Higher Ed institutions are constantly on the lookout for technology solutions that can add efficiencies and improve the user experience. Alice Wei, USF IT's AVP for Digital Transformation, was recently featured in a podcast with the Tambellini Group to discuss how USF IT’s innovative strategies to rapidly deploy custom applications and leverage agile leadership management has positioned them as a leader in higher education technology. She also offers specific advice to other organizations looking to do the same.
In Episode 54 of the Top of Mind podcast, Wei identifies three features for success in information technology: an agile mindset, investing with the right partners, and a willingness to experiment with new technologies. She breaks down terms like “hyperautomation” and “composable architecture” for listeners and discusses the relationship between cultural changes and quality of work for the field of innovative technology.
“Agile framework is really integral in hyperautomation and composable architecture. When you think agile, you think project management, but there’s also a cultural aspect to it,” says Wei. “Are you delivering value to your clients in a timely manner in a way that is iterative? Are you open to failing and learning from those failures? Are you allowing your teams to fail in a safe environment so that they can be free to build the best thing they can build as a team? These are the important questions to ask yourself as a leader.”
Wei also offers insights into how tech organizations can create effective strategies that will empower them to become more innovative in the future.
“My advice to other organizations is to set up partnerships in advance, establish trust that you can deliver, and be able to deliver products in an iterative way,” says Wei. “If you were a client getting a service, you wouldn’t want to wait an entire year to see a product. You want to see the product being created each step of the way as it progresses. When you build trust with clients, you’re able to have a relationship where you can try things out, see if something works or doesn’t. That experimentation is a key part of discovery and innovation.”
To listen to the full interview, please click here. To learn more about USF IT and the services we provide to clients, visit www.usf.edu/it/.