IT Staffing Challenges: Recruitment, Retention, & Knowledge Transfer 2004 Business and Financial Conference APPA September 21, 2004 3:15 - 4:30 p.m. Session

IT Staffing Challenges: Recruitment, Retention, IT Staffing Challenges: Recruitment, Retention, & Knowledge Transfer& Knowledge Transfer

2004 Business and Financial Conference2004 Business and Financial ConferenceAPPAAPPA

September 21, 2004 3:15 - 4:30 p.m.September 21, 2004 3:15 - 4:30 p.m.Session 39Session 39

Jane SkinnerJane SkinnerInfrastructure ManagerInfrastructure Manager

Santee CooperSantee Cooper

IT Staffing Challenges: IT Staffing Challenges: Recruitment & Retention Recruitment & Retention

• Human Capital Management PlanHuman Capital Management Plan– Developed to improve recruiting and Developed to improve recruiting and

retention of IT employeesretention of IT employees•Reviewed annually with Human ResourcesReviewed annually with Human Resources

•Updated annuallyUpdated annually

•For management – not distributed to staffFor management – not distributed to staff

IT Staffing Challenges: IT Staffing Challenges: Recruitment StrategiesRecruitment Strategies

• Web SitesWeb Sites– SanteeCooper.comSanteeCooper.com– Monster.comMonster.com– National Society of Black EngineersNational Society of Black Engineers– Energy Info Source, Inc.Energy Info Source, Inc.– Total TelecomTotal Telecom– JobDirect.comJobDirect.com– Statewide Job ServicesStatewide Job Services

• Santee Cooper Job LineSantee Cooper Job Line

• Newspapers & magazinesNewspapers & magazines

• Career Fairs Career Fairs – Attend 3 annually at state and local universitiesAttend 3 annually at state and local universities


StrategiesStrategies• Santee Cooper has implemented several strategies Santee Cooper has implemented several strategies

in an effort to attract and retain employees:in an effort to attract and retain employees:

1)1) Vacation Policy – new hires receive an Vacation Policy – new hires receive an immediate 10 days vacation upon hire dateimmediate 10 days vacation upon hire date

2)2) Life Insurance – two times the annual salary plus Life Insurance – two times the annual salary plus $3,000$3,000

3)3) Annual Goals Incentive Payout - over $2,000 – Annual Goals Incentive Payout - over $2,000 – prorated for new employees prorated for new employees

4)4) Relocation assistance - $2,500 to $25,000Relocation assistance - $2,500 to $25,000

5)5) Market-based pay for all positionsMarket-based pay for all positions


StrategiesStrategies

6) For approved employees: 6) For approved employees:

- Flex-time- Flex-time

- Part-time- Part-time

- Telecommuting - Telecommuting

2003 – Santee Cooper received Family Friendly 2003 – Santee Cooper received Family Friendly AwardAward

IT Staffing Challenges:IT Staffing Challenges:Retention StrategiesRetention Strategies

• Retain employees through attractive Retain employees through attractive benefits package including:benefits package including:

•State RetirementState Retirement•Health, Dental, Life Insurance packagesHealth, Dental, Life Insurance packages•VacationVacation•Paid Sick LeavePaid Sick Leave•Tuition Aid ReimbursementTuition Aid Reimbursement•On-site Credit UnionOn-site Credit Union•Recreational FacilityRecreational Facility

IT Staffing Challenges: IT Staffing Challenges: Retention Strategies Retention Strategies

• MIS recognizes the importance of a MIS recognizes the importance of a well trained staff and is committed well trained staff and is committed to providing Technical Training and to providing Technical Training and Certifications:Certifications:– NovellNovell– MicrosoftMicrosoft– CiscoCisco– CitrixCitrix– OracleOracle– PowerBuilderPowerBuilder– MitelMitel– SecuritySecurity

IT Staffing Challenges: IT Staffing Challenges: Retention StrategiesRetention Strategies

• Communications Communications

Employees like being “in the Employees like being “in the know”know”

