Making IT fun

A few days ago I volunteered to help out with a field day program at my kids' elementary school. The event is called Rainbow Sports Day, held each June, where K-5 students get to spend a day participating in activities ranging from kickball to Capture the Flag.

Each time that I've been involved in this program the excitement level among the kids has been the same. They're absolutely stoked about getting out of class and running around all day with their friends.

My oldest child, Alison, a Rainbow Sports Day alumnus, is now in middle school. She complains frequently about the monotony of 7th grade life and how each day is the same as the last with few field trips or other events to look forward to.

It got me to thinking about the differences between great places to work in IT and less-than-stellar IT departments. CW frequently receives letters from readers who point to lousy working conditions: long hours; inattentive, numbers-oriented supervisors; unchallenging work environments, etc.

Then there are organizations like Quicken Loans and the University of Miami, both of which are perenially top vote-getters in Computerworld's Best Places to Work in IT report.

 IT workers at Quicken Loans are treated like royalty. Free cappuccinos, slushees and popcorn are available all day from cafeterias throughout its Livonia, Mich. campus. On 'Ticket Window Thursdays', employees are invited to travel to Cleveland to see the NBA's Cleveland Cavaliers, which are owned by founder Dan Gilbert.

The type of work-hard, play-hard type culture that's evident at Quicken Loans really seems to resonate with its IT workers and other employees. By comparison, the University of Miami, which has ranked second for the past four years on Computerworld's Best Places list, fosters a culture which encourages mentoring, continuing education and social interaction.

IT workers here often get together for university-sponsored social events and informal get-togethers. There's a real feeling of camraderie there.

At a time when spiraling energy prices are cutting into the bottom line and pressuring managers to slash costs, sometimes simple exercises like workplace barbecues and ice cream socials can go a long way towards making people feel connected and stoke the inner child in all of us.