Shows
The Calculus of ITCalculus of IT - Season 3 Episode 4 - The Verification Economy (Part 2 of 2)In part two, we tackle who actually does all this verifying, what it costs, and the uncomfortable questions nobody's asking yet.IT is becoming the verification department whether you signed up for it or not. You're verifying employee identities, contractor credentials, AI agent authority, data provenance...basically everything, constantly.We explore the shift from proactive governance to reactive verification, the impossible tension between privacy and verification, and scenarios that keep you up at night: locked-out executives, disputed transactions, and verification systems that might be wrong.Big questions we couldn't fully answer: How do...
2025-12-182h 04The Calculus of ITCalculus of IT - Season 3 Episode 4 - The Verification Economy (Part 1 of 2)In Episode 4 of The Calculus of IT, Mike Crispin and I dive deep into what happens when "proof of X" becomes the fundamental currency of digital interaction. We're entering an era where verification matters more than the technology itself and IT leaders are on the front lines whether we're ready or not.We explore the five pillars that need verification:Identity (are you who you say you are?)Humanity (are you even human?)Authority (are you authorized to do this?)Provenance (did you actually create this?)
2025-12-052h 15The Calculus of ITCalculus of IT - Season 3 Episode 3 - Distributed vs. Centralized IT (Redux) - The AI Paradox?Two years ago, we spent 4 hours and 27 minutes hours dissecting decentralized IT models. Now, AI has changed everything or has it?In this episode, Mike and Nate return to one of Season 1's most epic deep dives to ask a critical question: Has the AI revolution fundamentally altered how we should think about IT organizational models? (Hint: Maybe?)The uncomfortable truth? AI simultaneously pushes companies in BOTH directions. It makes decentralization technically feasible (business units can now code, troubleshoot, and build without IT) while making centralization organizationally necessary (governance nightmares, cost...
2025-11-202h 22
CinemafileMr. K - Director Tallulah H. SchwabTraveling magician Mr. K (Crispin Glover) is down on his luck. Business is slow, and the few gigs he’s picked up along the road have left him adrift. After spending the night in a remote hotel, he is alarmed when he discovers that he is unable to find the exit. As he explores the maze-like corridors, he hears strange noises and encounters a series of curious inhabitants who have formed their own factions within the walls of the hotel. Alone and afraid, he starts mapping out the corridors, desperately hoping to get to the bottom of the building’s la...
2025-10-0913 minThe Calculus of ITCalculus of IT - Season 2 Episode 13 - Industry 5.0.....aaaand that's a wrap folks. It’s the end of the season, the end of an era, and maybe the last human-hosted podcast you’ll ever hear. In our Season 2 finale, Nate, Mike, and Kevin take everything we’ve learned about autonomy and decision-making power—and push it into the future with a deep-dive into Industry 5.0.What’s after digital transformation? What happens when the data giants own 80% of the world’s information? And how do you lead when technology is evolving at ludicrous speed?In this finale:Demystifying Industry 5.0: Why it’s not just “4.0...
2025-06-122h 02The Calculus of ITCalculus of IT - Season 2 Episode 12 - Shaping the Future: Autonomy, Adoption, and the Four PillarsWe’ve talked resilience, compliance, AI, and risk - but what does it really take to become the architect of your organization’s technology future?In this penultimate episode of Season 2, Nate and Mike step back to connect the big picture. It’s not just about weathering trends or keeping up with the latest tech - it’s about building systematic autonomy into every layer of IT leadership.This episode covers:- The Standardization Paradox: how to create innovation zones without losing operational control- Matrix leadership and decision rights: thriving in the a...
2025-06-061h 26The Calculus of ITCalculus of IT - Season 2 Episode 11 - Part 1 - Long-Term Resilience and AutonomyWelcome to the Calculus of IT double feature you didn’t know you needed. In this two-part journey, me and Mike stare down the end of the world - at least, the IT version - and ask: what does it really mean to be resilient when everything is “as-a-service,” your best people keep quitting, and zero-trust is somehow both everywhere and nowhere?In episode 11 Parts 1 and 2:Why true resilience is about more than just backup plans and disaster recovery - it’s about knowledge transfer, adaptability, and culture.How to build “graceful degradation” instead of catastrop...
2025-05-291h 55The Calculus of ITCalculus of IT - Season 2 Episode 11 - Part 2 - Long-Term Resilience and AutonomyWelcome to the Calculus of IT double feature you didn’t know you needed. In this two-part journey, me and Mike stare down the end of the world - at least, the IT version - and ask: what does it really mean to be resilient when everything is “as-a-service,” your best people keep quitting, and zero-trust is somehow both everywhere and nowhere?In episode 11 Parts 1 and 2:Why true resilience is about more than just backup plans and disaster recovery - it’s about knowledge transfer, adaptability, and culture.How to build “graceful degradation” instead of catastrop...
2025-05-292h 02The Calculus of ITCalculus of IT - Season 2 Episode 10 - Autonomy and ComplianceIt’s the regulation episode you didn’t know you needed - but absolutely do.After three weeks swimming in the future of AI, quantum, and edge, Nate and Mike are back with a rundown of the one thing every IT leader loves to hate: compliance. From GDPR’s wake-up call to the alphabet soup of CCPA, DORA, and CPRA, we break down how the modern regulatory landscape is reshaping not just what you do—but how much freedom you have to do it.In this episode:- How to build compliance into your IT DNA...
2025-05-151h 47The Calculus of ITCalculus of IT - Season 2 Episode 10 - NLM Bot TL;DR - Autonomy and ComplianceBots don't actually care about compliance. Maybe because they are literally one of the most noncompliant technologies possible? Who knows, let's listen to them hash this one out.Support the showThe Calculus of IT website - https://www.thecoit.us"The IT Autonomy Paradox" Book - https://www.longwalk.consulting/library"The New IT Leader's Survival Guide" Book - https://www.longwalk.consulting/library"The Calculus of IT" Book - https://www.longwalk.consulting/libraryThe COIT Merchandise Store - https://thecoit.myspreadshop.comDonate to Wikimedia - https://do...
2025-05-1513 minThe Calculus of ITCalculus of IT - Season 2 Episode 10.1 - The Token EconomyIt’s another Calculus of IT mini-episode (“Jort” alert!), and this time Nate and Mike are spiraling down the GenAI token rabbit hole - no tokens required (yet).Join us for a fast-paced, highly caffeinated, and only slightly unhinged tour of the emerging AI token economy:- Why tokens aren’t just for arcades anymore (and why your IT budget should be afraid)- How the AI industry is setting you up for a future where “out of tokens” is the new “out of office”- Will we see a future where you’re forced to watch ad...
2025-05-151h 28The Calculus of ITCalculus of IT - Season 2 Episode 9 - Part 3 - NLM Bot TL;DR - Establishing Boundaries and Principles for AutonomyWhat happens when your AI agent tries to talk to mine but mine hates yours?Support the showThe Calculus of IT website - https://www.thecoit.us"The IT Autonomy Paradox" Book - https://www.longwalk.consulting/library"The New IT Leader's Survival Guide" Book - https://www.longwalk.consulting/library"The Calculus of IT" Book - https://www.longwalk.consulting/libraryThe COIT Merchandise Store - https://thecoit.myspreadshop.comDonate to Wikimedia - https://donate.wikimedia.org/wiki/Ways_to_GiveBuy us a Beer...
