Is IT crap at all SME's or just mine?
Discussion
Interesting replies. Reassuring, amusing, and at the same time slightly depressing to note it's not just my place then. I forgot to mention that when I was temping for a while years ago (early 2002), I did a short placement at Birmingham City Councils social services dept. (as a general temp/skivvy). The workstations they had there were running Windows 3.1 (or whatever came before windows '95) on these grimy 20-odd yr old beige coloured PCs with 12in CRT monitors with a background image burned onto the screen so you could always see the outline of it, whatever was on screen at the time!
I'm replying whilst I wait for my laptop to open a 55kb PDF document (should be done by now). Best get some work done...
I'm replying whilst I wait for my laptop to open a 55kb PDF document (should be done by now). Best get some work done...
Yup, I work for a small joinery firm (~£2.5-3m turnover) and the pc's are dire. The server is on its' last legs and can be out of action for hours whilst the IT support firm resets it remotely, ocasionally having to come to the office to do it.
I don't claim to know a great deal about computers, but because I have common sense and a vague idea of how they work (and how to type...and compose a half-decent email) I am designated 'IT fixit bloke' whenever something goes wrong.
Unless I'm familiar with the problem I usually just google the resultant 'error' message and it will reveal how to fix it within minutes. It's really as simple as that!!
I don't claim to know a great deal about computers, but because I have common sense and a vague idea of how they work (and how to type...and compose a half-decent email) I am designated 'IT fixit bloke' whenever something goes wrong.
Unless I'm familiar with the problem I usually just google the resultant 'error' message and it will reveal how to fix it within minutes. It's really as simple as that!!
Not entirely sure what the company I work for is classed as. Its not very big in terms of employees but due to the nature of the business it has a fairly large network and server infrastructure, mostly a Cisco house with a mixed bag of stuff like Nexus 5K and Cat 4500 X, 3850s etc. Each country kept itself to itself up until about 18 months ago when a load of people left or got sacked, then the UK guys - thats me and my boss - got lumbered with 13 Datacentres and 12 offices worth of network stuff. The UK was and still is pretty good, follows best practice in terms of configuration and design. But my god some places are horrendous.
I entered this job as a graduate so was nice to see the UK stuff following best practice. I understood it and I often thought yeah I remember this from uni etc. But the hocus pocus networks in some sites is just horrific. 18 months on and were still tidying up the mess. Great exposure for me, but frustrating. Company has just tightened its belt as well following yet another company takeover and are not spending even on replacement hardware, consequently weve had backup and SQL servers fail despite asking for replacements.
In India we have a data center and instead of deploying rack servers they have shelves with about 4 desktop computers (Compaq) which they refer to as desktop servers (we sell the software that runs on them to customers ffs) simply stacked on top of each other. That sites always getting attacked and compromised due to the way its setup. Almost done deploying a new network and have a decent firewall config in place so should solve that. There were Cisco 300 Small business switches daisy chained together which were under so much load we couldnt access the GUI. Complete s
t. Network guy there got sacked.
Everything's always our fault too. Anything that can possibly be blamed on the networks team is lol, even if we dont look after it.
I entered this job as a graduate so was nice to see the UK stuff following best practice. I understood it and I often thought yeah I remember this from uni etc. But the hocus pocus networks in some sites is just horrific. 18 months on and were still tidying up the mess. Great exposure for me, but frustrating. Company has just tightened its belt as well following yet another company takeover and are not spending even on replacement hardware, consequently weve had backup and SQL servers fail despite asking for replacements.
In India we have a data center and instead of deploying rack servers they have shelves with about 4 desktop computers (Compaq) which they refer to as desktop servers (we sell the software that runs on them to customers ffs) simply stacked on top of each other. That sites always getting attacked and compromised due to the way its setup. Almost done deploying a new network and have a decent firewall config in place so should solve that. There were Cisco 300 Small business switches daisy chained together which were under so much load we couldnt access the GUI. Complete s
t. Network guy there got sacked. Everything's always our fault too. Anything that can possibly be blamed on the networks team is lol, even if we dont look after it.
