On Thu, 6 Nov 2008 16:00:03 -0500, Gabe Goldberg <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>Do people plan to work as long as they're able? Because of enjoyable >jobs? From necessity? For other reasons? Well, it is not just for the money, but let's be honnest: if there weren't any money, or if I would have enough of it, I would have retired already. >Are folks being downsized/outsourced? Not me. But it happens. >Retiring voluntarily or otherwise? Voluntary if only I could... >When projects finish or ... certain >ages are reached? When there's enough in my bank account. >Or companies migrate off the mainframe? Almost all companies I know that are migrating off of the mainframe have been doing so for as long as my working carreer and still aren't there... >Or youngsters >are available for lower salaries? If only there were a few more youngsters picking up the trade of being a mainframer, I would be happy. Not sure if indeed they do get a so much lower salary. >Regarding "dump the mainframe projects" -- have you stayed with a >company after migrating to another platform? How has that worked out? No. >Have you seen "dump" projects fail or simply continue forever with >mainframes chugging along productively? The latter. >Has the skill set required for mainframe work changed during your >career? How have tools evolved to support skills required? Clearly there are some new skills required. As the mainframe has evolved, so has the technical skill set. But the main discipline is still the same and sorely lacking in most PC projects. >What are boomer mainframers doing in retirement? No plans yet... >With decades of experience and perspective -- and considering >contradictory trends of organizations migrating to other platforms AND >the general resurgence of the mainframe -- what recommendations are >offered for the mainframe's future? I'd recomment to keep an mind. At both sides of the fence... >Are younger-generation mainframe staffers joining your companies? Too little. But there are some. >Have >you helped recruit any (including family members!)? Yes. >How are they >integrated into your data centers? With much on-the-job training. >Are there inter-generational issues >(training, collaboration, communication, work habits, whatever)? I feel it has nothing to do with generations. Some people keep an open mind and pick up the skills quickly. Others are stubborn and don't want to learn. And that is not related to age. >What >should employers do to smooth the process? I don't know. >Have you worked for younger bosses/managers? Yes. >What's that been like? Are >there challenges communicating mainframe benefits, mindset, practices to >them? See above. Nothing to do with age... >For reference, Wikipedia defines baby boomers as being born between 1946 >and 1964. According to that definition, I qualify. Cheers, Jantje. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the message: GET IBM-MAIN INFO Search the archives at http://bama.ua.edu/archives/ibm-main.html