2025-05-0116 minThe Calculus of ITCalculus of IT - Season 2 Episode 9 - Part 3 - Emerging Technologies and Their Impact on AutonomyThe epic, unfiltered three-part saga is complete!In Episode 9 of Calculus of IT, Nate, Mike, and Kevin wrap up their marathon exploration of IT autonomy with a bang, a glass of red wine, and a healthy dose of existential dread. We connect the dots from AI’s autonomy paradox to the dystopian wearable future, from the “search paradox” to the real-life horror of onboarding your new director of biologics into a world of federated AI, proprietary prompt lexicons, and company-specific search models.This finale covers:The rise and fall (and rise again...
2025-05-012h 03The Calculus of ITCalculus of IT - Season 2 Episode 9 - Part 2 - NLM Bot TL;DR - Establishing Boundaries and Principles for AutonomyThis is like the Fyre Festival for bots. Sound really awesome but mostly just make a bunch of shit up. Support the showThe Calculus of IT website - https://www.thecoit.us"The IT Autonomy Paradox" Book - https://www.longwalk.consulting/library"The New IT Leader's Survival Guide" Book - https://www.longwalk.consulting/library"The Calculus of IT" Book - https://www.longwalk.consulting/libraryThe COIT Merchandise Store - https://thecoit.myspreadshop.comDonate to Wikimedia - https://donate.wikimedia.org/wiki/Ways_to_GiveBuy...
2025-04-2417 minThe Calculus of ITCalculus of IT - Season 2 Episode 9 - Part 2 - Emerging Technologies and Their Impact on AutonomyIt's 2027. You have just hired your new VP of Subdermal Biomodifications and she has spent the last four years constructing a self-designed, explicit LLM environment, complete with custom agent and rules structure that she has been evolving with tremendous success. She can't wait to bring it into your company so she, and her agentic twin, can continue her work. I'll pause there.Questions:1) How would you deal with the inbound IP conflict?2) How would this conflict with your internal governance for AI development, LLM ownership, and vendor platform lock-in?3) How wou...
2025-04-242h 00The Calculus of ITCalculus of IT - Season 2 Episode 9 - Part 1 - Emerging Technologies and Their Impact on AutonomyLast night, Mike, Kevin and I pivoted the podcast from discussions on what is happening in autonomy TODAY and started taking a look at the impact of autonomy on the future of IT Leadership. How will future IT Leaders grapple with the murk of a vendor and technology landscape that is effectively erasing its borders? This episode was Part 1 of our two-part mini series on emerging technologies and their impact on IT Leadership and autonomy.In this episode, we tackled:The Autonomy Paradox of AI Integration – How AI can both empower and trap you in new depe...
2025-04-162h 00The Calculus of ITCalculus of IT - Season 2 Episode 9 - Part 1 - NLM Bot TL;DR - Establishing Boundaries and Principles for AutonomyHere come the bots!!Last night, Mike, Kevin and I pivoted the podcast from discussions on what is happening in autonomy TODAY and started taking a look at the impact of autonomy on the future of IT Leadership. How will future IT Leaders grapple with the murk of a vendor and technology landscape that is effectively erasing its borders? This episode was Part 1 of our two-part mini series on emerging technologies and their impact on IT Leadership and autonomy.In this episode, we tackled:The Autonomy Paradox of AI Integration – How AI c...
2025-04-1616 minThe Calculus of ITCalculus of IT - Season 2 Episode 8 - NLM Bot TL;DR - Building Resilience Through Independence and Effective Change ManagementAs promised, each episode this season will also have a bonus TL;DR version from our favorite bots over at NLM or from whatever we currently feel is most bot-worthy. And this week, those crazy bots are at it again.Support the showThe Calculus of IT website - https://www.thecoit.us"The IT Autonomy Paradox" Book - https://www.longwalk.consulting/library"The New IT Leader's Survival Guide" Book - https://www.longwalk.consulting/library"The Calculus of IT" Book - https://www.longwalk.consulting/library...
2025-04-1022 minThe Calculus of ITCalculus of IT - Season 2 Episode 8 - Building Resilience Through Independence and Effective Change ManagementIn this episode of The Calculus of IT, Nate McBride and Mike Crispin focus on the critical but often overlooked topic of building resilience in IT through independence and effective change management. It's a bigger deal than you may think.From avoiding vendor lock-in to creating modular architectures, we explore how IT leaders can maintain autonomy in a world where every vendor promises to be your "partner" but secretly tightens the chains. We discuss:The Three "Independence" Components of Resilience:Technical independence: architecting systems for adaptability.Knowledge independence: documenting institutional knowledge and breaking silos.V...
2025-04-101h 52The Calculus of ITCalculus of IT - Season 2 Episode 7 - Part 2 - NLM Bot TL;DR - Establishing Boundaries and Principles for AutonomyAs promised, each episode this season will also have a bonus TL;DR version from our favorite bots over at NLM or from whatever we currently feel is most bot-worthy. And this week, those crazy bots are at it again.Support the showThe Calculus of IT website - https://www.thecoit.us"The IT Autonomy Paradox" Book - https://www.longwalk.consulting/library"The New IT Leader's Survival Guide" Book - https://www.longwalk.consulting/library"The Calculus of IT" Book - https://www.longwalk.consulting/library...
2025-04-0420 minThe Calculus of ITCalculus of IT - Season 2 Episode 7 - Part 2 - Establishing Boundaries and Principles for AutonomyIn Part 2 of our mini-series about IT leadership principles, Nate and Mike went all the way to Boston (actually we live right near it) to broadcast live from BioIT World (it's an annual podcast tradition now ;-). We continued with Part 2 of our two part min-series on principled decision making and explored how to navigate 'zero-choice' situations and maintain principles under pressure. We took on the Macgyver Principle of IT leadership, discussed the practical application of the Four Pillars Framework and the Three-Options Rule, addressed the nuances of "zero-choice" scenarios and the art of principled exceptions. We also spoke ab...
2025-04-041h 29The Calculus of ITCalculus of IT - Season 2 Episode 7 - Part 1 - NLM Bot TL;DR - Establishing Boundaries and Principles for AutonomyAs promised, each episode this season will also have a bonus TL;DR version from our favorite bots over at NLM or from whatever we currently feel is most bot-worthy. And this week, those crazy bots are at it again.Support the showThe Calculus of IT website - https://www.thecoit.us"The IT Autonomy Paradox" Book - https://www.longwalk.consulting/library"The New IT Leader's Survival Guide" Book - https://www.longwalk.consulting/library"The Calculus of IT" Book - https://www.longwalk.consulting/libraryThe COIT Merchandise...
2025-03-2013 minThe Calculus of ITCalculus of IT - Season 2 Episode 7 - Part 1 - Establishing Boundaries and Principles for AutonomyIn this episode Mike and I continue on the path of IT Leadership and Autonomy with a focus on establishing clear boundaries and principles for how IT Leaders conduct the delicate balance of decision-making. This episode explores how to balance autonomy, risk, innovation, and productivity while maintaining meaningful principles that survive real-world challenges. Learn about the essential qualities of effective boundaries, including the importance of unambiguous criteria, actionable guidelines, and evolving standards. The hosts share practical experiences and frameworks for creating principles that work in the trenches, not just in PowerPoint decks. Plus, catch the latest IT leadership job...
2025-03-201h 43The Calculus of ITCalculus of IT - Season 2 Episode 6.3 - Reflecting on Reflection TimeEvery now and again Mike and I like to step aside and discuss some of the external impacts on being an IT Leader (and also just being a human trying to keep one's shit together in this day and age.)Next week, we will be back to dive into the rest of the season. We will start with some heavy-duty stuff in episodes 7 and 8, so before we get there, we wanted to take a moment to discuss the importance of reflection, particularly for IT Leaders. It's fair to say that Mike and I each have some overlapping...
