December 27, 2024 at 2:06 pm
Amen, brother. Although sometimes I'm the one who wrote the garbage code many years ago. I just try not to lose my temper at work. Would rather the company get the work done right, even if I don't get the credit.
December 27, 2024 at 2:42 pm
Another delightful piece that I read 4 years after you shared it.
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December 27, 2024 at 3:24 pm
1974: My first experience with consultants. ( this really happened ). I'll try to be brief.
I'm hired as first IT manager at company who has hired a consulting group for their first computer system to do order processing. Business is a food distributor to schools, restaurants, hospitals, places who need complete order delivery with substitutions for shorted items. These were the days of batch processing of pre-printed invoices on 3-part carbon continuous forms on a chain printer. There was no inventory control in place. Invoices were necessary due to poor credit and cash delivery orders.
Consultants: We'll enter orders and print invoices, send them to warehouse, pick orders and load 18-20 trucks, then if there are shortages or substitutions send the invoice back to IT for correction and reprinting before the trucks leave.
Me: Won't work, too many reprints, need to print 1-part pick list, load trucks, then make corrections and print invoices in delivery sequence.
My Boss (in private): We're paying these guys lots of money, so back off and let them design the process.
Two weeks later, (again in private):
My Boss: Rick, how long would it take to set up to print pick lists for the warehouse?
Me: I can write the program in a few days, but it will take several weeks to order the new pick list forms.
Rick
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December 27, 2024 at 4:44 pm
The quote from this editorial that stands out to me is "The ideal consultant first gets a clear idea of the nature of the logjam by listening, and then facilitates a resolution while humiliating nobody and convincing everyone that it was their own skill that fixed the problem."
I've never been a consultant, but I can't help but wonder how often a boss plays that same role with his/her own employees. I've been some places with very competent coworkers and some places with mostly useless coworkers. My current gig is closer to the latter. I got a new boss a little over a year ago and a few of those mostly useless coworkers have started to become significantly more competent. I think she probably fits the description of your ideal consultant pretty closely.
Be still, and know that I am God - Psalm 46:10
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