I decided to google ATS.

http://tinyurl.com/388uun

Gosh, what an objective source.  And a phantom IT manager with no name or
ability to confirm the claim.  What a story.

Here's mine.  We lost yet another eMac to a logic board failure, which has
to be replaced to fix the problem.  To their credit, Apple is fixing this
outside of warranty.

Not to their credit, we're without this machine for 2-3 weeks while it's
repaired off-site.  Were this a Dell, I'd have the PC fixed by a tech, on
site, at worst the next day, with minimal downtime.  The PC user, in this
case, is productive.  The Mac user is not.

We support Blackberries in my .org.  We have a Blackberry Enterprise Server
and that gives secure, real-time wireless synching.  Anyone else with
something else has to use SSL IMAP.  If their device won't support that,
tough luck.  I'll help you set up your personal device so it will work with
our network, if you need it, but any other personal device support is on
your own.

IT is a 2-way conversation and yes, absolutely, it should be enabling the
company to be more productive.  I am constantly lobbying for systems that
will decentralize information to the user population, giving enterprise-wide
access to it when they need it, not keeping it cooped up in a departmental
data silo.  But, usually that can't be met due to budgetary constraints.
I've been trying to get an industry-targeted CRM system in for over 3 years
now, without success.  Money is the obstacle.  That's too bad, because this
system is something we sorely need.  

Oh, and the Mac-using dept I have is the one who doesn't want to change and
use this new system.  They like their FileMaker files just the way they are,
that unpredictably corrupt and that no one else can access.

I've been trying to get an enterprise-level digital asset manager system,
like Extensis, in so other departments can have access to our image store
for their own needs, but marketing won't release its grip on control and
again, money is another issue.  

The users have to be able to articulate their business need for the company
to properly commit resources to that need.  At the same time, the users need
to realize that resources are limited and not every need can be met when
they want it. 

Of course, if you're a CEO, who only knows what he wants and wants it
yesterday, the reasons be damned, then its everyone else's fault.

> -----Original Message-----
> Things are quiet; time for a flame war!
> 
>  From eWeek.com: <http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1895,2158304,00.asp>
> 
> I especially liked the end of the article:
> 
> >In my column, I mentioned a report of an IT manager who was lobbying
> >his clients against the iPhone and the Macintosh. He said he would
> >quit before he would allow a Mac in his environment.
> >
> >This drew a strong response from Daniel Reiss, president and CEO of
> >Automated Terminal Systems, of Washington. He said that IT
> >consultant would be quickly out on the curb.
> >
> >"Too many [people] in IT departments do not understand their
> >function, or who actually earns the revenue that allows [IT workers]
> >to be paid regularly. It is not the function of the IT department to
> >block technology or innovation. Neither is it the mission of IT
> >workers to make their own jobs easier, rather to facilitate the work
> >of the end users. Whatever benefits [users] will benefit the
> >organization and ultimately IT," he said.


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