2025-03-1235 minThe Calculus of ITCalculus of IT - Season 2 Episode 6.2 - Digitalization of Work and HeteronomySo much research went into preparing for Season 2 and there was no practical way to really call out all of the best articles and papers we read. There are a few that really stand out however, and we wanted to highlight one of those tonight in a special Calculus of IT Jort. In this Jort, Mike and I took some time to discuss an article by Adrian Mengay (from the Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena, Germany). The article is entitled: "Digitalization of Work and Heteronomy". From the abstract:Digitalization has two very different effects on work. On the o...
2025-03-1021 minThe Calculus of ITCalculus of IT - Season 2 Episode 6.1 - Exploring the New Digital Wave of RationalizationSo much research went into preparing for Season 2 and there was no practical way to really call out all of the best articles and papers we read. There are a few that really stand out however, and we wanted to highlight one of those tonight in a special Calculus of IT Jort. In this Jort, Mike and I took some time to discuss an article by Lambèr Royakkers (from the School of Innovation Sciences, Eindhoven University of Technology, The Netherlands) and Rinie van Est (from the Rathenau Instituut, The Netherlands & Eindhoven University of Technology, The Netherlands). The...
2025-02-2718 minThe Calculus of ITCalculus of IT - Season 2 Episode 5 - NLM Bot TL;DR - Actively Preserving Autonomy in ITAs promised, each episode this season will also have a bonus TL;DR version from our favorite bots over at NLM or from whatever we currently feel is most bot-worthy. And this week those crazy bots are at it again.Support the showThe Calculus of IT website - https://www.thecoit.us"The IT Autonomy Paradox" Book - https://www.longwalk.consulting/library"The New IT Leader's Survival Guide" Book - https://www.longwalk.consulting/library"The Calculus of IT" Book - https://www.longwalk.consulting/libraryThe COIT Merchandise...
2025-02-2022 minThe Calculus of ITCalculus of IT - Season 2 Episode 6 - Creating Technical Diversity without ChaosIn Episode 6 of The Calculus of IT, we tackle a critical challenge: How do you create technical diversity without unleashing chaos? Joined by special guest Kevin Dushney, Mike and I explore the delicate balance between maintaining technological flexibility and preventing system sprawl. We dive into the "pendulum swing of standardization," discuss how to build sustainable technological diversity, and examine ways to measure success through diversity health indicators.From establishing clear system boundaries to managing vendor relationships, we share practical strategies for maintaining technological independence while avoiding the pitfalls of both rigid standardization and unchecked chaos. Plus, we...
2025-02-201h 49The Calculus of ITCalculus of IT - Season 2 Episode 6 - NLM Bot TL;DR - Creating Technical Diversity without ChaosAs promised, each episode this season will also have a bonus TL;DR version from our favorite bots over at NLM or from whatever we currently feel is most bot-worthy. And this week, those crazy bots are at it again.Support the showThe Calculus of IT website - https://www.thecoit.us"The IT Autonomy Paradox" Book - https://www.longwalk.consulting/library"The New IT Leader's Survival Guide" Book - https://www.longwalk.consulting/library"The Calculus of IT" Book - https://www.longwalk.consulting/libraryThe COIT Merchandise...
2025-02-2016 minThe Calculus of ITCalculus of IT - Season 2 Episode 5 - Actively Preserving Autonomy in ITAfter four episodes of context and base-building, we are now ready to jump headfirst into the season's theme. We explored the daily battles IT leaders face against encroaching vendor dependencies, the insidious creep of "zero decision" defaults, and the constant pressure to sacrifice control for convenience. We spent some time exploring practical strategies for building autonomy into your IT infrastructure, from developing essential habits like the "Three-Year-Old Strategy" and the "Future Test" to designing processes that prioritize flexibility and knowledge sharing. Join us as we discuss the importance of documentation, the dangers of knowledge lock-in, and the of...
2025-02-131h 41The Calculus of ITCalculus of IT - Season 2 Episode 4 - The Value of IdentityOk, the Modern IT Paradox is now behind us, and it's time to move forward with the rest of the season. Or is it? Did we just uncover more paradoxes? Is it all just one massive paradox?In Episode 4 of Season 2, we dive deep into the complex world of identity in IT - not just usernames and passwords, but the fundamental questions of how we determine, protect, and manage value in our digital assets. From questioning why we automatically use our names as identifiers to exploring the paradox of protecting high-value assets while keeping them useful, Nate and...
2025-02-052h 03The Calculus of ITCalculus of IT - Season 2 Episode 4 - NLM Bot TL;DR - The Value of IdentityAs promised, each episode this season will also have a bonus TL;DR version from our favorite bots over at NLM or from whatever we currently feel is most bot-worthy. And this week those crazy bots are at it again.Support the showThe Calculus of IT website - https://www.thecoit.us"The IT Autonomy Paradox" Book - https://www.longwalk.consulting/library"The New IT Leader's Survival Guide" Book - https://www.longwalk.consulting/library"The Calculus of IT" Book - https://www.longwalk.consulting/libraryThe COIT Merchandise...
2025-02-0520 minThe Calculus of ITCalculus of IT - Season 2 Episode 3 - The Modern IT Paradox - Part 2Last week, we slammed on the brakes right in the middle of our deep dive into the seven modern IT paradoxes (something about a Kraken attack…it’s still all a blur to me). This week, we're back to finish what we started, and somehow, we discovered an eighth paradox along the way (because seven just wasn't paradoxical enough).Join Nate and Mike as they tackle the remaining perspectives of modern IT leadership, including the three models of IT control (spoiler: neither total control nor complete chaos is the answer), the real cost of getting IT wrong (it's...
2025-01-301h 44The Calculus of ITCalculus of IT - Season 2 Episode 3 - NLM Bot TL;DR - The Modern IT Paradox - Part 2As promised, each episode this season will also have a bonus TL;DR version from our favorite bots over at NLM or from whatever we currently feel is most bot-worthy. And this week those crazy bots are at it again…highlight for me? The Beatles conspiracy is something we can't talk about.Support the showThe Calculus of IT website - https://www.thecoit.us"The IT Autonomy Paradox" Book - https://www.longwalk.consulting/library"The New IT Leader's Survival Guide" Book - https://www.longwalk.consulting/library"The Calculus of IT...
2025-01-3037 minThe Calculus of ITCalculus of IT - Season 2 Episode 2 - NLM Bot TL;DR - The Modern IT Paradox - Part 1As promised, each episode this season will also have a bonus TL;DR version from our favorite bots over at NLM or from whatever we currently feel is most bot-worthy. And this week those crazy bots are at it again…highlight for me? SAAS being pronounced as “Sauce”. From now on, “SASS” is dead…long live “SAUCE”!!!!Support the showThe Calculus of IT website - https://www.thecoit.us"The IT Autonomy Paradox" Book - https://www.longwalk.consulting/library"The New IT Leader's Survival Guide" Book - https://www.longwalk.consulting/library"The...
2025-01-2314 minThe Calculus of ITCalculus of IT - Season 2 Episode 2 - The Modern IT Paradox - Part 1Remember when IT's job was simple? Lock everything down, say no to everything, and go home at 5? (This did actually used to happen…once). Well enough of the nostalgia crap, in this episode of The Calculus of IT, Nate and Mike dive into the modern IT paradox of freedom versus control and why finding that balance is the defining challenge of IT leadership in 2025. We can’t do the rest of the season without tackling the current “scenario,” and so that’s the plan here.We explore how IT evolved from the “Department of No” (this also used...
