An Information Technology department is often associated with being a cost center due to the nature of its operations. IT departments are, as a result, often delegated as support or service units to the company’s economic drivers, the business units. For this reason, most IT managers and executives often find themselves hard pressed when it comes to seeking funding for IT projects or initiatives. If you’re an IT manager, you can expect the usual barrage of questions from top management on matters such as Return on Investment (ROI), cost benefit analysis, or anything that has to do with the company’s bottom-line.

One long-term plan that an IT manager can build a strategy on is how to drive the gradual transformation of an IT department from a cost center to a profit center. A lot of planning needs to be done for this to be successful.

An effective IT strategy plan includes: setting goals, analyzing all of the risks involved (Risk Management), knowing your team and your plan’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities for improvement, and identifying all the threats to reaching a desired goal or objective.

I’ll tackle some of the goals that an IT manager can focus on to help facilitate this transformation in my future blogs.

We had a great family reunion in Subic over the weekend. We finally had the chance to meet my mom’s fiance, Dan, or as the kids call him, Popsie. Dan arrived from the US Friday evening of the 20th. It’s too bad we weren’t able to bring out the welcome banners and ticker tape parade for his arrival. But we also knew that my mom would have wanted some privacy. :) The brothers four, Jojo, Bong, Ding, and yours truly (with our respective families, of course) joined the couple last Sunday, the 22nd. The day started with a solemn mass. Most of our relatives were there to show their support. Among those present were my grandparents and some of my uncles and aunts from mom’s side. Dan had to do the formal “pamamanhikan” Filipino tradition and it was interesting to see my grandparents give their daughter away again, haha! :)

I’m so happy and excited for my mom. And I wish her and “Popsie” all the best. I’m glad that she’ll finally marry again after all these years, and to someone who we feel is perfect for her.

She’ll be leaving for the States soon to marry him. And hopefully we’ll come visit her there afterwards.

On another note, CJ had an absolutely great time especially with his cousins around. He kept shouting and playing with grownups and kids alike. And what made the day more special for us was that CJ was also 11th months old that day! We’re gearing up for his first birthday next month and we’ve been busy preparing for this as well.