Join us for the April IT All Hands meeting from 3-4 p.m. CT on Wednesday, April 16 as WashU IT Chief of Staff Melinda Schmidt introduces WashU IT’s new Operating Model; a framework for how we work that will directly support the important progress teams are making to align with the ImpacT and Here and Next strategic plans. This framework will help teams take a more strategic approach. Through holding fewer meetings, reducing the number of emails being sent, and other ways, this model will help teams focus and prioritize.
Since last fall, WashU IT has been examining existing processes, guidelines, workflows, and approaches within the organization to determine what is working and what might require adjustments or fixes. Groups have been working in “Tiger Teams” to fix inefficiencies and streamline operations, leading to a more unified, aligned approach to work.
“We all operate in different ways,” said Melinda Schmidt, Assistant Vice Chancellor and Chief of Staff in WashU IT. “To truly excel as an organization, we need alignment. The framework helps us achieve consistency in how we work, how we serve our customers, how people perceive us, and how we measure success.”
The approach to building out the framework incorporates diverse perspectives, allowing the development of processes and workflows that foster innovation and inspire creativity.
“The framework is about creating a shared foundation for how we work together,” Schmidt said. “It provides clarity and brings our teams together, ensuring that we work in a way that is efficient, strategic, and aligned with both IT and university-wide goals.”
This will make WashU IT better equipped to meet the evolving needs of the university community.
The framework will drive consistency across WashU IT through shared processes, enhanced delivery of the customer experience, and consistency in service delivery. The goal will be the establishment of shared goals across WashU IT, clear benchmarks, and consistent ways to measure progress.
“Implementing the operating model is a long-term commitment,” Schmidt said. “It is a marathon, not a sprint. It won’t happen overnight or with the flip of a switch.”
The goal across WashU IT is the same: empowering people to work better together and delivering an exceptional IT experience that makes customers feel confident, valued, and uniquely understood by providing IT services and support that are transparent, seamless, and accessible.
In the coming weeks, deeper dives into the new framework will occur during team meetings. These meetings will provide the opportunity to:
- Ask questions.
- See how team priorities align with broader IT goals.
- Reflect on ways we can collectively strengthen WashU IT.
As always, the All Hands will include recognition for new team members and employee milestones. Also, this month, special guest Emma Klues from the Great Rivers Greenway will present on how the organization connects our region. Updates from our Chief Information Officer, Jessie Minton, an Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Spotlight update from Julie Szaj, the monthly attendance prizes, and more will round out the hour-long meeting.
The March IT All Hands meeting recording and materials are now available in the All Hands Archives, which are accessible in the “Recordings and Materials” section through WashU IT Staff Space.