Q: What is the Individual Contributor Advisory Team (ICAT)?
Purpose
The Individual Contributor Advisory Team (ICAT) is comprised of individual contributors across the IS&T department. The primary objectives of ICAT include the following:
- Support IS&T’s organizational goals by continuing to build upon the momentum of the transformation and continue to move the organization forward toward the new model of IT@MIT.
- Identify opportunities to enhance employee engagement, employee development and knowledge sharing across IS&T.
- Serve as a direct link to Sr. Leadership to improve transparency in communication, decision making and strategic direction across teams within IS&T.
Projects focusing on the objectives listed above will promote digital and/or in-person engagement that will benefit the IS&T department.
Membership
ICAT is a composition of up to ten (10) individual contributors across the IS&T department that allows for representation from different functional areas, directorates and/or teams. ICAT is sponsored by the Sr. Leadership Team to ensure all ICAT efforts are in alignment with IS&T goals.
Members of ICAT are responsible for fulfilling one of the following functions:
- Chair Person
- Member
The responsibilities of each function are highlighted in detail in the ICAT Roles & Responsibilities and Chair Person Roles & Responsibilities sections of this document.
IS&T individual contributors must apply to be considered for membership of ICAT by completing the necessary ICAT Application Form. Applications for new members will be available on an annual basis each December.
Members are required to provide a two-year commitment to ICAT effective as of January 1st. To ensure continuous innovation within the committee, members may serve no more than a maximum of two years on ICAT unless a special exception is determined by the Sponsor.
ICAT Roles & Responsibilities
Key roles and responsibilities for all members of ICAT include, but are not limited to, the following:
Domain | Role/Responsibility |
Accountability |
|
Attendance |
|
Contribution |
|
Communication |
|
Chair Person Roles & Responsibilities
ICAT requires two Co-Chairs. Individuals interested in the Chair function must complete the necessary ICAT Chair Application Form and commit to a one-year term as a Chair. The Chairs will be selected and appointed by the Sponsor on an annual basis.
In addition to the ICAT Roles & Responsibilities listed above, the Chair is accountable for roles and responsibilities including, but not limited to, the following:
Domain | Role/Responsibility |
Leadership |
|
Communication |
|
Representation |
|
The function of Chair Person is an important one that can be fulfilled by any member of ICAT during the nomination period each March. Individuals interested in the function of Chair Person must be able to exercise the following:
- A high level of organizational skills to maintain an organized agenda for each meeting; ensuring meetings are focused, productive and efficient.
- Effective management skills to ensure projects move forward within the determined deadlines and obtain support from additional ICAT members as necessary.
- Strong communication skills to successfully manage diverse personalities and priorities within the team, while maintaining open lines of communication to ensure all members remain committed to the team’s primary objectives and goals.
- A high level of diplomacy to effectively represent ICAT with the Sr. Leadership team and/or IS&T in both formal and informal settings.
Support from Leadership
Members of leadership (Sr. Leadership, Directors and Managers) understand the importance of ICAT’s contribution to the IS&T department. Leaders demonstrate their support of the ICAT initiative through:
- Enabling ICAT members the opportunity to attend the majority of recurring ICAT meetings.
- Allowing for 10% resource allocation on a recurring basis for uninterrupted project work (not to exceed more than 4 hours in one week).
- Mentorship that enables members the opportunity to enhance their ideas and work with other leaders to successfully initiate and implement those ideas.
Important Dates
Date | Description |
January |
|
December |
|
Current ICAT Members:
Current members of ICAT include the following individual contributors:
Function | Name | Team |
---|---|---|
Member | Deb Bowser | Escalations |
Member | Chris Braiotta | Network Engineering |
Member | Eileen Kenney | Business Logistics |
Interim Chair | Rebecca Maitland | Finance |
Contact:
Feedback or questions may be sent to ICAT at ist-icat@mit.edu