1) Make sure you understand the institutional culture.
Before launching any major technological change, it is a good idea to make sure you have a good grasp of the culture of your own institution and its appetite for change, said Hilary Baker, vice president for information technology and chief information officer at California State University, Northridge.
New CIOs should surround themselves with trusted colleagues for advice about where the university is in terms of technology change. "Ask what has worked and what hasn't," she said, "and about where there were snags when one tried to roll out a change."
Camille Shelley, executive director of the Office of Information Technology at Brookdale Community College in Lincroft, NJ, agrees with Baker. "I have 15 projects right now that we could move quickly on," she said. "However, I have to take into consideration what is involved in terms of communications, timing, the academic calendar and the overall tempo of the campus. Once you understand that, you can successfully implement your changes.