On Wed, Sep 16, 2009 at 04:17:44PM +0300, Lars Nooden wrote: > Diana Eichert wrote: > > Since I contributed to an Off Topic thread to become even more off topic > > I'll continue. > > > > I don't know about you but I work for my employer, they don't work for > > me. > > They have an obligation to see that you have the tools to get your job > done in the best way possible.
No they don't. Not on this continent anyway. They have an obligation to a) make money and/or b) satisfy legal requirements. They have the same inability to think about and make reasoned decisions on everything that most humans have. Sometimes that means they decide to trust you and accept your decisions. Sometimes that means they decide to run with the herd and replace you if you become an irritant. > > > If senior management gets marketed to by a vendor that could care > > less about standards, let's see, Microsoft, Cisco, Juniper, IBM and on > > and on, then decides to purchase and implement one of these vendors > > solutions I'll implement it. > > Not if you are doing your job competently. If nothing else you're > supposed to ensure that your employer can meet its goals and, unless > they are simply existing to be a customer, then that means some > efficiency. > > On the non-technical side, you're supposed to keep the boss looking good > and prevent flops. Bad technology makes failure unavoidable. Good > technology makes the next step of progress possible. > Ah, but they don't have to run faster than the bear. They just have to run faster than YOU. Thus lowest common denominator technology works fine and they will assume the magic pixie dust of their managerial talent will ensure that someone else feeds the bear. > > If I don't like it I can change jobs, > > Or why not try seppuku? > > > I don't take time to piss and moan about stupid management decisions. > > Or take a proactive approach. > If you don't think avoiding pissing and moaning is a proactive approach you really need to get out into the 'real' world of interacting with management more. True, drinking heavily is more proactive approach but it has its own limitations. > > My day time place of employment has Juniper SA boxes, personally I > > think they are bizarre to say the least. I would never subject one of > > my personal systems to connecting to that network. > > > > You aren't going to convince corporate types how great OpenVPN is on > > OpenBSD. > > That comes down to, among other things, a deficiency of whiskey, > hookers, and blow from OpenBSD -- at least down here in userspace -- > often referred to as Most Valued Partner Seminars. > > It is possible you have managers that know nothing or care nothing about > their jobs. It is also possible that a quick hands-on demo can be done. > Most managers have the imagination of a dried gnat. You have to show > them. However, once you have something to show, then you can bring in > the efficiency ($$$) aspect. > > > ... The sad thing is US management blames SOX for decisions to > > not use Open Source software, they need a liability trail, which > > buying from a commercial entity provides. > > Yeah and the sun was in their eyes, or there was a cross wind, etc. > Open standards are not just an integral part of the buzzword computer > security, e.g. > http://www.dwheeler.com/essays/open-standards-security.pdf > it is a prerequisite to 'staying upstream' or just plain keeping options > open and making money.+ > > -Lars > Even better, don't tell them anything (since they don't care) just do it. That way you can try many different job opportunities during your career. :-). .... Ken
