Higher Education Leadership

The IT world is fascinating inside and out. Every year, new technologies come to the market to much appeal and praise, from phones to computers to cybersecurity programs. However, what people do not see covered in the press as much are the IT projects that do not make it big. A realty of the technology world is that projects fail every year - many projects. Furthermore, government entities, who one would think had all tools necessary to launch a successful IT project, have a long list of failed IT projects.

Healthcare is a big business and is only continuing to grow. Because of this, technology must adapt and transform to meet the needs of the public. Failed healthcare IT projects are nothing new. However, they surely are something that can be learned from. In every failure is a lesson that can be used for a future project - a lesson that can help to save, or better, someone else's life.

When designer and computer scientist John Maeda was tapped to be president of the celebrated Rhode Island School of Design in 2008, he had to learn how to be a leader quickly. He had to transform himself from a tenured professor - with a love of argument for argument’s sake and the freedom to experiment - into the head of a hierarchical organization. The professor is free to speak his mind against “the man.” The college president is “the man.” Maeda has had to teach himself, through trial and error, about leadership.

He spent over three decades proudly serving his country. But his greatest lessons came from one unique bond. For Dr. Burl Randolph, Jr., leadership began at home as a young boy. Though his father was a man of few words, he was molded by his parents' actions for a future filled with achievement. And when the decorated military officer faced his own retirement, he recalled the profound message his dad imparted many years before: "A man ought to always stay busy."