I used to work at one of those great dot coms with lots of low priced options. After the IT staff was cut from 25 poeple to 5 I decided I didn't want to stick around any longer. We all asked for some signs of job security to no avail. When it was all said and done and I left for a stable opportunity elsewhere. Management was in shock that poeple would actually leave when the company was at such a critical stage. It woke them up and my ex-coworkers tell me that the job security is changing with written promises of advanced warning of layoffs etc.
Probably not the case everywhere but if the employees shock management enough to the point that their systems are not functioning because the only poeple with the proper skill set to manage those systems left because of disgust for the company. They *might* listen. I just feel better that those poeple I worked with and their families can sleep a little more sound (not to mention way more money for me!)
There is always the third option of web-based self help support. The company I work for does a great job in creating web based solutions to enable the user to figure out the issue for themselves. This reduces miscommunication and support staff errors. This also makes the user feel like they were able to do something on their own and makes them more productive. Admittedly there are some instances where there is a need for the phone support or an onsite individual to help but we have found that for the majority of problems the user is able to resolve the issue themselves if guided correctly.
There is a difference between your average antique techie and your younger techie. The main difference is that the aged techie has usually been in the industry for some time and is not nearly as aggresive (they think they know it all) On the other hand your younger techie is a little more aggressive, resourcefull and a quicker learner. This is threatening to the antique techie, they feel insulted when you are right about an issue that they are wrong about or when you make a decision that improves the company that they can't take credit for. Bottom line is that although the daily harrasment about not being able to buy you a beer, or take you to a casino is annoying. The reality is that they know you have the technical skill that they don't have and like every other threatening situation find a way to disregard that fact based on a personal trait (in this case age)
It is not a lack of business knowledge or a lack of office politics (that's what the old managers are for) It is simply that they feel threatened and human nature takes it's course
Slashdot Mirror
I used to work at one of those great dot coms with lots of low priced options. After the IT staff was cut from 25 poeple to 5 I decided I didn't want to stick around any longer. We all asked for some signs of job security to no avail. When it was all said and done and I left for a stable opportunity elsewhere. Management was in shock that poeple would actually leave when the company was at such a critical stage. It woke them up and my ex-coworkers tell me that the job security is changing with written promises of advanced warning of layoffs etc.
Probably not the case everywhere but if the employees shock management enough to the point that their systems are not functioning because the only poeple with the proper skill set to manage those systems left because of disgust for the company. They *might* listen. I just feel better that those poeple I worked with and their families can sleep a little more sound (not to mention way more money for me!)
- Josh
insert clever or comical sig here
There is always the third option of web-based self help support. The company I work for does a great job in creating web based solutions to enable the user to figure out the issue for themselves. This reduces miscommunication and support staff errors. This also makes the user feel like they were able to do something on their own and makes them more productive. Admittedly there are some instances where there is a need for the phone support or an onsite individual to help but we have found that for the majority of problems the user is able to resolve the issue themselves if guided correctly.
Check out www.Safeharbor.com for some good examples of this.
There is a difference between your average antique techie and your younger techie. The main difference is that the aged techie has usually been in the industry for some time and is not nearly as aggresive (they think they know it all) On the other hand your younger techie is a little more aggressive, resourcefull and a quicker learner. This is threatening to the antique techie, they feel insulted when you are right about an issue that they are wrong about or when you make a decision that improves the company that they can't take credit for. Bottom line is that although the daily harrasment about not being able to buy you a beer, or take you to a casino is annoying. The reality is that they know you have the technical skill that they don't have and like every other threatening situation find a way to disregard that fact based on a personal trait (in this case age)
It is not a lack of business knowledge or a lack of office politics (that's what the old managers are for) It is simply that they feel threatened and human nature takes it's course