Claim Ownership
The Calculus of IT
The Calculus of ITSubscribed: 3Played: 2
Subscribe
© 2025 The Calculus of IT
Description
An exploration into the intricacies of creating, leading, and surviving IT in a corporation. Every week, Mike and I discuss new ways of thinking about the problems that impact IT Leaders. Additionally, we will explore today's technological advances and keep it in a fun, easy-listening format while having a few cocktails with friends. Stay current on all Calculus of IT happenings by visiting our website: www.thecoit.us. To watch the podcast recordings, visit our YouTube page at https://www.youtube.com/@thecalculusofit.
71 Episodes
Reverse
So 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 Rathe...
As 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 show The Calculus of IT website - https://www.thecoit.us "The New IT Leader's Survival Guide" Book - https://www.longwalk.consulting/library "The Calculus of IT" Book - https://www.longwalk.consulting/library The COIT Merchandise Store - https://thecoit.myspreadshop.com ...
In 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 s...
As 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 show The Calculus of IT website - https://www.thecoit.us "The New IT Leader's Survival Guide" Book - https://www.longwalk.consulting/library "The Calculus of IT" Book - https://www.longwalk.consulting/library The COIT Merchandise Store - https://thecoit.myspreadshop.com D...
After 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 "Fut...
As 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 show The Calculus of IT website - https://www.thecoit.us "The New IT Leader's Survival Guide" Book - https://www.longwalk.consulting/library "The Calculus of IT" Book - https://www.longwalk.consulting/library The COIT Merchandise Store - https://thecoit.myspreadshop.com D...
Ok, 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 explorin...
As 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 show The Calculus of IT website - https://www.thecoit.us "The New IT Leader's Survival Guide" Book - https://www.longwalk.consulting/library "The Calculus of IT" Book - https://www.longwalk.consulti...
Last 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 complet...
Remember 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 evo...
This is just a funny short of when the bots just go really wrong..... Support the show The Calculus of IT website - https://www.thecoit.us "The New IT Leader's Survival Guide" Book - https://www.longwalk.consulting/library "The Calculus of IT" Book - https://www.longwalk.consulting/library The COIT Merchandise Store - https://thecoit.myspreadshop.com Donate to Wikimedia - https://donate.wikimedia.org/wiki/Ways_to_Give Buy us a Beer!! - https://www.buymeacoffee.com/thecalculusofit Youtube - @t...
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 doin...
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 doin...
Join 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...
Join 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 fo...
In 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 crisis 2) We discussed how the individual loss of autonomy is now very closely mirroring a lot of what is happening in corporate IT 3) And we covered the net effects on leadership and strategic decision-ma...
In 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:...
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...
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 w...
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 thing...
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 c...
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 show The Calculus of IT website - https://www.thecoit.us "The New IT Leader's Survival Guide" Book - https://www.longwalk.consulting/library "The Calculus of IT" Book - https://www.longwalk.consulting/librar...
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 show The Calculus of IT website - ht...
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 toni...
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 ne...
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 w...
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...
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, th...
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 prese...
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 ...
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! Supp...
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 show The Calculus ...
In 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 happe...
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 Foundation Writing a 90 Day Plan Conducting your Key Stakeholder Interviews Rolling up your results and presenting to the ET Creating your organizational model Managing your MSP Writing your first Budget ...
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 th...
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/reflecti...
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 pod...
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-f17ebf5c6bab ...
Mike and Nate at a bar. AI, pirates, pirate conspiracies, Goonies 5, job interviews with horses, and shrimp. Support the show The Calculus of IT website - https://www.thecoit.us "The New IT Leader's Survival Guide" Book - https://www.longwalk.consulting/library "The Calculus of IT" Book - https://www.longwalk.consulting/library The COIT Merchandise Store - https://thecoit.myspreadshop.com Donate to Wikimedia - https://donate.wikimedia.org/wiki/Ways_to_Give Buy us a Beer!! - https://www....
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 her...
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 ...
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 amou...
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 th...
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 qu...
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 b...
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 inte...
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 show The Calculus of IT website - https://www.thecoit.us "The New IT Leader's Survival Guide" Book - https://www.longwalk.consulting/library "The Calculus of IT" Book - https://www.longwalk.consulting/library The COIT Merchandise Store - https://thecoit.myspreadshop.com Donate to Wikimedia - https://donate.wikimedia.org/wiki/Ways_to_Give Buy ...
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,...
In Episode 1, we meet our hosts, Mike and Nate. Nate reads Chapter 2 of the Life Sciences IT Guide, which is focused on Building a Foundation Plan. They talk about technology and life and have a few drinks along the way. Post-chapter 2 analysis/reflection questions: How flexible should an IT Foundation plan be to accommodate changes in the company and its needs, and what challenges might arise from a plan that clashes with the existing IT setup?How can an IT Foundation Plan evolv...
As 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 show The Calculus of IT website - https://www.thecoit.us "The New IT Leader's Survival Guide" Book - https://www.longwalk.consulting/library "The Calculus of IT" Book - ht...
Comments
Top Podcasts
The Best New Comedy Podcast Right Now – June 2024The Best News Podcast Right Now – June 2024The Best New Business Podcast Right Now – June 2024The Best New Sports Podcast Right Now – June 2024The Best New True Crime Podcast Right Now – June 2024The Best New Joe Rogan Experience Podcast Right Now – June 20The Best New Dan Bongino Show Podcast Right Now – June 20The Best New Mark Levin Podcast – June 2024
Download from Google Play
Download from App Store
United States