Assignment Question

“What do I really know about my personal ‘consulting’ activities?” Your task for this SLP is to: (1) do a little personal literature mining (properly cited) on the particulars and importance of the role of the IT consultant and the IT unit as a consultant to the US NAVY organization. You are encouraged to look beyond personal behaviors and check out ‘organization development’ (OD) or general consulting literature to understand organizational techniques (i.e., ‘scanning’) and issues (such as political realities). In particular, you might wish to find one of the several ‘step’ models which suggest phased consulting activities; (2) note some truly important characteristics; and then (3) using this information as a guide, suggest your current most important consulting strengths as well as opportunities you see for improvement, based on both personal knowledge and your assignment literature review. Relate these strengths to the US NAVY organizational unit for your project and discuss how the strength could benefit the IT outreach from that unit. Try to do this in three to four pages or so. (There is no penalty for a longer paper.) Note that you may wish to seek the opinions of co-workers in this largely self-diagnostic project. They may have some interesting insight for you. Remember, this is not a paper where you make generalized comments about what consultants do. It is about your insight and typical activities. Do not discuss personality ‘traits’ or ‘style labels’ you may have learned. You must discuss actual activities you now use when dealing with others and providing expert IT advice. For example, how well do you listen versus talk, or how well do you scan the organizational environment and try to find out about the politics of a given situation before you wade in with your advice or start a project? As noted above, you will wish to research the Web and check out traditional models of consulting behavior and typical behaviors in each ‘stage.’ For example, what are effective behaviors when one first enters any kind of consulting relationship? Again, stay out of the personality and trait literature; this is about observable activity. You may want to chat with people whom you have provided advice to, to see what they have observed. Be forewarned that generalized papers with no personal information, or including a ‘personality assessment’ will be graded as unresponsive to this assignment. Do not provide a technical outline or project details such as: “conduct project/needs analysis.” This is assumed. SLP Assignment Expectations These SLP papers require that you integrate, discuss, contiguously cite, and later fully reference at least three academically sound sources. Use enough concurrent discussion so that the purpose of each citation is apparent to the reader. Note that this paper is incomplete without at least three academically sound references (relevant magazine articles such as CIO are OK. Also, you may use Wikipedia and military/corporate references, but they do not count as one of the required three). You will be assessed on the appropriateness and completeness of the detail you provide regarding your topic, your use of citations and references as noted above, and your intellectual insight into topically important issues. You are expected to use correct grammar, spelling, and English vocabulary. Check your paper for missing or inappropriately used words. If in doubt, check the dictionary and not ‘spell check.’ Consider that this paper, and all others, will be reviewed by the CIO and/or your commanding officer. It is strongly suggested that you ask a trusted colleague to review and edit each of your papers. Mitre. (n.d.). IT governance. https://www.mitre.org/publications/systems-engineering-guide/enterprise-engineering/enterprise-planning-and-management/it-governance Chapters 1-12, in: Axelos. (2020). ITIL 4: Digital and IT Strategy. TSO. Available in the Trident Online Library (Skillsoft Books). Chapters 1-10, in: Smallwood, R. F. (2020). Information governance: Concepts, strategies and best practices. Wiley & Sons. Available in the Trident Online Library (Skillsoft Books). Chapters 1-10, in: Dordal, P. L. (2022). An introduction to computer networks. http://intronetworks.cs.luc.edu/current2/ComputerNetworks.

Answer

Introduction

The role of an IT consultant within the US Navy organization is pivotal in ensuring efficient and effective information technology operations. Consulting in the context of the US Navy involves providing expert advice, strategies, and solutions to enhance IT operations and support the organization’s mission. This essay explores the particulars and importance of the role of IT consultants and the IT unit as consultants to the US Navy. It delves into organizational development (OD) literature and consulting techniques, emphasizing the significance of activities such as environmental scanning and understanding political realities. Drawing insights from various sources, this essay also identifies important characteristics of an effective IT consultant.

