Technical Job Competencies
Webmail Beta Test: Try Barbie Pink
Daylight Saving Time Starts This Sunday
RRI Program Changes
Employee Referral Program
Photography: Fusion 19
Survey
Staff Profile
Staff Happenings
Tech Sessions
Tech Training Classes
IT Employment Opportunities at Stanford
Quote of the Week

Past Issues

Overall, are you satisfied with the IPP process?

Yes
No

Results from last issue's survey question: Is it easy to find information online using "search" at Stanford?

There were 31 responses. 14 said "Yes" and 17 said "No."

Larry Mazzei started at Stanford in 2000.

How would you describe your current job responsibilities?

Like I'm on a big bus with the rest of IT Services taking a "fiscal-year-long" road trip to deliver goods and services to the University in a cost-effective and efficient way. The technical folks make sure the bus is running at its best, senior management navigating the way, while I'm contributing to making sure we utilize the financial assets in such a way that we make it to our destination on time and within budget (with a little left over to have some fun). Or in a nutshell, just making sure where things are in terms of budget, actuals, and forecast.

Which aspects of your job do you enjoy the most?

The people I work with, whether it's the technical folks I serve from a business operations point of view or those I come in contact with because we share the same building. Also, the challenges of how to do things better, faster, smarter, and adding value to myself and the organization.

What did you do before you came to Stanford?

I worked at Lockheed Martin in Sunnyvale; 13 years on the Trident Program in various positions of budgeting, proposals, and cost analysis, as well as three years in Strategic IT Projects and Finance.

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

Running, reading, travel, family time, maintaining 2 1/2 rural acres, golf, and watching my daughter play sports.

What is your favorite movie, book, song?

Song: depends on my mood. It could be show tunes, classical, blues, classic rock, or various foreign stuff (I may not understand it, but it sounds cool).

Book: general or biblical history. Actually anything historical, current events, and let's not forget the supermarket rags for a little fiction and laughs while standing in the checkout line.

Movie: If it makes me laugh a lot or I leave in deep thought or in tears, it's usually a favorite. If all three happen during the same movie then it's definitely a favorite.

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.

• Kelly Groves (Kim Seidler)
• Steven Swinkels (Jay Kohn)

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

Tech Briefings

Fridays
2–3:30 p.m.

Turing Auditorium

March 9: Software Resources at Stanford

Even technical people need to know how to find the software tools they need for their work at Stanford. This "Software Portal Live" presentation, provided jointly by Software Licensing, Procurement, and the Campus Bookstore, will demystify the various sources of software on campus.

Debbi Barley, Tom Goodrich (IT Services); Trinka Gillis, and Glen Jones (Procurement) will be presenting.

March 16: Using Open Source Software and Other Freebies

Wish you had office applications at home? Is your department running out of funds because you're spending too much on licensing fees for tools like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, Illustrator, and Photoshop? Mark Branom will demonstrate Open Source and other free alternatives. Topics will include OpenOffice.org, Audacity, Picasa, GIMP, Google Docs and Spreadsheets, and Google Page Creator.

Check the Tech Briefings home page for upcoming talks, specials, and last-minute additions.

Tech Express

Thursdays
12–1 p.m.
Turing Auditorium

None this week.

The next Tech Express will be March 22 (Stanford Desktop Tools).

Check the Tech Express home page for future sessions and to subscribe to the mailing list.

Upcoming Tech Training classes of interest to IT Services staff.

• March 9: Web Design; Forms and Basic CGI Scripting (ITS-2504)
• March 13: Word Merge (ITS-0924)
• March 13: PowerPoint Tips and Timesavers (ITS-1324)
• March 13: Order IT Site Training (formerly IT Services Site Training) (ITS-8301)
• March 13: Changes to Ordering and Billing for Department Contacts (ITS-8302)
• March 14: Explore techport.stanford.edu (Open Lab) (ITS-0601)
• March 14: Introduction to ReportMart1 (ITS-8401)
• March 15: Dreamweaver Lite (ITS-2601)
• March 16: Excel Level 2 (ITS-1122)
• March 19: Order IT Site Training (formerly IT Services Site Training) (ITS-8301)
• March 19: Changes to Ordering and Billing for Department Contacts (ITS-8302)
• March 20: Web Design Level 3: Cascading Style Sheets (ITS-2506)

Sign up at http://axess.stanford.edu.

