Measuring the Effectiveness of IT's Communications
Survey Soon to be Released

by Roger Ashton

 
In 1995, the Communication and Outreach Implementation Committee for the Information Technology Outreach Program (ITOP) was charged with developing a communication plan to inform the campus about services and programs provided by the Division of Information Technology (IT). Last April, IT's Five-Year Administrative Unit Review (AUR) report reinforced the need to continue implementation of that plan. A month later, IT took the plan a few steps further with Project Mercury, a ten-month endeavor to develop a strategic IT-wide communications plan.

Project Mercury is in the primary research phase, trying to objectively determine the effectiveness of current IT organizational communications and to identify the information needs of various campus constituencies. For this research phase to succeed, the project leaders need to marshal support, input, and understanding from all on campus who touch IT -- that includes just about everyone.

In the next few weeks, students, staff, and faculty will be asked to reflect on the effectivemess of the Division's communication efforts. Some of the input will be solicited from key groups and individuals. Others will be asked to provide their thoughts through the completion of an anonymous survey. The Project Mercury team will take the information gathered during this most important research phase to formulate a strategic IT communications plan in the spring.

Similar to Project Swordfish (see "IT Revamps Divisional Web Site"), Project Mercury is designed to provide the best communication possible with various segments of the campus community. Your participation in this project is essential. For more information on this project, contact Roger Ashton, Project Coordinator at rmashton@ucdavis.edu.