My Work, My Way - MQU's Journey to Consumer Computing

At Macquarie Uni, we take a different approach to delivering technology. We put the way people experience and use tech first in every decision making process. We believe that information technology is an enabler - something that must never get in the way.
Whether it's the campus network itself, business intelligence reporting or student virtual desktops, all that should matter is who you are and what you have access to. It must not matter which device you prefer or where you like to do your best work.
Students and younger generation staff already expect always-on always-connected tech in their own terms; this is reality, not speculation. People's tech experience must feel as simple and natural as using Google Search or Amazon; not some incomprehensible application requiring training sessions, onboarding or user manuals.
We're looking for individual consumer freedom of choice leading to adoption through inclusiveness and ease of use, not because "this is what you're given". We shoot for self-service and online collaboration as our norms rather than exceptions. It is a complete transformation in the way we think about rolling out technology. In higher-ed IT departments it's almost a new philosophy and requires a new culture. An Internet culture.
From a producer's perspective this means demanding interoperable protocols to bring about cost savings, scalability and other efficiencies. Traditional standardised platforms or operating environments are marginalised as important side-effects, not an endgame.
In "My work, my way" I'll talk about how Macquarie is evolving in response to these ideas and what this means from a variety of personas on campus with a particular emphasis on "the IT crowd".
This transformation towards an Internet culture is not an easy process, it requires a deliberate change in mindset as well as the processes we use to deliver and maintain technology. It's the sustainable path if we are to deliver the 'always on' technology experience to ensure the survival of universities in modern education.