I hate being IT.
the sad thing, I predict, is that by the time we are around retirement age, IT departments and the CIO will be as fully respectable as the CFO, general counsel, COO. In other words, super professional** nobody f's with the IT guys and respects them fully, everybody bows down to them and STFUs when it comes to their tech support.
But unfortunately it is a long term social shift. Today tech support guys are already paid as much as engineers at tech companies, but the social recognition/respect just isn't there yet.
** (I predict IT engineering or network engineering to become a major at more universities than it already is - you don't see many IT majors at top universities yet but the need is there. Just like Computer Science wasn't a major for a long time b/c it was the "new kid on the block" and got clumped under applied sciences. But eventually it became its own major after the unique societal need was too obvious to ignore.)
But unfortunately it is a long term social shift. Today tech support guys are already paid as much as engineers at tech companies, but the social recognition/respect just isn't there yet.
** (I predict IT engineering or network engineering to become a major at more universities than it already is - you don't see many IT majors at top universities yet but the need is there. Just like Computer Science wasn't a major for a long time b/c it was the "new kid on the block" and got clumped under applied sciences. But eventually it became its own major after the unique societal need was too obvious to ignore.)
dude.
same boat as you.
i use to give my users all the things they wanted.
then, the job became a real job.
i had the VP equivalent write up a policy. send it out to the dept chairs. (i work for a pubic university).
then, it was a desktop and laptop from dell. one model of each. you want something diff, your chair and the assoc dean better write off on it.
once they are taught... yes taught, they actually didnt mind.
there were a few whiners. but you get that in every company.
these days, suck it up and just be glad you have a job.
i'm trying to get out of this hell hole i'm in.
same boat as you.
i use to give my users all the things they wanted.
then, the job became a real job.
i had the VP equivalent write up a policy. send it out to the dept chairs. (i work for a pubic university).
then, it was a desktop and laptop from dell. one model of each. you want something diff, your chair and the assoc dean better write off on it.
once they are taught... yes taught, they actually didnt mind.
there were a few whiners. but you get that in every company.
these days, suck it up and just be glad you have a job.
i'm trying to get out of this hell hole i'm in.
Thread Starter
VIP Member
iTrader: (6)
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 17,617
From: pew, pew, pew!!!
Car Info: nonplussed
I know what you mean, I work in health care IT right now. I've been an IT manager and it is key that you go to a higher level and get buy in for hardware and software standardization.
Even tough the pain in the asses in the white coats think they are god. They have no power in this. Don't fight with them but go up. Selling points are pretty easy, savings for hardware procurement, uptime, spares, etc. It is all about the money, if you explain to it in money value then people will understand.
Even tough the pain in the asses in the white coats think they are god. They have no power in this. Don't fight with them but go up. Selling points are pretty easy, savings for hardware procurement, uptime, spares, etc. It is all about the money, if you explain to it in money value then people will understand.
Registered User
iTrader: (5)
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,146
From: San Jose, CA
Car Info: 2006 WRX wagon
Registered User
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 3,856
From: San Leandro, CA
Car Info: Forester XTi
You just have to lock down the network and be hard about it.
We have ONE laptop and ONE desktop standard. Thats it, you get no choices, no picking one or the other. You get exactly what your job demands, if your a PE you get a desktop, if your not you get a laptop...period.
Now, we do have a standard for our VDC group that is a bit higher, but they don't get a choice eather, its a laptop, one model, no choice in ram, video card,or HD.
Want wireless? Tuff we don't support it, we do not allow it on any network that has a company VPN/Sonicwall on it. Hey look at that pretty new printer can I have it? Nope, you get our standard networked printer for the office, want one for personal use? get it cleared by the CFO and we can order it (never gona happen).
Want to load XYZ cool software, feel free, but if it crashes your computer it goes on the pile...I will get to it when I can, I have 4 in front of you, its your problem YOU loaded software when the P&P clearly states its forbidden. If you want cool XYZ software, put in a trouble ticket, we will get a trial copy, and test it with all software/hardware platforms before we will purchase it and charge it back to your cost center.
Lost your PST file, OH you moved it off the shared folder on the server...sorry nothing we can do.
the list goes on and on. We have a direct, very hard line here and a CFO that backs us on it 99% of the time.
We have ONE laptop and ONE desktop standard. Thats it, you get no choices, no picking one or the other. You get exactly what your job demands, if your a PE you get a desktop, if your not you get a laptop...period.
Now, we do have a standard for our VDC group that is a bit higher, but they don't get a choice eather, its a laptop, one model, no choice in ram, video card,or HD.
Want wireless? Tuff we don't support it, we do not allow it on any network that has a company VPN/Sonicwall on it. Hey look at that pretty new printer can I have it? Nope, you get our standard networked printer for the office, want one for personal use? get it cleared by the CFO and we can order it (never gona happen).
Want to load XYZ cool software, feel free, but if it crashes your computer it goes on the pile...I will get to it when I can, I have 4 in front of you, its your problem YOU loaded software when the P&P clearly states its forbidden. If you want cool XYZ software, put in a trouble ticket, we will get a trial copy, and test it with all software/hardware platforms before we will purchase it and charge it back to your cost center.
Lost your PST file, OH you moved it off the shared folder on the server...sorry nothing we can do.
the list goes on and on. We have a direct, very hard line here and a CFO that backs us on it 99% of the time.