Classes with low enrollment may be cancelled one week in advance. More information on courses, registration, and training is available at the Technology Training Services site.

- Leni Silberman
Technology Training Services

There were nine new job postings for IT Services this week.

Req. #24237: Storage Administrator, 100%FTE, continuing position, Range 4P3, Dan Stillmaker, hiring manager.

The Storage Administrator installs and maintains a backup storage system environment ensuring that it is functional, secure, and as bug-free as possible. The focus of this position will be (but not limited too) the full range of IBM Tivoli Storage system operations including data recovery, disaster recovery, and data archival operations.

Req. #24274: Order Management Lead, 100%FTE, continuing position, Range 4P3, Suzanne Schiessler, hiring manager.

The lead will have responsibility to manage the workload of the order processing staff, perform staff management for the order processing staff, and manage client interactions for escalations, as well as interact with the leads for the Service Desk and Billing Service.

Req. #24280: Order Management Project Coordinator, continuing position, Range 4P2, Suzanne Schiessler, hiring manager.

Processes assigned orders from the Order Management lead and works on assigned projects. Project work includes new projects and data reconciliation projects. The Project Coordinator will perform liaison activities with the Service Desk, Service Consultants, technicians in Installation, Maintenance, and Facilities Engineering as well as client contacts.

Req. #24283: Facilities Engineer II, 100%FTE, Fixed term through 3/31/09, Range 3P3, Erich Snow, hiring manager.

Responsible for the design, construction, maintenance, and documentation of campus and Medical Center intra/inter-building structured wiring systems. These structured wiring systems can be composed of copper, optical fiber, and broadband cabling.

Req. #24364: Telephone Operator Trainee, two available positions, Bargaining Unit, 100%FTE, 1 year fixed term, Range A00, Carolyn Kane, hiring manager.

The Attendant performs critical call functions, including general information, directory, answer and transfer, paging, after-hours on-call contacts, and code call coordination.

Req. #24371: Application Support Administrator, 100% FTE, continuing position, Range 4P4, Anne Pinkowski, hiring manager.

This position is responsible for the effective operation of Stanford’s Remedy-based applications including HelpSU, the University’s request tracking system, BenefitSU, and other Remedy applications. In addition, the incumbent will provide application support (either primary or secondary) for Journyx Time Tracking system, Infra Change Management system, DocuShare, Pinnacle, Pathworks, and Sundial.

Req #24372: Director of Vendor Relations, 100% FTE, continuing position, Range 1M4, Sam Steinhardt, hiring manager.

Coordinates all aspects of vendor relationships within IT Services including developing and implementing vendor-related policies, assessing potential vendors, negotiating contracts, and managing on-going vendor relationships. Responsibilities will extend to all telecommunications vendors, software vendors, hardware vendors, and a wide range of professional services vendors.

Req. #24374: Order Processor, 100% FTE, continuing position, Range 4P1, Suzanne Schiessler, hiring manager.

Responsible for receiving, reviewing, processing, and closing orders generated through the IT Services (Department), My IT Services (Student), and Customer Service Orders (CSOs) sites. Works with Remedy tickets that support network and telecommunication needs which include voice, data, cable, fiber, voicemail, card services, and outside vendor services.

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 all open IT positions at Stanford

"Truth hurts; not the searching after, the running from"

- John Eyberg

Technical Job Competencies

Recently, the Technical Job Competencies web page went live. This web page houses the worksheets that we are putting together for all job families in IT Services. These worksheets are intended to support technical career development. They are intended to clarify the skills and competencies necessary for success in a current technical job or role. The worksheets will assist you and your manager in expectation-setting and career development conversations.

