How can I improve my IT department's reputation after previous management issues?

It’s crucial to keep a positive perspective. Rather than blaming past management, focus on what you plan to do to improve the situation. You never know the full story; there could’ve been funding issues or political problems that made fixing things hard. When you eventually leave, someone else will interpret your work in their own way, so it's wise to maintain a constructive outlook.

It sounds like management is a big part of the issue here. If the previous leaders are still in the picture, changing perceptions can be tough. Make sure to focus on the environment rather than individual shortcomings. I’d suggest creating a risk register to outline the major issues, prioritizing them with proposed budgets and timelines. Communicate these clearly to your manager and emphasize addressing some quick wins first. Demonstrating progress will earn you some credibility to tackle the bigger challenges later on.

That’s definitely a tough spot to be in, but remember, change won’t happen overnight. Improving the IT infrastructure is a solid starting point. If you make users’ lives easier, they’ll start noticing the effort and eventually shift their perception. Just out of curiosity, are you handling this alone?