2025-01-231h 14The Calculus of ITCalculus of IT - Season 2 Episode 1a - NLM Bot TL;DR - "Welcome Back!"Aaaaaaand we are back!! Welcome back to the Calculus of IT Podcast!! In Season 2, we will focus on how Autonomy, Risk, Productivity, and Innovation intersect and how IT Leaders can construct an optimal equilibrium for their worlds. When is it okay to concede autonomy to achieve an outcome, and when have you gone too far? Do I follow the herd, and who the fuck is the actual herd? Do I build AI into my 2025 strategic plan even though it doesn’t fit? What should I be doing around ethics and acceptable use? How much money does anything even cost anymor...
2025-01-1631 minThe Calculus of ITCalculus of IT - Season 2 Episode 1b - NLM Bot Jort - "Welcome Back!"This is just a funny short of when the bots just go really wrong.....Support the showThe Calculus of IT website - https://www.thecoit.us"The IT Autonomy Paradox" Book - https://www.longwalk.consulting/library"The New IT Leader's Survival Guide" Book - https://www.longwalk.consulting/library"The Calculus of IT" Book - https://www.longwalk.consulting/libraryThe COIT Merchandise Store - https://thecoit.myspreadshop.comDonate to Wikimedia - https://donate.wikimedia.org/wiki/Ways_to_GiveBuy us a Beer!! - https...
2025-01-1611 minThe Calculus of ITCalculus of IT - Season 2 Episode 1 - Official - "Welcome Back!"Aaaaaaand we are back!! Welcome back to the Calculus of IT Podcast!! In Season 2, we will focus on how Autonomy, Risk, Productivity, and Innovation intersect and how IT Leaders can construct an optimal equilibrium for their worlds. When is it okay to concede autonomy to achieve an outcome, and when have you gone too far? Do I follow the herd, and who the fuck is the actual herd? Do I build AI into my 2025 strategic plan even though it doesn’t fit? What should I be doing around ethics and acceptable use? How much money does anything even cost anymor...
2025-01-161h 11The Calculus of ITCalculus of IT - Bonus Episode 15 - 12/30/24 - AI Redux of Episodes 38-39With Season 1 completed and Season 2 scheduled for launch on January 8th, we decided to see what would happen if we ran our episodes through the AI washing machine. What happened is what follows below…This special edition podcast comprises episodes 38 and 39 of the Calculus of IT Podcast series. Tune in and listen to our two hosts, Billy McPonies and Ginger Unicorns, who will walk you through their “special” interpretation.Join Nate and Mike for a special double-length season finale of the Calculus of IT podcast as they discuss IT tropes that just w...
2024-12-3025 minThe Calculus of ITCalculus of IT - Bonus Episode 14 - 12/28/24 - AI Redux of Episodes 36-37With Season 1 completed and Season 2 scheduled for launch on January 8th, we decided to see what would happen if we ran our episodes through the AI washing machine. What happened is what follows below…This special edition podcast comprises episodes 36-37 of the Calculus of IT Podcast series. Tune in and listen to our two hosts, Billy McPonies and Ginger Unicorns, who will walk you through their “special” interpretation.This special double-length Calculus of IT podcast episode combines episodes 36 and 37 to explore the evolving loss of autonomy. The hosts, Nate and Mike...
2024-12-2818 minThe Calculus of ITCalculus of IT - Bonus Episode 13 - 12/26/24 - AI Redux of Episode 35With Season 1 completed and Season 2 scheduled for launch on January 8th, we decided to see what would happen if we ran our episodes through the AI washing machine. What happened is what follows below…This special edition podcast is a special redux of Episode 35 of the Calculus of IT Podcast series. Tune in and listen to our two hosts, Billy McPonies and Ginger Unicorns, who will walk you through their “special” interpretation.The hosts discuss the following:Grammarly's authorship verification tool and the implications for originality and trust in a world...
2024-12-2620 minThe Calculus of ITCalculus of IT - Bonus Episode 12 - 12/24/24 - AI Redux of Episodes 32-34With Season 1 completed and Season 2 scheduled for launch on January 8th, we decided to see what would happen if we ran our episodes through the AI washing machine. What happened is what follows below…This special edition podcast comprises episodes 32-34 of the Calculus of IT Podcast series. Tune in and listen to our two hosts, Billy McPonies and Ginger Unicorns, who will walk you through their “special” interpretation.Join Nate, Mike, and their guests, Kevin and Joel, as they explore the evolving landscape of IT in a three-part discussion.Episod...
2024-12-2416 minThe Calculus of ITCalculus of IT - Bonus Episode 11 - 12/22/24 - AI Redux of Episodes 29-31With Season 1 completed and Season 2 scheduled for launch on January 8th, we decided to see what would happen if we ran our episodes through the AI washing machine. What happened is what follows below…This special edition podcast comprises episodes 29-31 of the Calculus of IT Podcast series. Tune in and listen to our two hosts, Billy McPonies and Ginger Unicorns, who will walk you through their “special” interpretation.In Episode 29, Nate and Mike discuss why companies give every employee the ability to create documents. They consider the potential benefits of limiti...
2024-12-2213 minThe Calculus of ITCalculus of IT - Bonus Episode 10 - 12/20/24 - AI Redux of Episodes 26-28With Season 1 completed and Season 2 scheduled for launch on January 8th, we decided to see what would happen if we ran our episodes through the AI washing machine. What happened is what follows below…This special edition podcast comprises episodes 26-28 of the Calculus of IT Podcast series. Tune in and listen to our two hosts, Billy McPonies and Ginger Unicorns, who will walk you through their “special” interpretation.Episode 26 kicks off with a lighthearted, banter-filled atmosphere, as the hosts enjoy Bang Bang Shrimp and ponder the merits of "four-finger spreading" into v...
2024-12-2027 minThe Calculus of ITCalculus of IT - Bonus Episode 9 - 12/18/24 - AI Redux of Episodes 24-25With Season 1 completed and Season 2 scheduled for launch on January 8th, we decided to see what would happen if we ran our episodes through the AI washing machine. What happened is what follows below…This special edition podcast comprises episodes 24-25 of the Calculus of IT Podcast series. Tune in and listen to our two hosts, Billy McPonies and Ginger Unicorns, who will walk you through their “special” interpretation.This special double-length episode of The Calculus of IT podcast brings together episodes 24 and 25 for an extended discussion of AI and Governance in IT...
2024-12-1823 minThe Calculus of ITCalculus of IT - Bonus Episode 8 - 12/15/24 - AI Redux of Episodes 22-23With Season 1 completed and Season 2 scheduled for launch on January 8th, we decided to see what would happen if we ran our episodes through the AI washing machine. What happened is what follows below…This special edition podcast comprises episodes 22-23 of the Calculus of IT Podcast series. Tune in and listen to our two hosts, Billy McPonies and Ginger Unicorns, who will walk you through their “special” interpretation.This special episode combines episodes 22 and 23 of The Calculus of IT podcast, featuring hosts Mike Crispin and Nate McBride.Join them a...
2024-12-1518 minThe Calculus of ITCalculus of IT - Bonus Episode 7 - 12/12/24 - AI Redux of Episodes 19-21With Season 1 completed and Season 2 scheduled for launch on January 8th, we decided to see what would happen if we ran our episodes through the AI washing machine. What happened is what follows below…This special edition podcast comprises episodes 19-21 of the Calculus of IT Podcast series. Tune in and listen to our two hosts, Billy McPonies and Ginger Unicorns, who will walk you through their “special” interpretation.In Episode 19, Nate and Mike discuss their plans for future episodes, including an episode at Redbones BBQ and a podcast on culinary arts...
