Network or Systems Manager - which one?

[dave.81]

Well our Bursar at the moment is playing with people job descriptions and writing new ones or updating old ones. My last one was way back in 2004 when it was a part-time techy post now am full time "network Manager" as contract states, although he seems obsessed with calling me the systems manager.

Now to me these are 2 completely different jobs and if he's really after a system manager then he'll have to employ a part-time technician as the extra time i'd loose would leave me no maintenace time.

So the question is... is there a difference or am i just being picky?

[torledo]

In a larger organisation there probably would be a difference, and that would be reflected in the job description.

But in a school i think it's just semantics.

I'm not sure I follow what you're saying about the extra time you'd lose.
Are you saying a systems manager would have increased responsibility - well i don't see that as the case. But then it's all about what's in your job description at the end of the day.

[Diello]

Schools use the term interchangeably - I doubt many schools employ a true "network manager" - almost always an IT Manager or Systems Manager in reality of JD.

[CyberNerd]

I agree with Torledo The title isn't really whats important. The important thing is the JD. Gaining or loosing responsibility can impact on your pay.

(btw -to me Network Manager means someone who manages switches routers, wireless, firewalls vlans and so fourth, so yes it is just semantics really)

[dave.81]

See now this is were things are getting very blurred as in the eyes of Bursar a systems manager is someone who controls a lot more than ICT networks, more along the lines of in charge of phones, electrical stuff, boilers etc etc.

Guess i did need a different look at it the title is unimportant but getting the JD is the way of controlling what is in my role. Thanks.

[PEO]

not forgetting dinner duty

[Butuz]

So your systems manager is in effect a network manger and a site manager in one?

If that's the case - steer well clear!

Butuz

[torledo]

See now this is were things are getting very blurred as in the eyes of Bursar a systems manager is someone who controls a lot more than ICT networks, more along the lines of in charge of phones, electrical stuff, boilers etc etc.

Guess i did need a different look at it the title is unimportant but getting the JD is the way of controlling what is in my role. Thanks.

You can't possibly be responsible for the HVAC (as that what it sounds)
not even the site team can do that, becuase 99.9% of site managers aren't qualified sparks or building services engineers.

The phone system could conceivably be you're responsibility, particularly if they want you to install or manage a voip system...that's not a problem. CCTV could also be an IT functional role, although large CCTV installs along with fire and security should be the domain of an electrical services contractor. You're Bursar just needs to use his or her common sense.
Even though many applications are now IT enabled i.e access control, CCTV, voice, depending on the size and complexity of the system it's doesn't automatically fall into you're domain. For example most BMS systems (i.e Trend) are now network enabled does that mean it's you're responsibilty to login to the system to diagnose faults, even if you could do that and understand what you were looking at it's not an IT function.

If you're happy to do a bit of building services management tell you're bursar they need to send you on the appropriate training if such things can be learnt in a five-day course. See what they say when it costs them you're time and their money to take on these things.

[mrphil]

systems manager would have control of the MIS systems on top of network management, things like ensuring teachers are using SIMS and what not. Systems manager is a more overall job, network manager is as quoted before just looking after how the computers and servers interconnect and in larger organisations NW managers may not even touch the Servers and Clients

[Lee_K_81]

I think the actual distinction would be

Systems Manager > Network Manager > Technician.

As i see it -

Tech
maintenance of equipment
management/bookings of resources
Support in class if something is going wrong.
"first line support"


Network Manager (maybe senior tech)
Management of the physical network - routers, switches, cabling, firewall etc.
Manage DNS / DHCP / AD etc.
2nd line support

Systems Managers role:
If no NM then all NM does plus:
2nd/3rd line support for maintenance issues
Budget holder (substantial preferably)
Manage systems e.g. exhange/zimbra et al, CMIS/SIMS, cameras etc.
May also do some things such as assigning cover or timetabling

In most schools there isnt too much of a distinction between NM/SM and they'll only have one. Quite often giving the title of NM as they can possibly pay less. My Job title ranges from IT Manager, Network Manager, Information Systems Manager, gopher, General Dogs body, depending who is talking to me..

I wouldnt suggest touching boilers in any of these roles unless there is a web-based interface that allows you to set timings etc.

[Halfmad]

Lee I always saw it as the other way around:

Network Manager > Systems manager > technicians.

I'm a network manager with budgetary control etc.

[Lee_K_81]

Lee I always saw it as the other way around:

Network Manager > Systems manager > technicians.

I'm a network manager with budgetary control etc.

I think in schools it's very confused and in most places NM = SM.

I would have thought that the official industry definition of a NM is more about the actual infrastructure of the network, and a SM is about the systems that run on the network. In industry they're probably nothing to do with each other than SM requesting cabling / swithces /etc to go into a location.

Education is a funny one. Maybe somebody with a huge staff could tell us how it runs in their place. GrumbleDook?.........

[torledo]

systems manager would have control of the MIS systems on top of network management, things like ensuring teachers are using SIMS and what not. Systems manager is a more overall job, network manager is as quoted before just looking after how the computers and servers interconnect and in larger organisations NW managers may not even touch the Servers and Clients

I don't see any functional difference between systems manager and network manager except in a large organisation where they'd have a DBA for the MIS. As someone has already said, schools use the two terms interchangeably.

[Halfmad]

Yeah true outside of education I doubt that SM/NM are anything alike. I know in my next job the SM and NM are in the same departments, same level but different teams.

[mrphil]

@toledo


The systems manager would be over the MIS Manager and the Network Manager if the org was big enough