Survey

Who do you like in Super Bowl XL?

Seattle
Pittsburg
Don't Care

Results from last issue's survey question: Have you had the opportunity to do any skills development training since September 1?

There were 31 responses. 10 replied "Yes," 21 replied "No."

Staff Profile

Dick Guertin

Dick Guertin works in the Backup, Storage, and Database workgroup in Shared Application Services. He recently received a Service Award for 35 years at Stanford.


How would you describe your current job responsibilities?

I maintain the SPIRES legacy system, primarily because I wrote the IBM/360 Emulator that allows SPIRES to run on Unix/Linux/MacOS platforms.

By the way, I just received a copyright from the Library of Congress for the code I call "xlong/xshort data-types." These data-types are now used in building the IBM/360 Emulator on Little-Endian machines. Makes byte-swapping automatic for data values declared with these new types.

Which aspects of your job do you enjoy the most?

Programming, programming, and programming. SPIRES is still actively used, and I make every effort to keep it running properly.

What did you do before you came to Stanford?

Worked for CDC on both hardware and software, which is why I'm able to code efficiently. I know what works the best in software on different hardware.

What do you like to do when you're not at work?

I'm a docent at the Computer History Museum. I give tours almost every Friday.

What is your favorite movie, book, song?

Movie: Forbidden Planet. No particular book or song.

Staff Happenings

The UNIX Systems and Applications team is growing! We are very fortunate to welcome Darren Patterson and Digant Kasundra to the department.

Darren joins us from the CRC (see Karen Zack's testimonial in a previous its in bits), and will be working on the HIPAA-compliant secure email project, as well as a productization of our Linux repository.

Digant has just completed a successful western migration from the University of Texas at Arlington and will provide Linux systems administration support to our many clients (as soon as he recovers from Bay Area "sticker shock").

Please join us in welcoming Darren and Digant to ITS Shared Application Services.

- Steven Swinkels
Shared Application Services; UNIX Systems and Applications

Megh Ghosh, who worked as a Desktop Systems Software Developer in our Desktop Systems Group, has returned to India after almost five years with IT Services. During Megh's time here, he was an active participant in the development of new versions of PC-Leland and WebAuth. He also provided key technical leadership as we developed our Desktop Configuration Management (DCM) project—the Phase I product is soon going into pilot deployment in selected CRC departments.

Megh and his wife Meeta were looking forward to returning to family and friends in India. We'll have his expertise embedded in our DCM product for years to come—he left his mark! Megh, Tony Silveira, and Jim Brown made Polya 102 a very interesting office to visit. Megh's position will be re-filled; it will be posted shortly.

- Chris Lundin
Client Support; Help Desk Services

Comings and Goings

The following people have left Information Technology Services. Please contact their manager if you need to follow up on any open items.

  • Parkhurst, Martin (Tom Poston, Client Support, Computer Resource Consulting)

its in bits welcomes more detailed employee news submissions from all staff. Please submit to itsinbits-submissions@lists.stanford.edu

Tech Briefings

New Apple Products

Come hear Stanford's Apple representative, Wyn Davies, talk about the new Apple products announced at MacWorld.

Wyn will also talk about special iTunes-based work going on at Stanford.

Turing Auditorium
Friday, February 3
2:00—3:30 p.m.

For the complete schedule, a map to Turing Auditorium, times, and a list of topics, visit the Tech Briefings site.

Technology Training Courses

Seats are still available for the following IT Services Technology Training classes the week of February 13:

  • Dreamweaver Lite (ITS-2601), Monday, February 13, 1:00 - 4:30, $150
  • Explore techport.stanford.edu - Open Lab (ITS-0601), Tuesday, February 14, 9:00 - 12:00, no fee
  • Tips and Tricks in Sundial (ITS-2301), Tuesday, February 14, 1:00 - 4:30, no fee
  • Web Design: Designing a Web Site (ITS-2503), Wednesday, February 15, 1:30 - 4:30, $100
  • Web Design Level 2: Tables and Cascading Style Sheets (ITS-2502), Thursday, February 16, 1:00 - 4:30, $150
  • FileMaker Pro Level 2 (ITS-1803), Friday, February 17, 9:00 - 4:00, $275

If you are interested in signing up for one of these courses, please register by Monday, February 6. Classes with low enrollments may be cancelled one week in advance.