2024-12-1216 minThe Calculus of ITCalculus of IT - Bonus Episode 6 - 12/9/24 - AI Redux of Episodes 16-18With Season 1 completed and Season 2 scheduled for launch on January 8th, we decided to see what would happen if we ran our episodes through the AI washing machine. What happened is what follows below…This special edition podcast comprises episodes 16-18 of the Calculus of IT Podcast series. Tune in and listen to our two hosts, Billy McPonies and Ginger Unicorns, who will walk you through their “special” interpretation.This episode combines three episodes of the Calculus of IT podcast into one, covering a wide range of topics related to IT leader...
2024-12-0918 minThe Calculus of ITCalculus of IT - Bonus Episode 5 - 12/6/24 - AI Redux of Episode 15With Season 1 completed and Season 2 scheduled for launch on January 8th, we decided to see what would happen if we ran our episodes through the AI washing machine. What happened is what follows below…This special edition podcast is a redux of episode 15 of the Calculus of IT Podcast series. Tune in and listen to our two hosts, Billy McPonies and Ginger Unicorns, who will walk you through their “special” interpretation.This episode explores the concept of employee experience (EX) and how IT can play a vital role in shaping it.The...
2024-12-0616 minThe Calculus of ITCalculus of IT - Bonus Episode 4 - 12/3/24 - AI Redux of Episodes 10-13With Season 1 completed and Season 2 scheduled for launch on January 8th, we decided to see what would happen if we ran our episodes through the AI washing machine. What happened is what follows below…This special edition podcast comprises episodes 10-13 of the Calculus of IT Podcast series. Tune in and listen to our two hosts, Billy McPonies and Ginger Unicorns, who will walk you through their “special” interpretation.This special episode of the Calculus of IT podcast combines the previous four episodes into one supersized episode! The hosts, Nate McBride and Mi...
2024-12-0333 minThe Calculus of ITCalculus of IT - Bonus Episode 3 - 11/30/24 - AI Redux of Episodes 7-9With Season 1 completed and Season 2 scheduled for launch on January 8th, we decided to see what would happen if we ran our episodes through the AI washing machine. What happened is what follows below…This special edition podcast comprises episodes 7-9 of the Calculus of IT Podcast series. Tune in and listen to our two hosts, Billy McPonies and Ginger Unicorns, who will walk you through their “special” interpretation.Join the Calculus of IT podcast crew for a marathon episode covering three distinct yet intertwined topics: budgeting, security, and the ever-present impact...
2024-11-3016 minThe Calculus of ITCalculus of IT - Bonus Episode 2 - 11/27/24 - AI Redux of Episodes 4-6With Season 1 completed and Season 2 scheduled for launch on January 8th, we decided to see what would happen if we ran our episodes through the AI washing machine. What happened is what follows below…This special edition podcast comprises episodes 4-6 of the Calculus of IT Podcast series. Tune in and listen to our two hosts, Billy McPonies and Ginger Unicorns, who will walk you through their “special” interpretation.This podcast episode combines three episodes of "The Calculus of IT." In these episodes, Nate and Mike, two IT leaders, discuss a variet...
2024-11-2725 minThe Calculus of ITCalculus of IT - Bonus Episode 1 - 11/24/24 - AI Redux of Episodes 1-3With Season 1 completed and Season 2 scheduled for launch on January 8th, we decided to see what would happen if we ran our episodes through the AI washing machine. What happened is what follows below…This special edition podcast comprises the first three episodes of the Calculus of IT Podcast series. Tune in and listen to our two hosts, Billy McPonies and Ginger Unicorns, who will walk you through their “special” interpretation.Join hosts Nate McBride and Mike Crispin, IT professionals with extensive experience in the life sciences industry, as they discuss the ch...
2024-11-2416 minThe Calculus of ITCalculus of IT - Episode 38 - 11/6/24 - "IT Tropes That Will Never Die" - Part 1Join Nate and Mike in episode 38 of The Calculus of IT Podcast as they dive into various IT practices and policies that many believe should be left behind. From restrictive guest Wi-Fi and complex VPNs to the legacy of mandatory office presence for IT staff, listen to their engaging discussion that mixes humor with insightful commentary. This penultimate episode of season one will make you rethink some of the common IT standards while promising a fun ride! Don't forget to tune in next week for the final episode of the season, marking our one-year podcast anniversary!Support...
2024-11-181h 44The Calculus of ITCalculus of IT - Episode 39 - 11/13/24 - "IT Tropes That Will Never Die" - Part 2Join Nate and Mike in the final episode of Season 1, episode 39, of The Calculus of IT Podcast as they continue discussing various IT practices and policies that many believe should be left behind. Plus, we spend more time discussing NotebookLM (the future of all that should be GenAI) and the usual banter.We will return for Season 2 in early January, so we hope to see you there. We have a big season, and we will tackle pressing topics like unstructured data management and the cultural shifts brought about by AI advances. All of this will be centered...
2024-11-181h 43The Calculus of ITCalculus of IT - Episode 37 - 10/29/24 - "The Individual Loss of Autonomy and its Effect on IT" - Part 2In episode 37, our antepenultimate episode for Season 1, we dive into Part 2 of the "Individual Loss of Autonomy and its Effect on IT." In our previous episode, Episode 36, we explored the first three of six primary ideas:1) We reset the stage and context for the individual autonomy crisis2) We discussed how the individual loss of autonomy is now very closely mirroring a lot of what is happening in corporate IT3) And we covered the net effects on leadership and strategic decision-making that come about as a result of this mirroring effectIt's a big l...
2024-10-302h 18The Calculus of ITCalculus of IT - Episode 36 - 10/23/24 - "The Individual Loss of Autonomy and its Effect on IT" - Part 1In Episode 36, Mike and I revisit a topic from Episodes 10, 12, and 13. In those episodes, we discussed how technological advances are erasing individual autonomy to the point that most people have only the barest shreds of autonomy left. We are revisiting this topic because we want to explore how this loss of individual autonomy is bleeding over into IT strategy, leadership, and decision-making. This is part 1 of a two-part series, and in Part 1, we explored three of six primary ideas:1) Setting the tone and context again for the individual autonomy crisis2) Discussing how that is now very closely m...
2024-10-242h 44The Calculus of ITCalculus of IT - Episode 35 - "The Value of the Virtual CIO"The AI assistant is not a new concept. It’s been made “new” again through the GAI zeitgeist effect, but we have used AI assistants for quite a while now. In Episode 31, Mike and I discussed using GAI for IT strategic decision-making. Tonight, we took it a step further in connecting the dots with episodes 33 and 34, which focused on redefining the IT Paradigm and the future of the CIO. The net result is that in Episode 35, we at last examine the worth of the virtual CIO. This assistant can help any moderately seasoned IT professional create an entire CIO program...
2024-10-101h 48The Calculus of ITCalculus of IT - Episode 34 - 10/2/2024 - "The Next-Gen IT Paradigm - Part 2"Kevin Dushney and Joel Nichols joined Mike and me again to discuss whether or not the IT Paradigm should be changed and how we might do that if we wanted to. We discussed:Evolving IT Leadership RolesThe changing role of the CIO - why do we still need a traditional CIO and where is this role going?Chief Digital Officer (CDO) - is this even/was it ever a thing that could sustain itself?Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) - will any CISO want to move into this role?
