The IT Skeptic - Comments for "The little spot of bother at the itSMF USA "

The itSMFUSA has become an adult toy

Visitor — Fri, 01 Jun 2007 23:37:43 +0000

Voluntary associations have been as essential part of American social and political life from the country’s origins, but during the past ten years their role has become even more important. The debate about the role of the itSMFUSA has been increasingly extensive and acrimonious lately.

I believe it has a lot to do with leadership. Leadership is different from management! Leadership encompasses good management, but it is more, leadership is by far the tougher challenge. The membership numbers of the itSMFUSA have surpassed other industry groups not because it possessed the enthusiasm necessary to search out that myriad of untapped leadership and management talent. It grew in spite of itself.

The primary function of an association is to keep its members abreast of events and conditions which may affect them. This exchange of knowledge may take many forms, unless you're the itSMFUSA. It is the attitude of the board of directors, which more than anything else, will bring about its unfortunate conclusion. The solutions to today’s problems will be obsolete tomorrow. Their equilibrium will be their imbalance of the days to come.

The individual who wants to make an invaluable contribution to his industry through the association which represents it, will continually remind himself that successful organizations are created by self motivated men out of human ardor and conviction. By virtue of the position they hold, they are the only one who can inspire and motivate a board to greater success. This is the reason, and the heart of successful associations.

Actions speak louder than

Visitor — Fri, 01 Jun 2007 14:15:13 +0000

Actions speak louder than words! These people will never uncover what happened, why should they. There should be a new election! If they have nothing to fear, they should move forward with a vote of confidence from the members. They won't do that either. ITSMFUSAgate.

Shoot the 'blagger' not the blogger

Ian Clayton — Fri, 01 Jun 2007 01:22:58 +0000

Skep,

Well said - I need to say a big thank you, to you, as a member of the itSMF USA, for limiting the allegations offered by Dr. Linden and allowing the 'proper authorities' to consider and respond. There are a large number of concerned members who have contacted me for comment due to my history as a co-founder of the Association. I share their concern but have reinforced the view that the Board has promised to investigate the allegation with vigor and speed.

I sent a letter of support to the Board and wished them well in their investigations, I also mirrored your concern about the messenger. Assuming the allegations have an element of truth, and I was able to read the full blog entry before you removed it pending further verification, the Board must be quick to answer a few key questions many have posed to me:

1) Is is true?
2) If true, what was the scope of the interference?
3) Who did it, for who and why (this is where I hope the Board will ask for Dr. Linden's help rather than see her as the 'enemy' in all this?
4) Did it undermine the mandate of the current Board and what should be done to fix that?

Like you I look forward to a sensible approach to all this. It will not detract from the ITIL launch as far as I can see, why should it? That will require breadcrumbs that lead to a person or persons involved who are also directly involved in any inappropriate dealings that are also close to the ITIL v3 program. Not a chance - I hope...

Again thanks.