The lead article in the May 2002 Edutech Report provided the foundation for the IT Division's 2002-04 planning and assessment cycle.  One of its observations was particularly poignant:  “No constituency on campus except the IT staff is likely to ask explicitly what [the IT] vision is . . . To most others, it is sufficient that things work.”

Another observation that rang true in the article was that IT environments are clearly "more than the sum of the parts."  Power in the IT arena comes from "connectedness and wholeness," as all of the elements combine to provide services and functionality.  While these environments can be “impressively powerful,” they are also “quite vulnerable” and require constant care and attention to preserve their integrity and serviceability.

Finally, the article identified the following challenges that must be overcome to be effective in the current IT environment:

• Resisting distractions and keeping perspective.
• Assuring levels and quality of service.
• Avoiding burn-out from unrealistic expectations.
• Keeping the technical base solid.
• Providing “adequate” training.
• Positioning to anticipate & accommodate change.
• Discontinuing obsolete technologies & services.