About This Session
This presentation explores a cultural shift for IT departments — moving away from being the "Department of No" and toward a model of Radical Support. By adopting the psychological and collaborative power of "Yes, And," IT teams can dismantle the barriers that lead to Shadow IT and build genuine "trust equity" with their colleagues across campus.
The session provides a practical framework — the "Yes, If" Matrix — that shows how saying "yes" to a partnership doesn't mean compromising on security or budget. Instead, it ensures IT has a seat at the table from the start, transforming technical experts from policy police into essential innovators who align technology with the organization's strategic goals.
The "Yes, If" Matrix
Trust Equity
How a positive initial response shifts the neurobiology of a meeting toward problem-solving — and builds the relational capital that makes future conversations easier.
Categorizing Requests
A framework for handling new software requests, custom integrations, and other asks — aligning them with necessary security and resource requirements from the start.
Defeating Shadow IT
When IT is a trusted "Yes, And" partner, colleagues stop working around the department. Shadow IT shrinks because the official path becomes the easier path.
A Seat at the Table
How becoming builders and innovators rather than policy police earns IT a place in institutional ideation — increasing organizational visibility and strategic influence.
The Psychology of "Yes"
- How a positive initial response builds "trust equity" and shifts the neurobiology of a meeting toward problem-solving
- Why the "Yes, If" Matrix works: categorizing requests in ways that align with security and resources without feeling like a roadblock
- How becoming "builders and innovators" rather than "policy police" grants IT a seat at the table during the ideation phase
- Practical examples from CMC of how the shift from "No" to "How" changed cross-campus relationships
Learning Outcomes
- Understand how a positive initial response builds "trust equity" and shifts meeting dynamics toward collaborative problem-solving.
- Apply the "Yes, If" Matrix to categorize requests — such as new software or custom integrations — by aligning them with necessary security and resource requirements.
- Understand how becoming "builders and innovators" rather than "policy police" grants IT a seat at the table during the ideation phase, increasing institutional agility and visibility.
Session Description
From "No" to "How": Reimagining IT as a Strategic Partner explores a cultural shift for IT departments. By adopting the psychological and collaborative power of "Yes, And," IT teams can dismantle the barriers that lead to Shadow IT and build "trust equity" with their colleagues. The session demonstrates that saying "yes" to a partnership doesn't mean compromising on security or budget — instead, it ensures IT has a seat at the table from the start, transforming technical experts into essential innovators who align technology with the organization's strategic goals.