Life without a Systems Office

Nowadays, it's possible to look to the open Web for subscription-based services that allow one to sidestep slow-moving institutions in order to serve one's users. More often than not, systems offices will not interfere, as they're heavily involved in triaging their workload. Happily, taking an active stance in learning a new technology before it receives a formal imprimatur can transform one into an expert, which is a nice way to be known. But life without a systems office has its costs. The author of this article shares his success stories on considering new, technology-intensive services. These stories suggest that a lot can be done on a shoestring, especially if one takes the initiative. He stresses that when it comes to taking a risk on a new or emerging technology, it's better to focus on the core academic goals of the user community.