Hi, This is all off the topic of Linux per se, but the workload, pay, and job security of all non-self-employed IT professionals are heavily dependent on the quality of their managers.
On 21/09/11 10:41, Steve Holdoway wrote: > Well, I've kept out of it until now. Thanks for joining in. Good to get issues brought up and discussed. > But bear in mind that most NZ companies have less than 10 employees. That would hint that you haven't spent much time professionally overseas. Most businesses in AU, JP, US, and Western Europe are less than 10 employees, too. The number and size of large and medium NZ firms also corresponds closely to similar-scale economies that I've worked in (Oregon, West Australia, Victoria). I can't speak authoritatively about other economies. Distance isn't really such a significant issue either: Christchurch is 1/3 closer to Sydney than Perth is, and only twice as far as Adelaide. Other well-performing economies are quite distant to major global markets. The NZ economy has also continued to decline, in spite of improved cost and speed of transport, and the increased share of GDPs being electronically-conveyed products/services. New Zealand's size and population are also not the significant factors that most lifelong-Kiwis believe. It is almost identical to the state of Victoria, which has far higher productivity and wages, with less unpaid overtime. While 122 countries have more people, 98 have less (including many with excellent economies). > Nothing you've ranted on about so far relates to these companies. I apologise for appearing so hostile. I've actually held back on the intensity of my frustration and pain. But I came to NZ 4.7 years ago expecting =none= of the negatives of the place, and had a much better time of it when migrating to AU from the USA, 27 years ago. No one I've met, with a degree in commerce, with experience as the general manager of an SME, plus with years of professional-level experience inside and outside of New Zealand, disagreed with any of my statements. On the other hand, every single lifelong-Kiwi manager has. If I told NON-Kiwi managers that I had qualifications and managerial successes in economies that were outperforming theirs, that I knew what they were doing wrong, and that I'd like to help them: At least 1 in 5 or 1 in 10 would take a keen interest and try to learn from me. It only happened once in NZ. That in itself highlights a big part of the problem. > Think about that when you're slandering *MY* business. Sorry. I do mean to speak in general terms, in comparing average to average, and typical to typical. My conclusions are backed up by the macro-economic indicators. Reduced taxes for the rich, and reduced staff wages/conditions have already maxed out their positive effect. I don't pass judgement on individual managers/firms unless I see enough evidence to put my name to it. Steve, you seem to be a darned good HBB, but I've only known your business superficially, and not intimately enough to include it within my comment pool. Here are some harmful "micro-business" differences I've noticed: Tend to hire someone with a commerce degree... NZ -- ~30-50 staff size Other economies -- ~10-20 staff size. Tend to manage complex tasks (e.g. marketing, accounting, HR)... NZ -- DIY, after a quickie course from the Chamber of Commerce Other economies -- contract to pros, maybe swap pro bono's Tend to hire new staff... NZ -- someone they (indirectly) know, with the proper attitude Other economies -- anyone with top quals and achievements I've come to know well of only two very good Kiwi managers. They impressed me greatly. Both female. Both West Coasters. Both "state-owned enterprise" employees. Neither one with any formal qualifications in commerce. Some times gems turn up in the most unlikely of places. If things are going well with you guys, I hope they stay that way. If things are not, I hope they get better. Cheers, Carl _______________________________________________ Linux-users mailing list [email protected] http://lists.canterbury.ac.nz/mailman/listinfo/linux-users
