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Sarah Alt
'99 BSTC
Global IT Change Control Administrator
Johnson Wax Professional (JWP)
Sturtevant, Wisconsin
Question: Tell us about your job: Where do you work? What is your job title? How long have you had this position?
Sarah: I am the Global IT Change Control Administrator for Johnson Wax Professional (JWP). I have been in this position since November 2000.
Question: What are your key duties at work? What is a typical day like?
Sarah: I am responsible for implementing and managing an IT change control process that insures a stable enterprise production environment. This includes software, hardware and network changes. I chair change control meetings to discuss, approve and schedule changes, as well as conduct change audits with results provided to JWP management. I also develop, document, maintain and improve change control related policies and procedures.
Question: Does your job involve travel?
Sarah: As the IT change control administrator for the company's global headquarters, I need to make sure that all regions, countries and subsidiaries are aware of the policies and procedures involved in the change process. Sometimes, this awareness can be achieved via teleconferencing. However, especially during global rollouts of new systems, I have spent one or two weeks touring the European and Japan offices to train and develop local IT personnel.
Question: What do you like most about your job?
Sarah: I enjoy working with so many different people from all aspects of IT, both functionally and geographically. This is a great position to learn how IT and other business processes interface.
Question: What is the least favorite part of the job?
Sarah: It is difficult to convince people to follow policies and procedures-especially when the policies are to control ones ability to customize. The corporate culture is such that people are used to being able to make system changes without following proper approval and authorization. My position essentially involves changing the way people think and work, as much as it involves controlling IT system changes. That can be difficult.
Question: How did you become interested in Technical Communications?
Sarah: I have always enjoyed written and oral communication. These come naturally to me. When I was a biomedical engineering student, I did not feel that I could use those skills as creatively as I wanted. The TC program was the best place for me to find an exciting combination of creativity, communication and technical skills.
Question: Do you consider yourself to be a Technical Communicator? How do you feel your job is suited for a TC? Do people with other backgrounds also perform your type of job?
Sarah: With the skills learned as a technical communication major, I consider myself well equipped for all kinds of opportunities. I use aspects of TC in every policy, procedure and presentation that I deliver. But this job goes beyond technical writing. When combined with other soft skills and technical knowledge, the TC background affords one a unique opportunity to liaise with the business.
People with more technical and less communication background perform this type of job at other companies, but they may not be as effective in liaising with the non-technical world.