Recently IT has adopted a variety of sweeping changes in how they support, respond, and fix equipment and the related services. IT took the best practices of industries and the government and applied to respective changes after diligent research.
Below are samples of these changes:
1) Network access will be on a first-come, first-serve basis from this point forward. Modeled after America's large cities' traffic and road infrastructures, we don't design roads to actually hold the cars that need to use them, we adopted the same philosophy in our network infrastructure. "Oh, you mean ALL 800 of your employees need to get on the network starting between 8 and 9? Sorry, we'll take 1/4. The rest need to either get in earlier or come in later."
2) Based on best practices of public works departments, after hour change windows are canceled immediately. Our people will actually do the work when it's convenient for them, not the end users. This applies to applications and all systems. Additionally, changes to these systems will be performed without communicating when or if the changes will take place or how long they will take.
3) Based on our exemplary airline industry, meetings and project timelines or anything with dates or timed delivery are eliminated. The amount of overhead we can remove from actually planning, scheduling, then trying to keep that schedule will be astounding. We will, however, give you general guidelines and estimated timetables. We would ask that all employees attempting to meet with IT staff please arrive two hours ahead of time.
4) Based on traffic speed limits, network thresholds will be scaled back and limited. Some of you are going too fast across our network and being too productive. We should all strive to have the same level of productivity and work at the same pace regardless of how powerful your computer is or your proficiency in using that computer.
Finally, 5) Alternate routing of network/Internet traffic will be eliminated. Also, features of network traffic that retransmit packet failures will be eliminated. If an email fails to reach its destination, for example, it is now the sender's responsibility to find an alternate route to deliver that message.
It's amazing the ridiculous inconveniences we put up with everyday that we wouldn't stand for for one minute in our IT infrastructure!
Feel free to cut and past this and forward, maybe even forward to your favorite IT professional.
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
I have had the "opportunity" to travel quite frequently for business and pleasure over the years. I could fill a book with stories and experiences I have had on and in and around planes.
No experience comes close to what I had this past week. When I checked in the seat next to me, in the exit row, was blocked. It is a fairly common occurrence, one of the few benefits of frequent travel. After boarding, however, I noticed an obviously Middle-Eastern young man, probably 25 at the most, who was confused about the seating arrangements, what aisle was where, where the lettered seats were. Eventually he figures out he’s in the seat next to me. "Hmmm, last minute purchase," I think to myself.
And then the series of events continues… A phone call is made. A conversation is initiated. Soon I realize this is not so much a conversation, but a monotone statement, almost being read or recited, and in Arabic. This continues. Four minutes. Five minutes. “Sir, will you please turn off your cell phone?” Six minutes. “Sir, we are trying to take off.” We are taxing now. Abruptly, in the middle of his sentence, he turns the phone off.
I am not going to lie, at this point I am nervous. I eyeball our row-mate, on the window. We immediately read each other’s minds. I turn and lock eyes with the men across the aisle from me, both of which were already looking our way, intrigued to say the least. Again, minds’ were read.
At that moment, the prayers started. Now I’m a little more than nervous. We have mumbling prayers, bowing at the waist, starting after straightening of the clothes, squaring himself and his feet with his body, and continued bowing at the waist, continued mumbling Arabic.
I play dumb and interrupt. “Excuse me, do you need something?” Young Arab continues to look straight ahead, praying, bowing. “Excuse me, are you OK?” No answer. After 2-3 minutes, he does look my direction as I am staring at him intently, and does speak. “I’m sorry, I was praying.” “Oh, really, OK, praying for good things, I hope?” “Oh yes, very good things.”
Yes, we made it to our destination safely. Yes, perhaps my nervousness was slightly unnecessary. But if you are Muslim in America, I’m sorry; your brothers have cost you the right to pray, out loud, bowing, in Arabic, on a plane. You lost that right on 9/12/2001. If you want to say your prayers in private, fine. If you want to pray to yourself, as I do on every flight, great!
Similarly, if you are Muslim in America you lost the right to build a mosque at Ground Zero. If you are a religion of peace, if the majority of hardworking, honest Muslims are peaceful and seek to be good neighbors, would a good neighbor cause such an outrage?
Ask yourself, would the Nazi Party build a historical center at Auschwitz? It is equally offensive that we, now as the assimilationists, as the democrats, as the most forbearing people ever assembled, must now push our tolerance to this level.
I trust the people of New York and the processes in place will put an end to this affront.
No experience comes close to what I had this past week. When I checked in the seat next to me, in the exit row, was blocked. It is a fairly common occurrence, one of the few benefits of frequent travel. After boarding, however, I noticed an obviously Middle-Eastern young man, probably 25 at the most, who was confused about the seating arrangements, what aisle was where, where the lettered seats were. Eventually he figures out he’s in the seat next to me. "Hmmm, last minute purchase," I think to myself.
