> Programmers and sysadmins are actually slightly different beasts, but not
> that much. Programmers put code together to fill users needs while
> sysadmins put blocks of programmer's code together to fill users needs.
> Note the common theme here is that we exist to fill the user's needs.
>
> If a user sees a product like Exchange or Notes and says they need it then
> it is up to the admin to figure out exactly what it is that they need from
> that product. Starting with the mindset that "We will use NT and then
> figure out how that fits the needs" or "Linux must be the OS we run and then
> we'll figure out what they need" is the first sign of a bad
> programmer/admin.
>
> The admin's job is certainly to give the users what they need and NOT what
> the explicitly ask for (excepting the case where someone who controls your
> paycheck vetos any alternates). We should be providing software to our
> users that leaves them feeling that we are actually on their side and not
> working against them. Aren't computers supposed to be making the user's
> lives easier after all?
Ultimately one must remember that the users are their to do a defined
job
not to ask for happy graphics and the latest version of MS Golf (thats
management *grin*). What the users get is up to management, and as
responsible
IT staff its your (our) job to help management draw the line.
Unfortunately
IT staff are the victims if things need to be changed, however we are
paid
and we are free to quit. It however tends to be rather passionate
(mainly
the unix people, NT admins *tend* (flames to /dev/null) to be a little
more
heartless) We fight to name our servers cool names rather than serial
numbers
we love to see our favourite software making everything tick, and we
pride
ourselves when this can cost little to nothing, nothing goes wrong and
we
can settle back for a good game of dopewars =)
Erm, what were we talking about?
Dean
(slug pearls here we come *grin*)
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