It's Better to Be Lucky Than Good: Reflections on Technical Decisions in the Wake of a Pandemic

Abstract

In March and April 2020, virtually every institution found themselves scrambling to adapt to the tectonic shift in campus life caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Fortunately, MSU Denver Information Technology Services found that the department was better positioned than some peers due to a range of strategic and technical decisions that positioned the organization for scalable adaptability. Ranging from service delivery model and client asset management to enterprise systems and information security, this presentation will discuss these topics, analyze the root of the decisions that were made and evaluate areas where the team did not anticipate the needs that arose.