There are different levels of buy-in you can get from senior management when you're trying to be the tech trailblazer. You've already made recommendations and gotten the brush-off, so that's a red flag against staying at the company indefinitely. However, jumping ship doesn't mean it will be trivial to find a place that's more enjoyable. Before giving up on the company, it might be worth attempting to improve things from within.
Have a look at Barry Hawkins' 5-minute talk on "Tips for Introducing Change" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U6fwxVG0wRI If your manager isn't excited about streamlining your technology and processes, see if there are any kindred spirits on your team who are interested in experimenting with you. Having a partner in crime makes it much easier to continue trying things out when others seem disinterested in your efforts. As you try things and start to show improvements that help other people in the company, more of your coworkers may start to take notice of your ideas, and they may want to contribute. 4 developers recommending a technology will get more attention than just 1 developer. It's easier to use new technologies when it's part of your 9-to-5 project rather than in your spare time. We all get tired after work. Try to make the improvements a part of your assigned tasks during business hours. Remember Grace Hopper's famous quotation: "It's easier to ask for forgiveness than it is to get permission." Instead of manually changing user email data, write a script to do it with fewer manual steps. Next time you need to do it, it will be easier. Then show people the script. Build small victories that help the business while helping you and your team. If your manager disapproves of those improvements, then that's another red flag that suggests it's time to revise your LinkedIn profile and talk to friends at other companies. However, most technology managers will more likely be glad to have someone like you on the team who is thinking about overall improvements rather than just doing the bare minimum. Personally I think doing only what you're told to do is riskier than doing what you know is best for the company. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "The Java Posse" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/javaposse?hl=en.