The Role of an IT Consultant in the US Navy

In the context of the US Navy, IT consultants play a vital role in ensuring that information technology systems align with the organization’s strategic goals. According to Mitre (n.d.), IT consultants in the Navy are responsible for governance, which includes IT planning, resource allocation, and risk management. Their role extends to advising senior leaders on technology investments, ensuring compliance with cybersecurity standards, and optimizing IT processes. This aligns with the concept of IT governance, which involves decision-making processes and accountability for IT investments (Axelos, 2020).

Effective Consulting Activities and Characteristics

Effective consulting activities within the US Navy organization encompass several stages, beginning with establishing a clear understanding of the client’s needs and objectives. According to Dordal (2022), consultants should excel in listening and information gathering to assess the current IT landscape accurately. This includes conducting needs assessments and project analysis, which are fundamental steps in understanding the client’s requirements and aligning IT solutions accordingly. Additionally, effective consultants excel in environmental scanning, a process of researching and analyzing the external and internal factors that may affect an organization (Smallwood, 2020). In the context of the US Navy, understanding the political realities within the organization is crucial. This involves identifying key stakeholders, power dynamics, and potential challenges that may arise during the implementation of IT projects. Political awareness enables consultants to navigate complex organizational structures successfully.

Strengths and Opportunities for Improvement

Reflecting on my personal consulting activities and the literature review, I have identified my strengths and areas for improvement. One of my strengths as an IT consultant is active listening. I prioritize understanding the client’s needs thoroughly, which aligns with the initial stages of consulting. This strength can benefit the US Navy by ensuring that IT solutions are tailored to meet the specific requirements of different units and departments. One area where I see opportunities for improvement is in my environmental scanning skills. While I am proficient in gathering information, I can enhance my ability to analyze and interpret the data effectively. This improvement would enable me to provide more insightful recommendations to the US Navy, considering the political realities and potential challenges that may arise.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the role of IT consultants within the US Navy organization is crucial for optimizing information technology operations and supporting the overall mission. Effective consulting activities involve stages such as needs assessment, environmental scanning, and understanding political realities. Important characteristics of an effective IT consultant include active listening and political awareness. Reflecting on my personal consulting activities, I recognize strengths in active listening but acknowledge opportunities for improvement in environmental scanning and data analysis. These improvements can significantly benefit the US Navy’s IT outreach by ensuring that IT solutions align with the organization’s goals and navigate the complexities of the organizational environment.

References

Axelos. (2020). ITIL 4: Digital and IT Strategy. TSO.

Dordal, P. L. (2022). An introduction to computer networks. Retrieved from http://intronetworks.cs.luc.edu/current2/ComputerNetworks.pdf

Mitre. (n.d.). IT governance. Retrieved from https://www.mitre.org/publications/systems-engineering-guide/enterprise-engineering/enterprise-planning-and-management/it-governance

Smallwood, R. F. (2020). Information governance: Concepts, strategies and best practices. Wiley & Sons.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

. What is the role of an IT consultant in the US Navy?

An IT consultant in the US Navy plays a crucial role in advising senior leaders on technology investments, ensuring compliance with cybersecurity standards, optimizing IT processes, and aligning IT systems with the organization’s mission and objectives.

2. What are the key activities involved in effective IT consulting within the US Navy?

Effective IT consulting activities include needs assessment, active listening, environmental scanning, problem identification and definition, solution development, and project management.

3. Why is active listening important for IT consultants in the Navy?

Active listening is important because it helps consultants thoroughly understand the client’s needs and requirements. It allows consultants to tailor IT solutions to meet specific organizational goals effectively.

4. What is environmental scanning, and why is it crucial in the US Navy context?

Environmental scanning involves researching and analyzing external and internal factors that can impact an organization. In the US Navy, understanding the political realities and organizational dynamics is essential for successful IT project implementation.

5. How can IT consultants improve their environmental scanning skills?

IT consultants can improve their environmental scanning skills by actively seeking information, analyzing data critically, and staying informed about organizational changes and dynamics.

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