leaders

Your project war stories make great teaching tools

Personal stories gain attention and are memorable; use your stories about projects (and mistakes during them) to coach and teach your employees. This "war story" about a raised floor is a reminder that we need to fully understand what someone is telling us before taking action.
By Mike Sisco May 17, 2016
Practical Management Tips for IT Leaders

IT managers may need to change their work behavior to succeed

IT employee work behavior tendencies are amazingly consistent. In three of four major aspects it is the same for 90% of your IT employees regardless of their position or responsibility. Bottom line: IT attracts a certain type of personality. What works well for us in technical expert roles can become major obstacles in an IT manager role. It's important for every IT manager to understand these traits and the implications they have for IT technical employees and managers.
By Mike Sisco April 28, 2016
Triple Threat to IT Success™
Practical Management Tips for IT Leaders

Triple Threat to IT Success™

There are 3 key reasons that cause an IT organization to fail. Learn about this "Triple Threat to IT Success™" to prevent each threat in your company and achieve more success.
By Mike Sisco March 25, 2016