said by lcnoble :

Awh. poor babies. I am a parent!

said by nixen :

Or you aren't supporting customers that INSIST on using broken technology (*cough* SunCluster *cough*). Or insist on using unsupported storage and ignoring when they're told it's heading for a massive failure (nothing like, four months later, watching a million-dollar/day site go down for three days because they ignored you). Or having customers with root access on their hosted systems.

said by Nightfall :

Thats what being well funded and having the skills is all about. If you have those two things, you should not be supporting broken technology or insist on using unsupported storage. If you have the skills, you should not have customers with root access on their hosted systems either.

Having the skills is one thing, but finding the right company is another. Many organizations out there see IT as a money sink.

said by Nightfall :

Thats what being well funded and having the skills is all about. If you have those two things, you should not be supporting broken technology or insist on using unsupported storage. If you have the skills, you should not have customers with root access on their hosted systems either.

said by Nightfall :

Having the skills is one thing, but finding the right company is another. Many organizations out there see IT as a money sink.

said by Drex :

Try being a contractor for the government some time.

said by Drex :

Try being a contractor for the government some time.

said by nixen :

Thanks for paying attention and your helpful input. However:

•when one is in the SERVICES industry, you really don't have a freaking choice in the matter.
•When one works in services corporations where the sales team dictates what customers can put in your data centers and get support on, you really don't have a freaking choice in the matter.
•When one works in services corporations where "technically correct" is ignored in favor of the next sale, you don't really have a freaking choice in the matter

You can have all the freaking skills in the world. You can work in a rather well-funded corporation with global operations and Fortune 50 customers. However, when you're supporting OUTSIDE, paying customers, none of that makes a goddamned difference. Try it sometime. It's BOATLOADS of fun.

Well, there's "IT" and then there's computer services (consulting, hosting, etc.) Services are a RADICALLY different animal than "IT". Very few people that see themselves as competent in the nice, safe coccoon of the "IT" world could either cut it (both be able to survive or be truly useful) in the services or high-end consulting world.

Now, if you weren't trying to be as pompous as what your post came across as, I'll pre-apologize for what felt like an appropriate tone with my response.

said by lcnoble :

Awh. poor babies. I am a parent!

said by Nightfall :

Even so, if you are working in hosting and consulting, you are paid to inherit those problems from poorly running companies who made mistakes in purchasing technology.

said by Nightfall :

Apparently, I thought you were talking about being part of an IT department in an established company, so thats my mistake.

said by Nightfall :

When you look at an IT department in an established company.....

The company doesn't make a move to a piece of software or hardware without the blessing of IT. In fact, its IT that does the work on evaluating these products and determining the best course of action. Its IT's job to bring these evaluations to the company management and make a strong recommendation.

said by Nightfall :

Remember, I said being in the right company with the right IT team with the right skills? Thats what I am stating in a nutshell.

said by Nightfall :

The problem today is that IT is seen as a money sink and too many people are concentrating on just keeping things running. They are technically proficient people without any knowledge of business or customer service. In fact, most IT people HATE customer service and speaking to management who are considered idiots.

said by Nightfall :

The new IT departments are made of professionals who are not only technically inclined, but in tune with the business.

said by Nightfall :

They make business proposals for technology that affect the entire company. The management sees these proposals and makes the appropriate decisions based on what IT recommends.

said by Nightfall :

I will 100% agree with you here. Consulting and working in an IT department in a business are two different things. On the flip side, there are many high end consulting people who just wouldn't cut it in IT in an established organization. Sure, they have the expertise, but they lack key functions such as business sense, customer service, and working in a team (just to name a few).

said by Nightfall :

I know, not everyone falls into place that easily, just pointing out that some people are destined to be in one camp or the other for the most part.

said by Nightfall :

IT professionals with the business in mind who are educated and experienced are on their way in.

said by nixen :

Everyone wants the "break glass in case of emergency" calibre professional - be that operational, architectural, etc. - but very few want to pay for that kind of talent to sit around waiting for whatever constitutes an emergency.

said by nixen :

Until upper management sees the (apparent/up-front) pricetag of those professionals' salaries. There's a reason outsourcing exists and will continue to do so: most companies don't have enough need for those people to be always on payroll. Everyone wants the "break glass in case of emergency" calibre professional - be that operational, architectural, etc. - but very few want to pay for that kind of talent to sit around waiting for whatever constitutes an emergency.