And then the series of events continues… A phone call is made. A conversation is initiated. Soon I realize this is not so much a conversation, but a monotone statement, almost being read or recited, and in Arabic. This continues. Four minutes. Five minutes. “Sir, will you please turn off your cell phone?” Six minutes. “Sir, we are trying to take off.” We are taxing now. Abruptly, in the middle of his sentence, he turns the phone off.
I am not going to lie, at this point I am nervous. I eyeball our row-mate, on the window. We immediately read each other’s minds. I turn and lock eyes with the men across the aisle from me, both of which were already looking our way, intrigued to say the least. Again, minds’ were read.
At that moment, the prayers started. Now I’m a little more than nervous. We have mumbling prayers, bowing at the waist, starting after straightening of the clothes, squaring himself and his feet with his body, and continued bowing at the waist, continued mumbling Arabic.
I play dumb and interrupt. “Excuse me, do you need something?” Young Arab continues to look straight ahead, praying, bowing. “Excuse me, are you OK?” No answer. After 2-3 minutes, he does look my direction as I am staring at him intently, and does speak. “I’m sorry, I was praying.” “Oh, really, OK, praying for good things, I hope?” “Oh yes, very good things.”
Yes, we made it to our destination safely. Yes, perhaps my nervousness was slightly unnecessary. But if you are Muslim in America, I’m sorry; your brothers have cost you the right to pray, out loud, bowing, in Arabic, on a plane. You lost that right on 9/12/2001. If you want to say your prayers in private, fine. If you want to pray to yourself, as I do on every flight, great!
Similarly, if you are Muslim in America you lost the right to build a mosque at Ground Zero. If you are a religion of peace, if the majority of hardworking, honest Muslims are peaceful and seek to be good neighbors, would a good neighbor cause such an outrage?
Ask yourself, would the Nazi Party build a historical center at Auschwitz? It is equally offensive that we, now as the assimilationists, as the democrats, as the most forbearing people ever assembled, must now push our tolerance to this level.
I trust the people of New York and the processes in place will put an end to this affront.
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Monday, July 12, 2010
And so it begins...
Recently on Facebook I happened across a post. It was a typical link to a typical article. What caught my eye first in the headline was the use of the word "WASP." Then, upon further inspection I noticed the word "decline." Little bit like “Dog Bites Man,” especially considering the source (New York Times, need I say more?) but I have to admit I was intrigued.
What followed was an interesting op-ed piece which ballyhooed the decline of the White Anglo-Saxon Protestant, using the recent shift in the Supreme Court as a backdrop. Curious, I read on (link at the bottom of my post).
My original assumptions, along the lines of praising the decline of the WASP as the bearer of all things diseased, self-promoting, and inherently evil, were met happily with a more sincere appreciation which touted the very inclusion and non-discriminatory practices which are the hallmark of WASP-culture.
The trumpeting of this decline, it appears, is proof the Protestant Work Ethic actually did what it set out to do - build a nation where merit was rewarded, effort compensated accordingly, and work was a God-given obligation that tended the soul and elevated the culture.
I agree with the premise. Inclusion has not always been the bellwether of the WASP among those subscribing to the conventional wisdom but I will perhaps argue this point at a later post.
What I will fight, one blog post at a time, is the continual assault on the traditions and values and character of this great land. Any God-fearing man or woman places value on effort, diligence, and discipline. Those attributes should be rewarded and praised regardless of race, creed, or color.
I will remind those who have benefited from these graces, the value we place on these ideals are mutual.
The WASP’s kindness should never be confused with weakness.
I hope you like my blog and return often!
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/28/opinion/28feldman.html?pagewanted=2&ref=opinion
What followed was an interesting op-ed piece which ballyhooed the decline of the White Anglo-Saxon Protestant, using the recent shift in the Supreme Court as a backdrop. Curious, I read on (link at the bottom of my post).
My original assumptions, along the lines of praising the decline of the WASP as the bearer of all things diseased, self-promoting, and inherently evil, were met happily with a more sincere appreciation which touted the very inclusion and non-discriminatory practices which are the hallmark of WASP-culture.
The trumpeting of this decline, it appears, is proof the Protestant Work Ethic actually did what it set out to do - build a nation where merit was rewarded, effort compensated accordingly, and work was a God-given obligation that tended the soul and elevated the culture.
I agree with the premise. Inclusion has not always been the bellwether of the WASP among those subscribing to the conventional wisdom but I will perhaps argue this point at a later post.
What I will fight, one blog post at a time, is the continual assault on the traditions and values and character of this great land. Any God-fearing man or woman places value on effort, diligence, and discipline. Those attributes should be rewarded and praised regardless of race, creed, or color.
I will remind those who have benefited from these graces, the value we place on these ideals are mutual.
The WASP’s kindness should never be confused with weakness.
I hope you like my blog and return often!
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/28/opinion/28feldman.html?pagewanted=2&ref=opinion
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