Seeking business efficiencies by merging the knowledge of technologists and industry professionals has been an ever-evolving process.
But chief technology officers, such as Jeff Cooper, director of IT shared services at the Food and Drug Administration in Rockville, Md., know the problem firsthand.
He had a hard time finding project managers who understand the business requirements of the FDA and have the large-scale technical savvy to successfully lead projects.
“I don’t think that problem is unique to the FDA,” Cooper said. “One of the things I’ve seen in my career is that finding folks who have good experience in managing large IT projects is tough to come by.”
There are eight divisions that constitute the FDA. Prior to his arrival, Cooper said, all eight would independently try to implement application changes. Cooper, who has since left to join Disney, was responsible for ushering in a cultural change and consolidation of management, said Cam Boyce, communications director at the office of the CIO.
“He was responsible for taking all of the disparate stovepipe organizations and making them one. One of the things he’s working on is reducing multiplicity and making sure there’s a commonness across the organization,” Boyce said.
Read the full story on eWeek: FDA Cites Need for Hybrid Pros