Thread Starter
VIP Member
iTrader: (6)
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 17,617
From: pew, pew, pew!!!
Car Info: nonplussed
I know what you mean, I work in health care IT right now. I've been an IT manager and it is key that you go to a higher level and get buy in for hardware and software standardization.
Even tough the pain in the asses in the white coats think they are god. They have no power in this. Don't fight with them but go up. Selling points are pretty easy, savings for hardware procurement, uptime, spares, etc. It is all about the money, if you explain to it in money value then people will understand.
Even tough the pain in the asses in the white coats think they are god. They have no power in this. Don't fight with them but go up. Selling points are pretty easy, savings for hardware procurement, uptime, spares, etc. It is all about the money, if you explain to it in money value then people will understand.
Thread Starter
VIP Member
iTrader: (6)
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 17,617
From: pew, pew, pew!!!
Car Info: nonplussed
You just have to lock down the network and be hard about it.
We have ONE laptop and ONE desktop standard. Thats it, you get no choices, no picking one or the other. You get exactly what your job demands, if your a PE you get a desktop, if your not you get a laptop...period.
Now, we do have a standard for our VDC group that is a bit higher, but they don't get a choice eather, its a laptop, one model, no choice in ram, video card,or HD.
Want wireless? Tuff we don't support it, we do not allow it on any network that has a company VPN/Sonicwall on it. Hey look at that pretty new printer can I have it? Nope, you get our standard networked printer for the office, want one for personal use? get it cleared by the CFO and we can order it (never gona happen).
Want to load XYZ cool software, feel free, but if it crashes your computer it goes on the pile...I will get to it when I can, I have 4 in front of you, its your problem YOU loaded software when the P&P clearly states its forbidden. If you want cool XYZ software, put in a trouble ticket, we will get a trial copy, and test it with all software/hardware platforms before we will purchase it and charge it back to your cost center.
Lost your PST file, OH you moved it off the shared folder on the server...sorry nothing we can do.
the list goes on and on. We have a direct, very hard line here and a CFO that backs us on it 99% of the time.
We have ONE laptop and ONE desktop standard. Thats it, you get no choices, no picking one or the other. You get exactly what your job demands, if your a PE you get a desktop, if your not you get a laptop...period.
Now, we do have a standard for our VDC group that is a bit higher, but they don't get a choice eather, its a laptop, one model, no choice in ram, video card,or HD.
Want wireless? Tuff we don't support it, we do not allow it on any network that has a company VPN/Sonicwall on it. Hey look at that pretty new printer can I have it? Nope, you get our standard networked printer for the office, want one for personal use? get it cleared by the CFO and we can order it (never gona happen).
Want to load XYZ cool software, feel free, but if it crashes your computer it goes on the pile...I will get to it when I can, I have 4 in front of you, its your problem YOU loaded software when the P&P clearly states its forbidden. If you want cool XYZ software, put in a trouble ticket, we will get a trial copy, and test it with all software/hardware platforms before we will purchase it and charge it back to your cost center.
Lost your PST file, OH you moved it off the shared folder on the server...sorry nothing we can do.
the list goes on and on. We have a direct, very hard line here and a CFO that backs us on it 99% of the time.
awesome!
Registered User
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,808
From: San Jose, CA
Car Info: 2015 WRX
Computers, hah, n00bs.
Standardizing everything is very easy to explain. It means that you can have all the parts necessary every time you visit a new site/person dealing with the issues that you can resolve quicker. Sure you can resolve issues of other computers, but it would be more time consuming and less pro production. With the time crunch on much of california, they should understand that they should save their $$ for their OWN computers for their OWN time and OWN use.
Standardizing everything is very easy to explain. It means that you can have all the parts necessary every time you visit a new site/person dealing with the issues that you can resolve quicker. Sure you can resolve issues of other computers, but it would be more time consuming and less pro production. With the time crunch on much of california, they should understand that they should save their $$ for their OWN computers for their OWN time and OWN use.
Registered User
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,808
From: San Jose, CA
Car Info: 2015 WRX
They sound like standard executives. I can't imagine a building full of e-staff. *twitch*
Registered User
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,808
From: San Jose, CA
Car Info: 2015 WRX
the sad thing, I predict, is that by the time we are around retirement age, IT departments and the CIO will be as fully respectable as the CFO, general counsel, COO. In other words, super professional** nobody f's with the IT guys and respects them fully, everybody bows down to them and STFUs when it comes to their tech support.
But unfortunately it is a long term social shift. Today tech support guys are already paid as much as engineers at tech companies, but the social recognition/respect just isn't there yet.
** (I predict IT engineering or network engineering to become a major at more universities than it already is - you don't see many IT majors at top universities yet but the need is there. Just like Computer Science wasn't a major for a long time b/c it was the "new kid on the block" and got clumped under applied sciences. But eventually it became its own major after the unique societal need was too obvious to ignore.)
But unfortunately it is a long term social shift. Today tech support guys are already paid as much as engineers at tech companies, but the social recognition/respect just isn't there yet.
** (I predict IT engineering or network engineering to become a major at more universities than it already is - you don't see many IT majors at top universities yet but the need is there. Just like Computer Science wasn't a major for a long time b/c it was the "new kid on the block" and got clumped under applied sciences. But eventually it became its own major after the unique societal need was too obvious to ignore.)
Any company I've ever worked at has treated their IT/Ops staff with the utmost respect, so I'm not sure that your "prediction" is much of a prediction.