I find this thread interesting, My back ground is Project Management on major OG energy projects, 1 Billion + US$. 25 years ago I was head hunted to a software company that wanted PM skills, as they wanted to sell into OG industry, I stayed 3 months. Problem was all the staff thought the computer was the focus of the industry, it isn't! It’s a tool like any other, so why would a carpentry company buy a new computer if the old one works, resources are scarce, surly priority should/would be given to new carpentry equipment. I’d be pleased that my employer was not wasting money, chasing technology it didn’t need.
Of course it may not be best for the career of an individual.
Of course it may not be best for the career of an individual.
Podie said:
cwis said:
Blue62 said:
The business is still running on the IBM platform it was using in the 1990s, no wonder they're in the shxt
iSeries/AS400?Probably better than the proposed replacement.
Steadily declining now though with the march of Oracle and SAP.
Berw said:
I find this thread interesting, My back ground is Project Management on major OG energy projects, 1 Billion + US$. 25 years ago I was head hunted to a software company that wanted PM skills, as they wanted to sell into OG industry, I stayed 3 months. Problem was all the staff thought the computer was the focus of the industry, it isn't! It’s a tool like any other, so why would a carpentry company buy a new computer if the old one works, resources are scarce, surly priority should/would be given to new carpentry equipment. I’d be pleased that my employer was not wasting money, chasing technology it didn’t need.
Of course it may not be best for the career of an individual.
Project Manager, says it all really!Of course it may not be best for the career of an individual.
C.A.R. said:
Yup, I work for a small joinery firm (~£2.5-3m turnover) and the pc's are dire. The server is on its' last legs and can be out of action for hours whilst the IT support firm resets it remotely, ocasionally having to come to the office to do it.
I don't claim to know a great deal about computers, but because I have common sense and a vague idea of how they work (and how to type...and compose a half-decent email) I am designated 'IT fixit bloke' whenever something goes wrong.
Unless I'm familiar with the problem I usually just google the resultant 'error' message and it will reveal how to fix it within minutes. It's really as simple as that!!
Thank me later I don't claim to know a great deal about computers, but because I have common sense and a vague idea of how they work (and how to type...and compose a half-decent email) I am designated 'IT fixit bloke' whenever something goes wrong.
Unless I'm familiar with the problem I usually just google the resultant 'error' message and it will reveal how to fix it within minutes. It's really as simple as that!!
- http://www.zynstra.com/geeks said:
Project Manager, says it all really!
It seems to me that many IT people do not consider the priorities of the business. I would go as far as to say that loads of them actually chase new technology, for no good reason other than to be at the cutting edge.Cutting edge tech might be nice to work with, yet it is not a priority for a business. A bussiness needs to control costs. Of course this does not mean foregoing any IT investment, but it means looking very hard at what you are spending.
Just look at one poster on here contemplating an IT investment of 130k - 150k, which, according to him, is not even necessary.
Another factor, as mentioned before is the reliability of the equipment. A very important factor for many businesses.
Not all are.
£3m turnover but we are passionate about good IT. Invest in lots of training and recently undertaken to follow the Scrum approach to agile development - about 200% improvement in project delivery in a few weeks and easily see 400-600% if the current rate of improvement continues.
Kit replaced in 2 years, full helpdesk system to sort issues out in hours and training for apprentices - not because we really need them but it's good to help people get a leg up. Web site issues fixed in hours, techies regularly sit with business users to check on issues and work on solutions together. Really proud of them, many been with us for 7-10 years.
Those who leave us often report back how how brilliant the IT support is.
£3m turnover but we are passionate about good IT. Invest in lots of training and recently undertaken to follow the Scrum approach to agile development - about 200% improvement in project delivery in a few weeks and easily see 400-600% if the current rate of improvement continues.
