Comment Brother (Score 1) 591
I'm with you. I'm a UNIX admin in a really big company now. The smaller comany I was in was recently purchased by said big company. It's been like swimming though syrup trying to get things done anymore.
One way to make things happen fast is to say that NOT doing X will incure a risk to the company. You say, we need RAM this week or production app X may break. Every day send out an email to the effect of "6 days until system failure..." The countdown of doom.
Another is to use process management judo. Attach your need to the success of a project, make installation of that RAM a line item in MS Project. Then just sit back and let the project manager drive. When he asks about that item you say, "I have been unable to get a response from IT on that. Oh my, I hope it doesn't hold up our project." The project manager will go nuts.
Learn to use your bosses to your advantage. You boss calls there boss and things will happen.
Remember that in IT you're dealing with a bunch of geeks. Aspergers syndrome, mild Autism in individuals is par for the course. Learn to recognize those people (hint, they're the ones with all the talent and strange personality quirks). The communication skills of those folks can be terrible. Get over that and make a friend that can be a resource for you in the future.
Everyone is accountable for their actions. It is OK to call the boss of group or person in question and politely say, "Hi, I put in this request some time ago and haven't heard anything back, can you help me figure out where this got dropped?" No manager wants his team to be percieved as dropping important tasks.
Finally, be sure you're not asking for things you have no authority to ask for. If you're asking that company money be spent then you should have written approval. If you're one of those people who constantly insists they need things that cost money or require major time commitments from others then they are right to ignore you without an approved project and management buyoff.
--Chris
One way to make things happen fast is to say that NOT doing X will incure a risk to the company. You say, we need RAM this week or production app X may break. Every day send out an email to the effect of "6 days until system failure..." The countdown of doom.
Another is to use process management judo. Attach your need to the success of a project, make installation of that RAM a line item in MS Project. Then just sit back and let the project manager drive. When he asks about that item you say, "I have been unable to get a response from IT on that. Oh my, I hope it doesn't hold up our project." The project manager will go nuts.
Learn to use your bosses to your advantage. You boss calls there boss and things will happen.
Remember that in IT you're dealing with a bunch of geeks. Aspergers syndrome, mild Autism in individuals is par for the course. Learn to recognize those people (hint, they're the ones with all the talent and strange personality quirks). The communication skills of those folks can be terrible. Get over that and make a friend that can be a resource for you in the future.
Everyone is accountable for their actions. It is OK to call the boss of group or person in question and politely say, "Hi, I put in this request some time ago and haven't heard anything back, can you help me figure out where this got dropped?" No manager wants his team to be percieved as dropping important tasks.
Finally, be sure you're not asking for things you have no authority to ask for. If you're asking that company money be spent then you should have written approval. If you're one of those people who constantly insists they need things that cost money or require major time commitments from others then they are right to ignore you without an approved project and management buyoff.
--Chris
