How do you handle mismatched IT Operations expectations?

1 Communicate clearly and frequently

One of the main causes of mismatched IT Operations expectations is poor or insufficient communication. To avoid this, you need to communicate clearly and frequently with all the stakeholders involved in your IT Operations. This means defining the scope, objectives, roles, responsibilities, timelines, deliverables, and quality standards of your IT Operations. It also means updating them regularly on the progress, status, issues, and risks of your IT Operations. And it means listening to their feedback, questions, and concerns, and addressing them promptly and respectfully.

2 Align your IT Operations with business needs

Another cause of mismatched IT Operations expectations is misalignment between your IT Operations and the business needs of your customers or organization. To avoid this, you need to align your IT Operations with the business needs and value proposition of your customers or organization. This means understanding the purpose, goals, challenges, and requirements of your customers or organization. It also means designing, delivering, and maintaining your IT Operations to meet or exceed their expectations and solve their problems. And it means measuring and demonstrating the value and impact of your IT Operations on their business outcomes.

4 Manage changes and expectations

A fourth cause of mismatched IT Operations expectations is unmanaged changes and expectations. To avoid this, you need to manage changes and expectations in your IT Operations. This means anticipating and planning for potential changes in your IT Operations scope, requirements, resources, or environment. It also means communicating and negotiating any changes with all the stakeholders involved in your IT Operations. And it means setting and managing realistic and achievable expectations for your IT Operations performance, quality, and results.

5 Learn and improve from feedback

A fifth cause of mismatched IT Operations expectations is lack of learning and improvement from feedback. To avoid this, you need to learn and improve from feedback in your IT Operations. This means soliciting and collecting feedback from all the stakeholders involved in your IT Operations. It also means analyzing and evaluating the feedback to identify the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of your IT Operations. And it means implementing and monitoring the feedback to improve your IT Operations processes, skills, and outcomes.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?