2024-10-032h 31The Calculus of ITCalculus of IT - Episode 33 - 9/25/2024 - "The Next-Gen IT Paradigm - Part 1"This is Part 1 of a 2-part series on the future of the "IT Paradigm." In Part 1, Mike and Nate, along with their two special guests Kevin Dushney and Joel Nichols, set the stage for how we arrived at this moment in time for the "corporate IT function" and the IT Leadership historically needed to run the show. You cannot begin to explore the future of the IT Paradigm until you can understand how it has evolved over the last 25 years or so to where we are today. Join us next week, as we explore Part 2 where we take a loo...
2024-09-262h 38The Calculus of ITCalculus of IT - Episode 32 - 9/17/2024 - "The Pros and Cons of Citizen Developers"Mike and Nate, along with very special guest Bill Bartlett, parse the pros and cons of citizen developers in the organization. We discuss the guardrails and risks and the benefits of having employees take the reins of development for their improvements. It's a lot more complicated than you think, and the answer is not to simply prevent the behavior of citizen innovation and development. Listen along and pick up some handy tips for working with folks who are apt to make things better (and worse). We also discuss Nickelback and IT Budgets. Support the showThe Ca...
2024-09-182h 05The Calculus of ITCalculus of IT - Episode 31 - 9/10/2024 - "Using GAI for IT Decision Making"Mike and Nate are back! We went to a bar near Mike's office and didn't get the best sound quality as we hoped but that's what it is. In this episode, we asked the question - "How are we (and should we be) using GAI for IT strategic and operational decision-making?" We spent some time digging into this not so much to try and find nascent value in GAI (spoiler alert, there really isn't any) but to see if we could improve our worlds by using GAI to rub off some of the sharper corners. We also talked about our...
2024-09-131h 53The Calculus of ITCalculus of IT - We are taking a brief break!Hi all - Mike and I will be taking a short break due to a massive amount of scheduling conflicts between now and mid-September. We will be back with a kickass set of episodes for the Fall and should be resuming our normal Wednesday night schedule again. Stay tuned!Support the showThe Calculus of IT website - https://www.thecoit.us"The IT Autonomy Paradox" Book - https://www.longwalk.consulting/library"The New IT Leader's Survival Guide" Book - https://www.longwalk.consulting/library"The Calculus of IT" Book - ht...
2024-08-2101 minThe Calculus of ITCalculus of IT - Episode 30 - 8/7/2024 - "Harness the ultimate power of the Mighty Intranet"In episode 30, Nate and Mike ask the question "Why Intranet?" and then ask the question "Why not Intranet?" and then answer both. It is a riveting discussion on the almighty Intranet's past, present, and future. If you are an Intranet wizard, this episode is for you. If you have ptsd nightmares of Intranet management, be warned that this episode contains multiple references to the way it was. We also talk about hot dogs.Support the showThe Calculus of IT website - https://www.thecoit.us"The IT Autonomy Paradox" Book - https://www.long...
2024-08-091h 46The Calculus of ITCalculus of IT - Episode 29 - 7/17/2024 - "Why do we give everyone Editor rights?"Episode 29 is our first episode where we break away from reviewing the New IT Leader's Survival Guide (since we completed its review in episode 28) and switch to a topically focused podcast model where we will tackle concepts and questions that impact today and tomorrow's IT Leaders. We have a very in-depth list of episodes coming in the next few months, and, in some cases, we will be revisiting prior topics, such as Employee Experience, to bring new discussion points to light.In tonight's episode, we discussed why we provide every user in our companies with the default r...
2024-07-181h 55The Calculus of ITCalculus of IT - Episode 28 - 7/10/2024 - "New IT Leader's Survival Guide - Years 2 and 3 - Training and Education"Welcome to Episode 28!! Mike Crispin and I take some time to discuss Training and Education in Years 2 and beyond. The discussion ranges from measuring the effectiveness of training to incorporating training and education into IT strategic goals. Without question, having a plan in place to address training and keeping the company up to speed on the latest technologies are both paramount to the optimal employee experience and the positive effectiveness of the deployment of new technologies.We also take some time to discuss the latest in GenAI fear, LinkedIn's new games functionality, and tapeworms. Support the s...
2024-07-112h 22The Calculus of ITCalculus of IT - Episode 27 - 6/5/2024 - "New IT Leader's Survival Guide - Years 2 and 3 - Working With Your Partner"Holy crap we made it to Episode 27. In this episode, Mike and I discuss how the relationship is going between the IT Leader and their trusty sidekick after Year 1 and, let's be honest, by the end of Year 1 you either hate them or love them but hopefully, either way, they are making huge contributions to the success of IT.We also talk about the ongoing worldwide joke that is Generative AI, a bunch of crazy security news and the usual banter. We are taking a two week break and will be back on June 26th wi...
2024-06-112h 03The Calculus of ITCalculus of IT - Episode 26 - 5/29/2024 - "New IT Leader's Survival Guide - Years 2 and 3 - Employee Lifecycle and Employee Experience"In Episode 26, Nate and Mike, along with returning special guest Kate Bosman, dive back into the realities of setting a positive employee experience and creating a data-rich employee lifecycle. We tackle the concepts of gathering human level data throughout the org and finding ways to use that data without disrupting the overall trust between IT and the organization. We also discuss the new Microsoft Spyware called Recall and enjoy some tasty apps at Paddys in Newton. All in all, good times for us and for our listeners!Support the showThe Calculus of IT website - h...
2024-05-302h 23The Calculus of ITCalculus of IT - Episode 25 - 5/22/2024 - "New IT Leader's Survival Guide - Years 2 and 3 - Governance Revisited Part 2"We are back again and are still pernicious AF. As tonight is the 25th episode, we start by looking at what happened in technology 25 years ago...the list is pretty astonishing. We also cover some AI stuff as usual and then dig right into Governance in Years 2 and 3 as a new IT Leader, emphasizing the remaining two of the five primary governance domains: Security, Risk, Compliance, and Data Management. Once again, Mike and I are live on Twitch, as with all future episodes, though we had to go remote tonight. Here is the 25th episode for you, our dear list...
2024-05-232h 14The Calculus of ITCalculus of IT - Episode 24 - 5/15/2024 - "New IT Leader's Survival Guide - Years 2 and 3 - Governance Revisited Part 1"Wow what a fucking doozy this episode is. Some might even go so far to say that it is pernicious AF. We cover some AI stuff as usual and then dig right into Governance in Years 2 and 3 as a new IT Leader with an emphasis on 3 of the 5 primary governance domains: Project Prioritization, Development, and Infrastructure. This, my friends, is a special event. Mike and I are coming live via Twitch from some restaurant in Burlington, Massachusetts which didn't mind our presence too much. Here it is, Episode 24, in all of its glory. Bask in the perniciousness of our Governa...
2024-05-172h 23The Calculus of ITCalculus of IT - Episode 23 - 5/8/2024 - "New IT Leader's Survival Guide - Years 2 and 3 - Strategy Revisited"For shits and giggles, I let Buzzsprout's GAI do the description for us this week. :-)Discover the charm of IT land's peculiarities and the sharp wit of tech leadership as we embark on this episode's engaging narrative. We'll unravel the intricacies of integrating private large language models into enterprise ecosystems, and while grasping the strategic elements vital for business agility, we're also going to share a laugh over our quirky experiences, including tales from Waltham and the million-follower feline Sockington. Pull up a chair with us at the Painted Burro in Somerville Mass, and let's indulge i...