• Publish weekly management meeting Publish weekly management meeting minutesminutes

• All groups have weekly meetings All groups have weekly meetings

• Two Semi-Annual Department Staff Two Semi-Annual Department Staff MeetingsMeetings

– One away from the office with lunchOne away from the office with lunch

• Change Management meetings Change Management meetings twice/weektwice/week


• Rewards - Find out what motivates Rewards - Find out what motivates your employeesyour employees

•New technology New technology

•TrainingTraining

•Flexible hoursFlexible hours

•TitleTitle

•New projects vs. maintenanceNew projects vs. maintenance

•Comp timeComp time


• Rewards, Recognition, & FunRewards, Recognition, & Fun•Recognition luncheons for projectsRecognition luncheons for projects•Safety luncheonsSafety luncheons

– Individual & group awardsIndividual & group awards•Kudos or personal notes from manager and Kudos or personal notes from manager and

Executive ManagementExecutive Management•Personal notes on evaluationsPersonal notes on evaluations•Annual group recognition lunches & give-Annual group recognition lunches & give-

awaysaways•Annual MIS recognition breakfast/giftAnnual MIS recognition breakfast/gift•Motivational SpeakersMotivational Speakers


• Genuine Care & Concern – Family AtmosphereGenuine Care & Concern – Family Atmosphere•Birthday luncheonsBirthday luncheons•Send cards/flowersSend cards/flowers•Hospital visitsHospital visits•Luncheons for wedding/baby showersLuncheons for wedding/baby showers•MIS Friendship FundMIS Friendship Fund•Thanksgiving & Christmas luncheonsThanksgiving & Christmas luncheons•MIS Sponsored needy family at ChristmasMIS Sponsored needy family at Christmas•Community Service Project – participation encouragedCommunity Service Project – participation encouraged

– United Way, Relay for Life, Jr. Achievement, Read United Way, Relay for Life, Jr. Achievement, Read with a Child, Lunch Buddy, Blood driveswith a Child, Lunch Buddy, Blood drives

IT Staffing Challenges: IT Staffing Challenges: Knowledge TransferKnowledge Transfer

• Knowledge Management: Knowledge Management: The management of an The management of an enterprise’s human enterprise’s human capital (intellectual capital (intellectual assets)assets)

• Knowledge Management Knowledge Management …. is actually…. is actuallyChaos Management ! Chaos Management !


• Cross-TrainingCross-Training– Skills assessment/needs assessment Skills assessment/needs assessment – Gap analysis/identify weaknesses Gap analysis/identify weaknesses – Identify specific employee training needsIdentify specific employee training needs– Identify timeframeIdentify timeframe

• Job RotationsJob Rotations– Career Foundations Career Foundations – Staff LevelStaff Level– Supervisor/Manager LevelSupervisor/Manager Level


• Utility Business KnowledgeUtility Business Knowledge– Line of Business AnalystsLine of Business Analysts– Plant toursPlant tours– ““Watt’s Happening” videosWatt’s Happening” videos

Knowledge Transfer ExamplesKnowledge Transfer Examples•Use Contract Services to guide Use Contract Services to guide

implementation and train staffimplementation and train staff•Use Sr. Analysts to train entry level analystsUse Sr. Analysts to train entry level analysts


• DocumentationDocumentation•Use the Intranet to publish user information Use the Intranet to publish user information

& internal information& internal information– IT Support SiteIT Support Site– MIS Standards and ProceduresMIS Standards and Procedures– Application PortfolioApplication Portfolio– Application InterfacesApplication Interfaces– Disaster RecoveryDisaster Recovery– System Documentation & DrawingsSystem Documentation & Drawings

IT Staffing Challenges: IT Staffing Challenges: Recruitment, Retention & Recruitment, Retention &

Knowledge TransferKnowledge Transfer

–QuestionsQuestions????

Documents

IT Staffing Challenges: Recruitment, Retention, & Knowledge Transfer 2004 Business and Financial Conference APPA September 21, 2004 3:15 - 4:30 p.m. Session