The Unfortunate Disconnect Between IT and HR

Joe Wynne is a versatile Project Manager experienced in delivering medium-scope projects in large organizations that improve workforce performance and business processes. He has a proven track record of delivering effective, technology-savvy solutions in a variety of industries and a unique combination of strengths in both process management and workforce management.

 

Recently, we received an e-mail from a member who wrote, "Since you're promoting the idea of jobs in the IT community, I wonder if you've ever mentioned the People-CMM in the past. [My company has] just finished deploying a corporate initiative that seems to align nicely with the People-CMM. However, no specific mention of P-CMM was ever made during the presentation during deployment. Are other companies sneaking maturity models in through the back door? Are human resources people getting into process improvement without telling anyone about it? IT managers might want to take a look at the SEI web site and investigate, because there are some really good ideas in there. If nothing else, use Appendix C (Abridged practices) as a framework for doing a self assessment."

This brings up a critical issue that needs to be addressed: The continental divide between information technology professionals and human resource professionals.

I realize that there are advanced enterprises out there where the IT and HR organizations work together in harmony to the delight of the customer. In the main, though, there is a cultural disconnect in our workplaces. In its worst form, human resource professionals tend to see IT professionals as as techno-babbling, geeky cubicle dwellers, while IT professionals see HR professionals as new age head-in-the…

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