2024-05-091h 52The Calculus of ITCalculus of IT - Episode 22 - 5/1/2024 - "New IT Leader's Survival Guide - Years 2 and 3 - Budgeting Part 2"In Episode 22, Mike and Nate continue the walkthrough of Year 2 for a new IT Leader resuming their discussion on budgeting and forecasting. In this episode, we focus on the remaining four major impacts: IT Organization, Facility Planning, Exploratory Projects, and Training. We return to some other topics in the news, including the newest Tekakord, and debut our new theme song. Next week, we will be streaming live on Twitch, so tune in to thecoit.us for more information!Support the showThe Calculus of IT website - https://www.thecoit.us"The IT Autonomy Par...
2024-05-022h 18The Calculus of ITCalculus of IT - Episode 21 - 4/24/2024 - "New IT Leader's Survival Guide - Years 2 and 3 - Budgeting Part 1"In Episode 21, Mike and Nate take a wack at unstructured data becoming natively structured, some recent AI shenaniganery and, most importantly, begin the walkthrough of Year 2 for a new IT Leader. The walkthrough starts with a revisit of budgeting and reforecasting and the emphasis is on three major impacts: Platforms, Milestones, and Capex vs Opex. Mike is off to NOLA on a special assignment so we look forward to his on the spot reporting next week.Support the showThe Calculus of IT website - https://www.thecoit.us"The IT Autonomy Paradox" Book...
2024-04-251h 50The Calculus of ITCalculus of IT - Episode 20 - 4/16/2024 - Live from Bio-IT WorldIn episode 20, our fearless podcast hosts went on the road and managed to finagle their way into the BioIT World conference in Boston. We recorded this live from the Kestra bar at the Omni hotel and had several friends come by on camera (or off) to give us their insights into the technology road ahead. Plus, it has the usual shenanigans and discussions over various topics. We hope you enjoy it!! Next week, it's back to the barn, and we will start to focus on what happens after your first year as an IT Leader. Support the show
2024-04-172h 52The Calculus of ITCalculus of IT - Episode 19 - 4/3/2024 - "New IT Leader's Survival Guide Chapter 23 - The End of Year 1"In Episode 19, Mike and Nate wrap up the new IT Leader's first year. It's been an awesome journey so far and we have dissected the first year into all of its necessary parts. Reflecting on the first 18 podcasts, we started with the first 90 days in which we covered:Building your FoundationWriting a 90 Day PlanConducting your Key Stakeholder InterviewsRolling up your results and presenting to the ETCreating your organizational modelManaging your MSPWriting your first BudgetCommunicating to the BusinessCreating a Security StackDe...
2024-04-041h 27The Calculus of ITCalculus of IT - Episode 18 - 3/27/2024 - "New IT Leader's Survival Guide Chapter 22 - Performance and Assessment"In Episode 18, Mike and Nate discuss Chapter 22 of the New IT Leader's Survival Guide. In this episode, we step off the EX train for a bit and focus on managing IT personnel performance. When it comes to retaining and developing IT talent, you have to be better than everyone else, and we explain why and how we do it. We also spend some time discussing who is ultimately responsible for upskilling workers in a company.Plus, there is the usual banter and other stuff like Worldcoin and the destructive power of bored billionaires. We even snuck in so...
2024-03-282h 47The Calculus of ITSware: Future of Technology Risk Assessment in Life Sciences Roundtable - 2/27/2024Are you taking advantage of new technologies to maintain compliance in your systems with effective risk assessment? Listen to the latest episode of our podcast, where I participated in a conversation with industry experts Aryaz Zomorodi, Quality Systems Assoc. Director from SpringWorks Therapeutics, and Brian Ennis, President & Co-Founder of Sware. We discussed how you can set up your enterprise to successfully harness next-gen GXP technologies. Interested in learning more? Download this ebook from Sware, Rescue Your Organization from Validation Debt, to learn about adopting a unified validation workflow that reduces validation time, cost, and risk.
2024-03-2654 minThe Calculus of ITCalculus of IT - Episode 17 - 3/20/2024 - "IT Survival Guide Chapter 18 - Training and Education"In Episode 17, Mike and Nate discuss Chapter 18 of the IT Survival Guide. In this episode, we continue our journey into the employee experience by looking deeply into training and education for your company's staff. Training is key for many reasons, and the business often looks to IT to set the standard for the overall curriculum. Take a listen now!Plus, there is the usual banter and other stuff. We even snuck in some AI discussion.Post-chapter 18 analysis/reflection questions:Before reading this chapter, what assumptions did you make about your colleagues' technology skills, and how...
2024-03-212h 17The Calculus of ITCalculus of IT - Episode 16 - 3/13/2024 - "IT Survival Guide Chapter 17 - Working With Your Partner"In Episode 16, Mike and Nate discuss Chapter 17 of the IT Survival Guide. This chapter is a deeper dive into Chapter 6 of the ITSG as we explore the nature of the partnership between the IT Leader and their first hire. This partnership is incredibly important for developing and implementing the IT Strategy and serves as the baseline for the rest of the IT Department's organizational development. Mike and I also kicked off our AIAF podcast during the second half of this podcast with Episode 1, which focuses on Claude 3, the impact of a multi-dimensional AI modeling, the acceleration of AI d...
2024-03-144h 08The Calculus of ITCalculus of IT - Episode 15 - 3/7/2024 - "IT Survival Guide Chapter 16 - Employee Lifecycle"In Episode 15, Mike and Nate, along with special guest Kate Bosman, an expert in Employee Experience development, discuss Chapter 16 of the IT Survival Guide. While the chapter focuses on the Employee Lifecycle, we deeply dive into the entire Employee Experience (EX) and how it can and should be examined and optimized for value, including the IT components.Here is my template on how to conduct a stakeholder influence map:https://lucid.app/documents/view/82bc11fb-bfe1-40ce-a77b-f17ebf5c6babPost-chapter 16 analysis/reflection questions:How important is creating a positive employee...
2024-03-072h 07The Calculus of ITCalculus of IT - Episode 14 - 2/28/2024 - Pirates, AI, and the GooniesMike and Nate at a bar. AI, pirates, pirate conspiracies, Goonies 5, job interviews with horses, and shrimp.Support the showThe Calculus of IT website - https://www.thecoit.us"The IT Autonomy Paradox" Book - https://www.longwalk.consulting/library"The New IT Leader's Survival Guide" Book - https://www.longwalk.consulting/library"The Calculus of IT" Book - https://www.longwalk.consulting/libraryThe COIT Merchandise Store - https://thecoit.myspreadshop.comDonate to Wikimedia - https://donate.wikimedia.org/wiki/Ways_to_GiveBuy us a B...
2024-02-2948 minThe Calculus of ITCalculus of IT - Episode 13 - 2/21/2024 - "IT Survival Guide Chapter 15 - Governance"In Episode 13, Mike, Nate, and special guest Nathan Doyle discuss Chapter 15 of the IT Survival Guide. Chapter 15 covers Governance, and implementing good governance in your first year as a new IT Leader can be very difficult without consideration for all of the critical areas in which governance plays a part. We do our best to break it down for you.Links to the tables referenced are here:Chapter Read time mark 01:15:30Chapter Read time mark 01:37:48Chapter Read time mark 01:44:00Chapter Read time mark 02:08:00We also take time to break down what de...
2024-02-224h 29The Calculus of ITCalculus of IT - Episode 12 - 2/15/2024 - "IT Survival Guide Chapter 14 - Strategic Planning"In Episode 12, Mike and Nate discuss Chapter 14 of the IT Survival Guide. We are leaping from your initial strategic plan formed in the first 90 days to fleshing out the rest of your strategic plan for Year 1 and, to a degree, Year 2. We also spend some time discussing the effect of the ongoing web browser revolution and take some time to discuss wtf is going on with some of the more rapid releases of AI and their impacts on the world. Link to the wikimedia page with the history of the browser is here.I also pro...