More information on courses, registration, and training is available at the Technology Training Services site.

- Phyllis Olrich
Client Support; Technology Training Services

IT Employment Opportunities

There were two additions to the IT Services job requisition postings for this edition.

Req.#9693 - Computer Information Systems Analyst - 100% FTE Continuing - Range 4P2 - Maria Maravilla, Manager.

The Computer Information Systems Analyst (CISA) provides contract (fee-for-service) desktop and local area network support to University departments. He/she also functions as a technical team member within CRC and will work closely with a Senior CISA Consultant/Team Lead or Computer Resource Associate on day-to-day work priorities.

Req.#9694 - UNIX Web Developer - 100% FTE Continuing - Range 4P3 - Steven Swinkels, Manager.

This position functions as a web systems analyst, programmer, and systems administrator: developing, maintaining, and updating the shared university web infrastructure and interfaces for products and services supported by IT Services. This position requires an individual with practical, timely experience with the Linux (server) operating system (experience with RedHat Advanced Server is a critical requirement).

To view the complete listings or to apply for a position, visit the StanfordJobs web site at: jobs.stanford.edu.

There are other open Information Technology positions at Stanford. To see what other opportunities exist on campus, link to the full list of open positions from: itss.stanford.edu/staff/itssjobs.html

Quote of the Week

"When it comes to getting things done, we need fewer architects and more bricklayers."
- Colleen C. Barrett

News

Marketing What Used to be Marketing

In January, IT Services began reviewing its "marketing" efforts in conjunction with the Marketing group joining the Documentation, Training, and Licensing group. (See December 7 its in bits article.) We spoke to a number of people throughout the organization, discussing the services the Marketing group has delivered over the past two years and which of these they felt were of the greatest benefit. Additionally, we looked at new services the group might be able to provide to increase its contribution.

From these discussions, we were able to easily determine three strategic goals for the group:

  • enhance our clients' knowledge of our services;
  • enhance our clients' awareness of the value IT Services delivers; and
  • enhance the organization's knowledge of our clients' needs.

Each of these goals include specific deliverables, including:

  • evaluating and assisting in improving service content;
  • assisting in developing communication plans for projects (for service introductions, upgrades, or retirements);
  • coordinating IT Services participation in University publications and service events;
  • coordinating client-focused, comparative service analysis, summary materials, and presentations;
  • promoting IT Services value, including press releases and annual summary; and
  • conducting service-specific focus groups and spot surveys.

Teresa "TJ" Janeway will continue to lead the group and is already focusing on delivering these services. She will soon be relocating her office to Spruce Hall (F10) where she'll join the documentation and training groups. The marketing group has one vacant position that will be posted in February.

A suggestion made by many of the staff we spoke with was to change the name of the group from Marketing to something else. Taking into account our goals and deliverables, we have decided to call the group Promotion and Publicity.

If you would like more details about the future plans for Promotion and Publicity, please contact me or TJ.

- Jim Knox
Client Support

Self-Reset Passwords All The Rage

Usage of our SUNet ID Password Self-Reset feature has grown steadily since it became available in November of 2003. Usage continues to grow—you'll note that most month's counts are higher than the corresponding month from the year or two before.

September, 2005 was a banner month driven by the HIPAA-based requirement for many staff to reset their passwords. Thankfully, a high percentage of them could use this feature and not call the Help Desk! We will continue to market this self-help tool as a convenience to our customers.

- Chris Lundin
Client Support; Help Desk Services

Project Management Office Update

We're having a lot of fun in the IT Services Project Management Office (PMO) these days. Our team of skilled Project Managers is leading over 25 projects across IT Services, we're rolling out the PMO Business Process Redesign, we've launched a weekly Project Status report, and we're setting up a QA & Testing team to ensure we deliver quality products and services to our clients.