Kit replaced in 2 years, full helpdesk system to sort issues out in hours and training for apprentices - not because we really need them but it's good to help people get a leg up. Web site issues fixed in hours, techies regularly sit with business users to check on issues and work on solutions together. Really proud of them, many been with us for 7-10 years.
Those who leave us often report back how how brilliant the IT support is.
We do OK, put it this way we have customers who call us asking for help because apparently we're better than their own IT departments - and they are big global companies in some cases.
Personally whilst I get that people have budgets and books to balance, what I don't get is simply this - if you're going to pay someone £120-150K in salary over 3 years, why the hell would you balk at £500 extra on a decent spec computer over a entry level computer - it's false economy as you'll pay the employee more money than that to sit on their backside waiting on the thing.
I never quite get it as most IT people, myself included, are basically being paid for doing a hobby - I think the issues arise when you either treat it as a hobby and get selfish vs. thinking of the business, or you get bitter and start to get the "my job would be so much easier without all these pesky end users" mentality which IT is famous for.
Personally whilst I get that people have budgets and books to balance, what I don't get is simply this - if you're going to pay someone £120-150K in salary over 3 years, why the hell would you balk at £500 extra on a decent spec computer over a entry level computer - it's false economy as you'll pay the employee more money than that to sit on their backside waiting on the thing.
I never quite get it as most IT people, myself included, are basically being paid for doing a hobby - I think the issues arise when you either treat it as a hobby and get selfish vs. thinking of the business, or you get bitter and start to get the "my job would be so much easier without all these pesky end users" mentality which IT is famous for.
bhstewie said:
hstewie said: I think the issues arise when you either treat it as a hobby and get selfish vs. thinking of the business, or you get bitter and start to get the "my job would be so much easier without all these pesky end users" mentality which IT is famous for.
We had a phase of the techies being like this. Had a good, long chat with the manager and told him how others in the company felt when they were treated badly. Over 6 months, the attitude of the team flipped to a genuine "how can we help", and never looked back. They are often on the receiving end of electronic "kudos" - a system we have to let a person know they have gone above and beyond their job for something.
The know-it-all and condescending attitude of many IT people will destroy a small company if you are not careful - late projects, no care and little understanding of the business need as no one wants to talk to them. Integrated techies that feel part of the business, appreciated and supported are a huge asset.
One of the first changes I made joining my current Company was upgrading all of the IT from the mish-mash of systems.
The reason for IT being terrible at most SME's comes from the top people at them. Do they work on the frontline/coal face of the firm? Do they have to use the systems that others are stuck with?
More often than not they don't and so have no direct feedback from things needing upgrading.
The more "switched on" the upper management, the more attention they give all systems within a Company regardless of whether they use them or have an interest in them.
We wouldn't skip renewing our public liability insurance so why do we not bother with staying up to speed with IT?
The reason for IT being terrible at most SME's comes from the top people at them. Do they work on the frontline/coal face of the firm? Do they have to use the systems that others are stuck with?
More often than not they don't and so have no direct feedback from things needing upgrading.
The more "switched on" the upper management, the more attention they give all systems within a Company regardless of whether they use them or have an interest in them.
We wouldn't skip renewing our public liability insurance so why do we not bother with staying up to speed with IT?
bunyarra said:
bhstewie said:
hstewie said: I think the issues arise when you either treat it as a hobby and get selfish vs. thinking of the business, or you get bitter and start to get the "my job would be so much easier without all these pesky end users" mentality which IT is famous for.
We had a phase of the techies being like this. Had a good, long chat with the manager and told him how others in the company felt when they were treated badly. Over 6 months, the attitude of the team flipped to a genuine "how can we help", and never looked back. They are often on the receiving end of electronic "kudos" - a system we have to let a person know they have gone above and beyond their job for something.
The know-it-all and condescending attitude of many IT people will destroy a small company if you are not careful - late projects, no care and little understanding of the business need as no one wants to talk to them. Integrated techies that feel part of the business, appreciated and supported are a huge asset.
king stupid to use a computer 
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