2024-02-163h 06The Calculus of ITCalculus of IT - Episode 11 - 2/7/2024 - "IT Survival Guide Chapters 12 & 13 - Wrapping Up the First 90 Days & Budgeting and Reforecasting"In Episode 11, Mike and Nate discuss Chapters 12 and 13 of the IT Survival Guide. Chapter 12 focuses on the closeout of your first 90 days, and Chapter 13 takes a deeper look at the budgeting process and reforecasting for the rest of your first year. We also spend some time discussing the moral hazard of AI and trying to answer whether it matters if "it's a human. You can find the research appendix for the episode's discussion on moral hazard and Human-AI interactions here:https://docs.google.com/document/d/1vJbO4UU1TDtqCmAfIHf34RC5b0O9-tuiy392dpaashk/edit?usp=sha...
2024-02-082h 57The Calculus of ITCalculus of IT - Episode 10 - 1/31/2024 - "IT Survival Guide Chapter 11 - Service and Support"In Episode 10, Mike and Nate, along with special guest Kate Bosman (Digital Forces Sorceress at Xilio Therapeutics), discuss Chapter 11 of the IT Survival Guide, which is focused on the activities required to establish a successful services and support model at your new company. We also spend some time discussing the continuing loss of autonomy we are experiencing when making decisions through the use of technology and how that will continue to evolve both as it relates to support and from a general experience perspective. Then there is the usual stuff, such as digging into what is new an...
2024-02-013h 11The Calculus of ITCalculus of IT - Episode 9 - 1/24/2024 - "IT Survival Guide Chapter 10 - Security"In Episode 9, Mike and Nate, along with returning guest Kevin Dushney and special guest Bob Litterer (CISO at Teradyne), discuss Chapter 10 of the IT Survival Guide, which is focused on the philosophy and initial activities behind the construction of a security stack at your new company. Though this chapter was written in late 2019, the paradigm introduced is still a pivotal moment in the start of your IT journey. Bob helps us uncover new insights into other considerations when it comes to security and how the industry at large is evolving. We take a deep dive into AI as a...
2024-01-252h 43The Calculus of ITCalculus of IT - Episode 8 - 1/17/2024 - "IT Survival Guide Chapter 9 - Communicating to the Business"In this episode, Nate goes solo and takes a few moments to address a recent New York Times Book Review essay by A.O. Scott regarding the use of AI in the creation of literature. Nate also reads Chapter 9 of the Life Sciences IT Survival Guide, which covers how and when to communicate with the business during periods of change.Post-chapter 9 analysis/reflection questions:Which types of communications are your strengths, and which require improvement?How will you balance the right amount of communication and manage the frequency and method for different IT updates?What feedback s...
2024-01-1826 minThe Calculus of ITCalculus of IT - Episode 7 - 1/10/2024 - "IT Survival Guide Chapter 8 - Writing Your First Budget"In Episode 7, Mike and Nate and returning special guest Kevin Dushney discuss Chapter 8 of the IT Survival Guide, which focuses on creating your first budget at your new company. Many pieces of information go into your first budget, many of which you have already gathered by this time in your tenure. Now, you need to go and put someone together to form a spending framework for the balance of your first year. Nate, Kevin, and Mike break this process down and discuss all of the additional nuances that come with this process We also discuss the evolution of O...
2024-01-111h 54The Calculus of ITCalculus of IT - Episode 6 - 1/3/2024 - "IT Survival Guide Chapter 7 - Managing Your Managed Services Provider"In Episode 6, Mike and Nate discuss Chapter 7 of the IT Survival Guide, which is focused on handling your Managed Services Provider (MSP). When you step into your new company, you will likely partner with an MSP. How you manage them and how long you keep them around are key questions you must resolve immediately. We also discuss the rise of Generation Alpha, the browser as a service model, the evolution of AI pay-for-play, and other usual banter.Post-chapter 7 analysis/reflection questions:How would you assess your organization's current MSP relationship, and what metrics would b...
2024-01-042h 43The Calculus of ITCalculus of IT - Episode 5 - 12/28/2023 - "IT Survival Guide Chapter 6 - Organizational Modeling"In Episode 5, Mike and Nate, along with special guest Kevin Dushney, discuss Chapter 6 of the IT Survival Guide, which is focused on initiating the process of building out your IT Organization within the business, including hiring your first key role. This is an essential step in your IT leadership journey as the first hire is not only the most key role you will hire but also substantially reflects your capabilities as the IT Leader for the company.There is a hefty dose of the usual banter, with some discussion of AI and SLMs and a review of t...
2023-12-291h 59The Calculus of ITCalculus of IT - Episode 4 - 12/13/2023 - "IT Survival Guide Chapter 5 - Results and Rollup"In Episode 4, Mike and Nate discuss Chapter 5 of the IT Survival Guide, which is focused on rolling up everything you have so far (Foundational Plan, 90-Day Plan, Key Stakeholder Output) into an executive summary that you can now present to the Executive Leadership team. We have already discussed your Foundational Plan (Episode 1), 90-day Plan (Episode 2), and Key Stakeholder Meetings. Now, we have the next piece in the progression of establishing yourself as the IT leader in your new company.We also tackle key topics such as strategic planning for training and development, AI in the workplace in 2024, pol...
2023-12-142h 04The Calculus of ITCalculus of IT - Episode 3 - 12/6/2023 - "IT Survival Guide Chapter 4 - Key Stakeholder Meetings"In Episode 3, Mike and Nate discuss Chapter 4 of the IT Survival Guide, which is focused on conducting Key Stakeholder Meetings during your initial onboarding period in the company. We have already discussed your Foundational Plan (Episode 1) and 90-day Plan (Episode 2), and now we have the next piece in the progression of establishing yourself as the IT leader in your new company.Post-chapter 4 analysis/reflection questions:What additional stakeholders should the protagonist consider interviewing to get a more well-rounded understanding of the business?How can the protagonist best balance listening to stakeholders' concerns while managing their expectations...
2023-12-071h 26The Calculus of ITCalculus of IT - Episode 2a - Audio Rebroadcast - "IT Survival Guide Chapter 3 - The 90 Day Plan"We apologize for the audio screwup from last week. Here is a new recording of Chapter 3 of the Life Sciences IT Survival Guide. Support the showThe Calculus of IT website - https://www.thecoit.us"The IT Autonomy Paradox" Book - https://www.longwalk.consulting/library"The New IT Leader's Survival Guide" Book - https://www.longwalk.consulting/library"The Calculus of IT" Book - https://www.longwalk.consulting/libraryThe COIT Merchandise Store - https://thecoit.myspreadshop.comDonate to Wikimedia - https://donate.wikimedia.org/wiki/Ways_to...
2023-12-0712 minThe Calculus of ITCalculus of IT - Episode 2 - 11/29/23 - "IT Survival Guide Chapter 3 - The 90 Day Plan"In Episode 2, Nate and Mike, with the help of special guest Steve Simmons, read Chapter 3 of the Life Sciences IT Guide, which is focused on writing and executing your 90-day plan. They also talk about technology and life and have a few drinks along the way.Also, our primary camera/audio feed broke pretty much right from the start, but sadly, we didn't notice. Fortunately, I had a backup camera/mic in place, but that resulted in some meh audio pickup here and there. Still, it worked out well, but you may need to jack up your vol...
2023-11-302h 18