Want to know where you can find information about the Project Managers? The current list of PMO Project Managers and the projects they are leading is available on the Project Management Office web site.

Several projects were completed last quarter. Congratulations to the teams that successfully closed these projects:
- Steve Loving and the Desktop Configuration Management Phase 1 team
- Bernadette Drechsler, Bill Heiser, and the Change Management Phase 1 Team

Last fall, we redesigned our business processes in the Project Management Office and have begun implementing changes. The PMO clarified several objectives as follows:

  • to manage internal and client-sponsored projects;
  • to provide a framework for managing projects within IT Services;
  • to provide project portfolio oversight and governance;
  • to provide mentoring and project management training for project managers at Stanford; and
  • to provide integration & user experience expertise to projects in IT Services.

Over the next several months, you'll start to see some of the changes from the redesign. For starters, we'll be updating our web site with project management tools, resources, and information that should make project management and project tracking easier for everyone in IT Services. We also create and distribute a weekly status report that includes project updates and hot issues. If you would like to join the distribution list, subscribe to its-projectstatus@lists.stanford.edu via Majordomo.

Finally, the PMO provides development, integration, and user experience expertise across the project portfolio. Brad Lauster, Jean Lucker, and Tim Torgenrud—who make up the Integration and User Experience team—are working across projects, and across campus, to make sure information flows across systems and applications as expected. They are also developing the QA and Testing infrastructure IT Services will be using to help ensure we're delivering quality products and services to our clients through the Project Management Office.

I'd like to give special thanks to Kim Seidler from IT Services Process Management. She drove the PMO Business Process Redesign project that helped design the processes we are beginning to implement.

- Joyce Dickerson
Client Support; Project Management Office

Back By Popular Demand: ITS Bowling

Start planning now for March Madness. IT Services is planning its 2nd Not-So-Annual Bowling Party. On Thursday, March 30 (3:00—6:00) we're taking over all of the lanes at Palo Alto Bowl on El Camino. Bowling, shoe rental, pizza, and beer are all included for free!

A cash bar will also be available if you thirst for something else. In addition, there will be prizes awarded for high and low score throughout the afternoon. You should notice this marked on your sundial calendar soon.

- Nancy Ware
Planning and Communication

Late News: Union Staff Agree to Terms

Just in: Union employees of local SEIU of the Stanford Hospital ratified an agreement with the University Tuesday night.

Diane Peck, Stanford's executive director of Human Resources, said the agreement indicates that difficult issues can be resolved at the bargaining table. Negotiations were reopened late last year to discuss health care costs and employee pension plans. Last December, the employees held a one-day strike.

More information on the agreement is available from the Stanford Report.

- The Editors
Some Information Gathered from the Mercury News

IT Services Staff Meeting

The IT Services Staff Meeting will take place this coming Tuesday, February 7, 2006. It is scheduled for 10:30 to Noon in Oak Lounge, Tresidder Union. You should see it on your calendar.

There will be plenty of time for questions. We'll cover updates and announce Quarterly Exceptional recipients. A detailed agenda will follow, so watch your mail for more information. If you have any requests for updates or topics, please contact Nancy Ware.

- Nancy Ware
Planning and Communication

About its in bits

A regular summary of IT business, news about personnel, and pointers to other information of interest to IT Services staff. Coordinated, compiled, and published by the Communication Strategy and Standards Team. its in bits is published on the first and third Wednesday of the month. The January schedule varied due to Winter Closure. The normal schedule will resume next month.

Submissions are due by Noon on the Friday before the scheduled issue, to itsinbits-submissions@lists.stanford.edu for consideration. its in bits is distributed via email to its-all-staff@lists.stanford.edu and the new subscription list itsinbits-subscribers@lists.stanford.edu. People outside of IT Services can self-subscribe via majordomo.

The next its in bits will be published on Wednesday, February 15, 2006