September 20, 2014 at 12:29 pm
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Automate Yourself to a Coffee Break
September 22, 2014 at 1:13 am
It really is a case of "a stitch in time".
In the developer world it is the same. Takes to long to setup an automated build? A deployment project instead of x-copy? Automated unit testing? No. Not long as soon as you have to repeat it once!!!
Gaz
-- Stop your grinnin' and drop your linen...they're everywhere!!!
September 22, 2014 at 6:32 am
Be sure that the coffee breaks are not too leisurely or someone will think you don't have enough to do. 😉
Tom
September 22, 2014 at 7:03 am
Talk about stating the obvious! I am amazed that there are still people in technology that aren't aware of something as simple as this. If I had to execute everything I do manually, it would take about 1,000 hours per week! I would guess that everyone on this group is the same as me.
Have a job that must run daily? Schedule it! Have a job that you absolutely must review the results for? Email yourself the results! Have a condition that requires intervention? Script out a check for that condition, then page or email yourself when that condition is true, or approaching true!
Why is it that when we hear people argue that they don't have time to automate things, those are always the same people who have plenty of time to discuss the weekend's sporting results, the sales they attended at the mall, or that walk around showing everyone pictures of their grandkids?
Dave
September 22, 2014 at 7:36 am
crussell-931424 (9/22/2014)
It's a struggle at times to get that current hot item automated, knowing that it will take even longer than if you just did the task outright, but yet realizing that next time it will be a whole lot easier. What to do, what to do.
Sometimes the cost in time to replicate the human parts of the process (e.g. decision making, performing difficult to script options, etc.) is difficult to overcome.
Of course, we should not overlook part automation as a potential step towards complete automation. Sometimes it is an efficient way to validate the steps.
I am not sure that I would call anyone else's decision a "no brainer". It depends on so many things like the amount of time it would take to automate, the current workload, the peer support available, management attitudes, experience, and probably many, many more.
Gaz
-- Stop your grinnin' and drop your linen...they're everywhere!!!
September 22, 2014 at 9:09 am
OCTom (9/22/2014)
Be sure that the coffee breaks are not too leisurely or someone will think you don't have enough to do. 😉Tom
Never had that problem. Course, I think if you do, then perhaps you should be moving on to another position
September 22, 2014 at 9:11 am
djackson 22568 (9/22/2014)
Talk about stating the obvious! I am amazed that there are still people in technology that aren't aware of something as simple as this.
Far too many don't, though I suspect the fear that they won't be seen as busy every day is a part of this.
September 22, 2014 at 9:28 am
Steve Jones - SSC Editor (9/22/2014)
djackson 22568 (9/22/2014)
Talk about stating the obvious! I am amazed that there are still people in technology that aren't aware of something as simple as this.Far too many don't, though I suspect the fear that they won't be seen as busy every day is a part of this.
Yep. The sad thing is there is always work to be done. If we automate, it allows us to work on more interesting things. It allows us to increase our value to the organization. I have never heard of a person who does such a good job automating tasks that they get fired due to having nothing to do.
I get that there are times when it is all we can do to keep the fires at bay. Those that don't automate "right now" because they are swamped, I can understand. It is the people who just don't try, don't care, or are frankly so misinformed about what automation can do, that blow my mind.
Dave
September 22, 2014 at 9:31 am
Steve Jones - SSC Editor (9/22/2014)
OCTom (9/22/2014)
Be sure that the coffee breaks are not too leisurely or someone will think you don't have enough to do. 😉Tom
Never had that problem. Course, I think if you do, then perhaps you should be moving on to another position
One of the best people I ever worked for had an issue with me at first. He would come by and see my desk clean, and assume I had nothing to do. His wife explained to him that not everybody has a desk that looks like a hurricane hit it. After about 6 months, he figured out that my cleanliness allowed for efficiency. He told me that from then on, he didn't care if I was reading a magazine when he came by, he would never again question whether I had enough to do!
There is nothing wrong with a manager asking if you have enough to do. Assuming that you aren't busy is totally different.
Dave
September 22, 2014 at 9:32 am
djackson 22568 (9/22/2014)
Steve Jones - SSC Editor (9/22/2014)
djackson 22568 (9/22/2014)
Talk about stating the obvious! I am amazed that there are still people in technology that aren't aware of something as simple as this.Far too many don't, though I suspect the fear that they won't be seen as busy every day is a part of this.
Yep. The sad thing is there is always work to be done. If we automate, it allows us to work on more interesting things. It allows us to increase our value to the organization. I have never heard of a person who does such a good job automating tasks that they get fired due to having nothing to do.
I get that there are times when it is all we can do to keep the fires at bay. Those that don't automate "right now" because they are swamped, I can understand. It is the people who just don't try, don't care, or are frankly so misinformed about what automation can do, that blow my mind.
Ah...The Job Protectionists!!!
Gaz
-- Stop your grinnin' and drop your linen...they're everywhere!!!
September 22, 2014 at 1:35 pm
Explains my love for AutoIt! I've used it so many times in the past and it's saved me and the company countless hours by eliminating remedial tasks.
Aigle de Guerre!
September 22, 2014 at 6:09 pm
OCTom (9/22/2014)
Be sure that the coffee breaks are not too leisurely or someone will think you don't have enough to do. 😉Tom
Absolutely. It's an art to get it all timed just right 😀
Jason...AKA CirqueDeSQLeil
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September 23, 2014 at 1:10 am
I've always kept in mind the words of a mentor of mine years ago - "Work hard to be lazy" - it doesn't quite sum up his attitude to work but not too far off. The lazy part is the routine work, checking servers jobs, free disk space etc.
The most important part of my daily routine (whilst having a coffee) is to read emailed reports for the state of all servers. I can then get on with the project / help desk work - when that's done - learn new stuff.
-------------------------------Posting Data Etiquette - Jeff Moden [/url]Smart way to ask a question
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September 23, 2014 at 7:42 pm
I've slowly learned how to automate installs on client. With most software once you automate it the first time then it becomes easy. It saves a day or two of work for the level 1 and help desk staff. The server installs usually have to be done manually but sometimes they can be done automatically.
I did it with our SW and was able to change a manual install that used to take several weeks to be about two-four weekend days on our hosted and maybe a week on our customer's servers.
All my techs appreciated it.
----------------
Jim P.
A little bit of this and a little byte of that can cause bloatware.
September 25, 2014 at 4:33 am
djackson 22568 (9/22/2014)
Steve Jones - SSC Editor (9/22/2014)
djackson 22568 (9/22/2014)
Talk about stating the obvious! I am amazed that there are still people in technology that aren't aware of something as simple as this.Far too many don't, though I suspect the fear that they won't be seen as busy every day is a part of this.
Yep. The sad thing is there is always work to be done. If we automate, it allows us to work on more interesting things. It allows us to increase our value to the organization. I have never heard of a person who does such a good job automating tasks that they get fired due to having nothing to do.
...
.
Twice. Admittedly one was back within weeks, because something changed at a client's and they needed to do some new development they hadn't expected, but I'd already moved onto something paying a lot more, largely on the back of it. Frankly, I'd rather move on than die of boredom somewhere.
I'm a DBA.
I'm not paid to solve problems. I'm paid to prevent them.
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