What does the IT department do?

(from our 2006-2007 IT Annual Plan)

We provide excellent service by email/phone/notes/fax, even in person
We provide ‘always available’ support, every day, 24×7
We teach word/excel/outlook or custom one-on-one classes
We help advise on ways to improve how you use software
We provide an online knowledge-base of common computer questions
We have an awesome help desk system that tracks your issues
We maintain the backups of the mission critical data of the businesses
We keep all workstations and servers patched for security
We maintain the firewall and network routers and wireless devices
We improve the connectivity of the business networks
We clean virus and spam from all incoming email messages
We support the phones and cell phones around the ZCoB
We plan for and replace aging equipment
We do future visioning for technology to benefit the bottom lines
We serve as a bridge to various software support people
We translate geek speak into human speak
We manage vendor contracts and recommend renew or replacements
We provide technical expertise in business planning and during ZAP planning
We provide project management assistance
We help build awesome web sites for the Zingerman’s businesses
We host interns and provide them training opportunities
We provide personal advice on buying computers and other goodies
We will do a first take on repairing your home computer
We maintain public terminals for ZCoBbers to use freely.
We provide cyber playgrounds for people who want to test drive software.
We perform regular check-ups on the computers.
We demolish walls
We paint walls
We build tables
We installs light fixtures
… and airconditioners!
We create accounts/email addresses for ZCoBbers
We maintain, upgrade email server and clients
We support ZCoB phones and cell phones
We install and maintain printers
We create and maintain Zingerman’s websites, internal and external
We provide at-cost peripherals and gadgets to ZCoBbers
We provide, maintain private and public wireless internet connections
We drink great tea.
We do research on demand for ecological mechanical and electrical projects.
We will negotiate for the business with copier salespeople and make recommendations based on appropriate blend of features to cost over the long term.
We welcome anyone to join us in our office for a conversation on technology anytime.
We integrate personal laptops into the workplace - providing staff with more access to online tools to do their job.
We study and taste tea and will write ad copy based on our tasting notes.
We protect the network against electronic intrusion and we advise the businesses on ways to protect their electronic assets.
We un-jam (de-jam?) misbehavin’ printers.
We provide online entertainment via the ITcams.
We develop user-friendly content management applications for easy maintenance of our websites.
We encourage fitness to better fulfill the physical demands of 24×7 technical support.
We give free wipe-downs to dusty/floury/grimy computers.
We provide A/V tools (PA, projector) and support
We assist in the playing of DVD and other video formats
We offer first take support and diagnosis of iPods
We develop digital, web-friendly Scratch-N-Sniff technology
We assemble external hard drives
We implement digital music solutions to enhance the Zingerman?s experience
We help create Zing-specific tools like a culinary spell check
We develop, support, and maintain FileMaker databases
We keep current on technology news by reading magazines, books, and blogs
We write our own blog and we can help you set up yours
We help recover and restore lost or damaged files
We provide consulting services on usability and information architecture.
We assist in organizing shared files using information organization techniques.
We track and analyze our web hits and provide recommendations to improve the effectively of our website.
We coach writers and editors on how to prepare user-friendly articles on the web.
We develop databases for businesses to store customer, product and operations information.