Dear Users... (A thread for Sysadmin, Technical Support, and Help Desk people)

[Norman Alexander]

My performance managing the offshore rollout was described as outstanding in department completion briefing. Feeling proud and drained.

 

[Sideroxylon]

It's nice to have hard work acknowledged.

Yes, very much so. Used to be gift vouchers and certificates under the old masters. Would be nice too.

 

[arthwollipot]

Yes, very much so. Used to be gift vouchers and certificates under the old masters. Would be nice too.

I got a chocolate bar through the internal mail once.

 

[malbui]

A couple of jobs ago I was off for a few weeks after surgery and when I came back my entire office had been stripped. All that was left was a dead spider plant and an ancient volume of tax law.

Day of the Triffid? 28 Days Later?

Big Four

 

[Filippo Lippi]

it's coming up to the anniversary of me being awarded a gift voucher for "reasons unknown."

Something went over last night, looking at it now. Of course the program is purely structured.

 

[Filippo Lippi]

You asked me to review your design document, but there is no proposed design in it. The "introduction" leaps into describing how the current process works, but then mixes tenses, making it difficult to tell whether this is actually the proposal, and you missed that large chunk of logic.

The glw says I should say something positive to lighten the gloom.

"Sun's out"

 

[malbui]

The other day I received for comment a thirty page document presenting our strategy for the use of AI in the coming years. Nowhere in the enthusiastic description of technologies did it set out what we’re actually trying to achieve.

 

[TragicMonkey]

The other day I received for comment a thirty page document presenting our strategy for the use of AI in the coming years. Nowhere in the enthusiastic description of technologies did it set out what we’re actually trying to achieve.

That's what the AI's task is: to figure out why it's needed. Get to building it! It has existential philosophy to do!

 

[malbui]

That's what the AI's task is: to figure out why it's needed. Get to building it! It has existential philosophy to do!

Douglas Adams was before his time on that front.

 

[Wudang]

I forget how many times I’ve had to explain to people writing such documents the 4 Ps principle. Position, problem, possibilities, proposal.
Position : where we are now
Problem: what’s wrong with that
Possibilities: what might work, shows you’ve consider options
Proposal : we picked this answer because.

 

[Gord_in_Toronto]

I forget how many times I’ve had to explain to people writing such documents the 4 Ps principle. Position, problem, possibilities, proposal.
Position : where we are now
Problem: what’s wrong with that
Possibilities: what might work, shows you’ve consider options
Proposal : we picked this answer because.

I worked for a guy once who always insisted that we had to include "What happens if we do nothing", in our analysis. Occasionally that's what we did.

 

[Dr. Keith]

I worked for a guy once who always insisted that we had to include "What happens if we do nothing", in our analysis. Occasionally that's what we did.

That is solid advice. I often have to ask the question after paying for analysis of an issue and it irritates me.

 

[TragicMonkey]

I worked for a guy once who always insisted that we had to include "What happens if we do nothing", in our analysis. Occasionally that's what we did.

I find the best result is to do nothing, but make it look like you did an enormous lot of stuff.

 

[Wudang]

I worked for a guy once who always insisted that we had to include "What happens if we do nothing", in our analysis. Occasionally that's what we did.

Good point but it's often variable whether that should be in the problem or possibility part and thie 4Ps prompt is often my polite way of saying "this is an incomprehensible mess, sort it out".

 

[Gord_in_Toronto]

I find the best result is to do nothing, but make it look like you did an enormous lot of stuff.

And some times the problem really does just "go away'. With even greater benefit to your bonus points.

 

[TragicMonkey]

And some times the problem really does just "go away'. With even greater benefit to your bonus points.

Sadly, I don't get bonuses. But I also don't solve problems these days, my job is to make new things that more often than not don't really need to be made. I'm not expected to fix problems with anything already existing.

 

[Gord_in_Toronto]

Sadly, I don't get bonuses. But I also don't solve problems these days, my job is to make new things that more often than not don't really need to be made. I'm not expected to fix problems with anything already existing.

I thought that was what screwdrivers and Duck tape were for?

 

[TragicMonkey]

I thought that was what screwdrivers and Duck tape were for?

If you're going to drink there are so many better options than a screwdriver, I can't think how people can stand those. As for duck tape, I don't think I've ever used it in a nonsexual context.

 

[Dr. Keith]

I thought that was what screwdrivers and Duck tape were for?

If your bonus is screwdrivers and duck tape, I hope they are really good quality.

 

[JoeMorgue]

Not really IT related but does every office just get issued one person who sits on the phone screaming at her kids all day? Do they just manifest naturally in office environments?