And you thought IT staff’s only exercise, is moving fingers on a keyboard, mouse clicking or flexing mental muscles while programming? You should have seen us at the Wellness day.

On Friday 10 June, Facilities Management, IT and the Launchlab decided to get physical with our own Wellness Day. The day’s theme was “don’t be afraid of the “F” word. Make Fitness Fun on Freaky Fitness Friday”. 

Clearly, IT was fearless as staff pitched up in droves to join in the varied activities organised for the day. It might also be the promise of a free lunch, but at least we got some exercise. Eighty IT staff participated in the event in spite of fairly unpleasant, cold and rainy weather. 

At 8:00 staff was welcomed with a much-needed cup of warm coffee, after which they were slowly eased into the day with a demonstration by Digi Cape on how to use the Discovery fitness device/app. Discovery also sponsored a wellness screening where cholesterol levels, blood pressure, and general physical condition were measured. This was the part where your true age was divulged. Some exercised extra hard after this revelation. 

The 2.5 km walk was the perfect opportunity to start working on that physical age. More rigorous exercise was next on the schedule in the form of a Spinathon between Facilities Management, IT and the Launchlab. The wheels were kept spinning for a whole three hours and we can safely say some IT staff proved to be extremely persistent. 

A boot camp provided a further challenge and Shanee, Millicent and Anthea walked away with prizes.

For the more zen staff members, a yoga, a pilates session, and meditation brought the necessary calm they clearly needed. For others, the massage session was the best medicine. 

The prize for entering the most events went to Jerome Swarts. Petro Uys and Ciska Marais won vouchers for the Spinathon and IT walked away as victors of the Fitness Quiz. 

[PHOTOS BY JEROME SWARTS]

MISSION STATEMENT | MANAGERS

MISSION STATEMENT

Information is crucial and strategic for a knowledge-intensive and knowledge-producing enterprise such as a university to thrive. Institutional software solutions [1]  form the basis of all institutional information systems and are fundamental in the majority of institutional processes.

The ISS Section:

Builds, provides, maintains and supports reliable, innovative and sustainable institutional software solutions that meet the University’s needs timeously and over the long term.

In order to fulfill the above mission, the ISS Section performs the following functions:

• Manages relationships with solution and system owners (clients), external and internal IT partners, stakeholders, communities, and vendors;
• Performs business analysis in order to understand and help refine institutional processes, and determine requirements;
• Develops software, which includes designing and coding solutions with the long-term in mind, and establishing and maintaining the necessary software development environment, skills and knowledge;
• Maintains the software application portfolio  over the long term;
• Integrates (connects) software applications and systems in order to orchestrate institutional processes, enable integrated reporting and integrated views of institutional information;
• Sources software solutions by helping clients and partners to select solutions, and by brokering solutions i.e. facilitating the procurement of solutions;
• Supports software solutions by monitoring operations, configuring systems, managing incidents and problems, and helping clients and partners to train endusers;
• Architects data, software solutions, business processes (in collaboration with functional partners) and integrations in collaboration with the IT Architecture Function.
• Manages software solution development and implementation projects.

[1] University-owned or managed software applications (or solutions) that have a broad application across the institution, as opposed to specialised value for a single or few organisational entities within the university. The definition includes software such as web content management systems and mobile apps, amongst others. By way of example, a laboratory information system that has specialised value for only a single academic department or a single faculty would likely not be classed as an institutional software solution.

MANAGERS

	DANEEL VAN WIJCK | Manager: IT Financial and Facilities Information Systems Daneel is responsible for the management, procurement, development, and support of the portfolio of information systems and software solutions that meets the needs of, and enables, the Finance and Facilities Management functions. Included in the role is the maintenance of relationships with these functional partners and principal users. As such, Daneel is the single point of contact at IT for these divisions.
	ANNA-MARI DU TOIT | Manager: IT Student Information Systems Anna-Mari is responsible for the management, procurement, development and support of the porfolio of information systems and software solutions that meets the needs of, and enables, professional and service divisions that administer the student lifecycle from prospective students to alumni. Included in the role is the maintenance of relationships with these functional partners and principal users. As such, Anna-Mari is the single point of contact at IT for these divisions.
	BENETTE BRINK | Manager: IT Business Analysis Benette is responsible for managing and developing the Business Analysis practice and capability in ISS. Business Analysis promotes the application of information and communications technology (ICT) to solve the institution’s business problems; facilitates transformation in operating, administrative and academic processes by applying ICT appropriately; interprets business needs for the technologists and technology for administrators, managers, and academics. Benette leads and maintains a team of skilled business analysts. She also manages relationships with selected partner and client divisions.
	MARC-ALLEN JOHNSON | Manager: IT Software Development Marc-Allen is responsible for managing and developing the Software Development practice and capability in ISS. He leads a team of programmers and designers that develop and integrate institutional software solutions. Marc-Allen is also responsible for providing and coordinating integration and software application architecture guidance and advice to the IT Architecture Function.
	BERNARD HEESEN | Head: ISS Configuration and Support Bernard is responsible for configuring generic software platforms, such as Sharepoint and other content management systems, Dynamix CRM and Office365 to create institutional solutions, and supporting them. He leads a team of software specialists who are trained to exploit these platforms. Bernard also manages relationships with selected partner and client divisions.
	PAUL ROOS | Head: IT Management Information Systems Paul is responsible for the management, procurement, development and support of the data warehouses and data analytics systems and services that underpin institutional analytics, management information and operational reporting systems such as SUN-i and SUNRep. As such he manages the IT relationship with the Institutional Research and Planning Division. Paul is also responsible for providing and coordinating data architecture guidance and advice to the IT Architecture Function.
	MALANIE ORTMANN | Head: Human Resources Information Systems Malanie is responsible for the management, procurement, development, and support of the portfolio of information systems and software solutions that meet the needs of and enables, the HR Division. Included in the role is the maintenance of relationships with this functional partner and its principal user. As such, Malanie is the single point of contact at IT for the HR Division. Malanie also coordinates the Incident and Problem Management process within ISS.