The purpose of this report is to explore and discuss the culture of network administrators.

Experts
found in such a role are often required to have a formal education in the field, up to but not limited to a
bachelors degree. A meeting with Adam Chelonis, an Information Systems Manager at Guitar Center,
stood out as one of the most important resources utilized during my research. Daily activities include
regular communication between teams, maintaining network infrastructure, and ensuring the integrity
of all internal systems; a proactive and well-informed approach is necessary when responding to such
high priority requests.

THE CULTURE OF A NETWORK ADMIN - SEPTEMBER 2014

I.

Abstract ...................................................................................................................................2

II.

Introduction .............................................................................................................................4

III.

Methodology ...........................................................................................................................5
Interview

IV.

Results .....................................................................................................................................5
Education
Daily Activities
Work Environment Dress Code

V.

Conclusion ...............................................................................................................................7

VI.

References ...............................................................................................................................8

THE CULTURE OF A NETWORK ADMIN - SEPTEMBER 2014

As defined by the Merriam-Webster dictionary, culture is described as a way of thinking, behaving, or

working that exists in a place or organization. Organizational culture has an impact on many aspects in
the working environment, even as a network administrator despite their role being isolated and
behind the scenes by nature. If beliefs, values, ideas, and expectations are clearly defined and
communicated, it can make the workplace a more positive and productive place to be.
The purpose of this paper is to provide a detailed insight into the job duties and responsibilities of a
network administrator. An analysis of the core values and expectations, required education, and
anticipated work environment of this role is important when considering a prospective career. In
addition, I have discovered a few cases of organizational culture that seem to be common to the
Information Technology industry alone.

THE CULTURE OF A NETWORK ADMIN - SEPTEMBER 2014

Previously acquired knowledge and personal experience was used to accurately depict the culture of a
network administrator. This information was then built upon through extensive online research and
interviews among the network team at my place of employment. Once all of this information was
gathered, I was able to summarize and compose this analytical report.

Interview
The beginning stages of my research involved interacting with others employed by Guitar Center. One
person in particular stood out among the rest. I had the opportunity to speak with Adam Chelonis, an
Information Systems Manager who currently oversees a number of different teams within the
organization. He regularly works side-by-side with many of the network administrators to ensure
limited downtime and thorough planning and implementation of projects. Adam graduated Western
Governors University with a bachelors degree in IT Management in 2010 and says that he would
encourage just about anyone to pursue a career in the industry.

Education
Almost all employers require a bachelors degree or the equivalent in certifications when considering
candidates for a network administration position.
Since technology is constantly changing,
administrators will often find themselves
continuing to study in order to keep up with the
latest advancements in the field. Some will pay out
of pocket for additional courses, other times
employers will invest to keep their staff informed.
To gain practical experiences, many students will
consider participating in an internship to help
further their education. For those who choose to advance in the field, management or network
architect roles are an option with additional schooling.
THE CULTURE OF A NETWORK ADMIN - SEPTEMBER 2014

Daily Activities
The role of a network administrator depends on the size and location of the organization. Most
commonly, they are responsible for effectively maintaining their organizations data network. In the
case of a network related issue or project, an
internal ticket is passed along describing in detail
what actions are required. Common tasks include
network address assignment, routing table
configurations, management and implementation
of routing protocols, and carrying out certain
methods of authentication. In smaller
organizations, network admins might find
themselves responsible for other tasks such as
procurement of new equipment, maintaining servers, checking for security breaches, and so on.
As with many technical roles, network admin positions require extensive technical knowledge and the
ability to learn the intricacies of network and other proprietary software. It is not uncommon for
smaller organizations to outsource network administration functions.

Work Environment
Dress Code

It is common practice in the IT industry to avoid enforcing a strict dress code, if any at all. Employees
are usually found wearing anything from shorts and sandals to dress shirts and slacks. For organizations
who choose to enforce a more stringent dress code, many will still allow their employees to wear casual
attire during a certain day of the week. For example, shorts, jeans, and t-shirts can only be worn on
Fridays, otherwise formal clothing is required.

THE CULTURE OF A NETWORK ADMIN - SEPTEMBER 2014

Physical Space

The typical office has cubicles organized into rows in order to allow teams to easily communicate with
each other. Rooms are kept quiet to help keep individuals focused on their assignments. Since most in
the industry end up looking at computer monitors for extended periods of time, it is not uncommon to
find that many of the lights in the area have been turned off or dimmed as a way of preventing further
strain on the eyes. Employees are given break rooms where they can take a lunch break. They often
have other benefits such as vending machines, snacks, and televisions. Adam Chelonis confirmed that
this description is consistent with the layout at Guitar Centers corporate office, with the exception of a
portion of their network team being offshore. This
can sometimes present problems of its own,
especially in terms of communication and team
interaction.
Work Hours

Hours of operation and scheduling can change

significantly in the IT industry; as a network
administrator especially. The number of hours
worked will depend largely on employee status with the organization. However, according to the
Bureau of Labor Statistics, most network and computer system administrators work full time. In fact,
since many organizations depend on their computer networks, about a quarter of those administrators
reported working over 40 hours a week. During my interview with Adam Chelonis, he explained that
many of the network administrators at Guitar Center have a rotating on-call schedule where they are
regularly contacted on nights and weekends to respond to high priority outages that occur.

In conclusion, the organizational culture of a successful network administrator is diverse and important
for a company to maintain. It appears vital that anyone in such a stressful field needs to feel relaxed and
comfortable in their environment. There is no doubt that being a network administrator would be
challenging, but I expect it to be rewarding all the same. This project has helped me see the position in
a whole new light. I look forward to graduating and pursuing my career as a network administrator.
THE CULTURE OF A NETWORK ADMIN - SEPTEMBER 2014

Thomas, B. (2013, January 6). Five Reasons to Consider a Career in Network Administration. Retrieved
September 4, 2014, from http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/career-management/five-reasonsto-consider-a-career-in-network-administration
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2014-15 Edition,
Network and Computer Systems Administrators (2014, January 8). Retrieved September 4, 2014,
from http://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/network-and-computersystems-administrators.htm
Rosenberg McKay, D. (n.d.). Network Systems Analyst: Career Information. Retrieved September 4,
2014, from http://careerplanning.about.com/od/occupations/p/networksysanalyst.htm

THE CULTURE OF A NETWORK ADMIN - SEPTEMBER 2014