The worksheets have been developed as part of the Technical Job Competencies FY07 operational initiative. The primary goal of this initiative is to complete job competency templates (worksheets) for Shared Application Services, Finance and Administration, Client Support, and Supervisor/Manager/Directors in FY07. We will work on Shared Communications Services in FY08. The overarching goal of this effort is to focus on staff development so that people can do their best work.

Please check out the competencies web page to see the most recently posted worksheets.

If you have any questions about this initiative, feel free to contact the project team: Jay Kohn (sponsor), Bruce Vincent, Nilda Bonet, and Dani Aivazian.

-Dani Aivazian
Client Support

Webmail Beta Test: Try Barbie Pink

All IT Services staff are invited to join the Webmail beta testing starting on March 9, 2007. This beta test precedes the “go live” of the updated Webmail on April 12, 2007.

To reach the beta version, log in to Webmail. Starting Friday March 9th, on the Webmail "splash" page, follow the link to the beta test.

There will be a link on the instruction page for feedback. Thanks in advance for any feedback you might provide.

You may also officially register for the beta. By registering, IT Services will know to save your beta test preferences when the new Webmail goes live in April. Registration is not a requirement, but you are invited to do so.

Hint: There is a new option for a Barbie Pink color scheme in the Global Options—>Display settings. Have fun with the new color schemes!

- Steve Loving
Client Services; Project Management Office

Daylight Saving Time Starts This Sunday

The change to Daylight Saving Time occurs this Sunday. There have been updates to the Daylight Saving Time web pages, including a link to the new Palm DST page. If you've been waiting for updates, check back now for more information.

On Sunday, IT Services staff will test various systems to anticipate concerns Stanford faculty, students, and staff may have on Monday. We will email you the results of that testing on Monday. If you have clients who have not yet updated their operating systems, please encourage them to do so this week.

- Jay Kohn
Shared Communication Services

Reward, Recognition and Incentive Program Changes

During the March 6 Town Hall, we reviewed changes to the IT Services' Rewards, Recognition, and Incentives program. In response to your feedback, we have simplified the nomination process, included award opportunities for individuals and teams, and clarified guidelines for the various award levels. We have also made changes to allow for just-in-time recognition.

Complete details are available (PDF).

- Nancy Ware
Planning & Communication

Winner Announced: Employee Referral Program

In the February 7th edition of its in bits we announced the IT Services Employee Referral Program. One component of the program included the opportunity to win $50 via a monthly drawing. Basically, your name is placed in a hat for each valid referral you submit in a given month. Each month, a drawing is held to select one winning entry to win a $50.00 Visa gift card.

We just completed the drawing for this month. Anna Pinkowski, a member of the Application Support Team, is this month's winner.

In addition to the monthly drawing, if your referral candidate is hired to an open position in IT Services, you will receive a $2,000 referral bonus.

Contact Nilda Bonet for additional details including program rules, details regarding eligibility to participate, and the Employee Referral form.

Congrats to Anna for being our very first winner.

- Nilda Bonet
IT Services; Human Resources

Photography: Fusion 19

From altered visions of butterflies to luminous botanicals, stargazing to dollebrities, the wonders of an infra-red world to the uninhabited polar regions of Antarctica, desolate buildings and old trolleys in San Francisco to sandy California beaches, Bay Area organic farms to the populous streets of Florence and Paris, the spectrum of images in Stanford's Continuing Studies Art 44 group show will hold your gaze.

For the 3rd year, the varied portfolios of Stanford's Continuing Studies Art 44 class will be represented at Modernbook Gallery in Palo Alto. The show will run from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. through April 4th.

- The Editors

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.

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 subscription list itsinbits-subscribers@lists.stanford.edu. People outside of IT Services can self-subscribe via mailman.

The next its in bits will be published on Wednesday, March 21, 2007.