I agree. A large part of it has to do with the organization, but part of it has to do with the IT people involved too. A number of those of us who are user group leaders just had a discussion about this at TechEd. There's a fine line that we have to try to find in IT between being the "geek" who speaks in a language that no one understands, and being an obnoxious know-it-all with a "God complex" who no one can stand to be around. The problem is that a lot of very good people in IT suffer from the sins of their predecessors who didn't know how to deal with the public, so now IT is the group everybody avoids. On a good note, I know in my experience with a number of companies in the south and Midwest that our (IT's) perception within business in general is getting better with time. Tim
From: Don Ely [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Friday, June 20, 2008 11:24 AM To: NT System Admin Issues Subject: Re: Five Things.... Weird, recognition has been a part of any project plan I've been involved with the last few years... On Fri, Jun 20, 2008 at 9:21 AM, Kurt Buff <[EMAIL PROTECTED]<mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>> wrote: I've worked nearly 30 years in this trade, from Nordstrom to startups with 50 people. Nordstrom was the best, by far, until the company I'm at now, but the only real recognition I got from Nordstrom was when I announced I was leaving, after 11 years. The gig I have currently has, aside from promoting me, given me several minor awards for treating other people well, and helping out "over and above". That's with over 6 years here. Recognition for projects completed? Never, at any company, beyond my manager(s) saying thanks. But, I don't really expect more than that - it's what I do. It's what they pay me for after all. I suppose I should take some of the 6 weeks of PTO saved up, though. Kurt On Fri, Jun 20, 2008 at 9:11 AM, Don Ely <[EMAIL PROTECTED]<mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>> wrote: > You guys must work for some fscked up Orgs... > > On Fri, Jun 20, 2008 at 9:07 AM, Kurt Buff <[EMAIL PROTECTED]<mailto:[EMAIL > PROTECTED]>> wrote: >> >> It's unfortunate but normal in the IT profession for its practitioners >> to be unrecognized. We're normally considered overhead, and the best >> we can usually hope for is to be invisible. >> >> To be noticed usually means something has gone wrong. >> >> On Fri, Jun 20, 2008 at 8:49 AM, Webb, Brian (Corp) >> <[EMAIL PROTECTED]<mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>> wrote: >> > That's really too bad to hear. Successful projects are definitely >> > celebrated here. The project team generally will have a nice lunch or >> > dinner depending on how big the project is and IT projects often win >> > company >> > awards with names like "Inspiring Excellence" and "GEM" and such. My >> > boss >> > and his boss are both good about recognizing people - I got movie >> > tickets a >> > couple months ago when they appreciated some work I did. Sounds like a >> > lack of leadership to me... >> > >> > -Brian >> > >> > ________________________________ >> > From: Tom Miller [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]<mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>] >> > Sent: Friday, June 20, 2008 8:51 AM >> > To: NT System Admin Issues >> > Subject: Re: Five Things.... >> > >> > Amen to that. I've build a new network, phone system, e-mail system and >> > moved all of our users to new offices over the last few years. What do >> > users do: complain. Admin/Executives are the worst complainers. I >> > have >> > yet to see anyone from IT here to be "employee of the quarter". Won't >> > ever >> > happen probably. >> > >> > You get a raise? I thought we PAID to work here... >> > >> >>>> "James Kerr" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]<mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>> 6/20/2008 >> >>>> 9:42 AM >>> >> > I like the 5 things you SHOULD say to your boss, specially mentioning >> > your >> > successes. That's one thing I dislike about IT because it seems like the >> > best you can do is maintain the status quo. Even if you complete a huge >> > project, there is never a thank you for working all weekend or into the >> > night to get that project done even if it has a great outcome for the >> > company. Its been like that at every job I've worked at. Every year the >> > company I work for has a picnic for the employees and during that picnic >> > they recognize staff for different things, never once have they >> > mentioned >> > anything about IT in the 7 years I've been going. >> > >> > Whatever, as long as I get my raise, I'm happy. What really counts is me >> > and >> > my family at home. ;-) >> > >> > James >> > >> > ----- Original Message ----- >> > From: Tom Strader - NCBPAC Systems Administrator >> > To: NT System Admin Issues >> > Sent: Friday, June 20, 2008 8:42 AM >> > Subject: OT: Five Things.... >> > >> > Five things you should never tell your boss >> > http://cwflyris.computerworld.com/t/3301042/4753902/121207/2/ >> > >> > Thanks, >> > Tom Strader >> > NC Blumenthal Performing Arts Center >> > Server/Network Systems Administrator >> > 130 N. Tryon St. >> > Charlotte, NC 28202 >> > O: 704.379.1285 | F:704.444.2098 >> > [EMAIL PROTECTED]<mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >> > >> > "Action without intelligence is ignorance". But, Intelligence without >> > appropriate action is the highest form of stupidity known to man" >> > >> > >> > Confidentiality Notice: This e-mail message, including attachments, is >> > for >> > the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential >> > and >> > privileged information. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure, or >> > distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, >> > please >> > contact the sender by reply e-mail and destroy all copies of the >> > original >> > message. >> > >> > >> >> ~ Upgrade to Next Generation Antispam/Antivirus with Ninja! ~ >> ~ <http://www.sunbelt-software.com/SunbeltMessagingNinja.cfm> ~ > > ~ Upgrade to Next Generation Antispam/Antivirus with Ninja! ~ ~ <http://www.sunbelt-software.com/SunbeltMessagingNinja.cfm> ~ ~ Upgrade to Next Generation Antispam/Antivirus with Ninja! ~ ~ <http://www.sunbelt-software.com/SunbeltMessagingNinja.cfm> ~
