A little help from you Silver-Tongued Devils 2

[BJCooperIT]

I am currently working a state contract that geared up before the project was really ready to start. I have a manager who has very little time between meetings and production problems. The net effect is that I often finish the few work orders given me and sit idle, sometimes for days.

How does one ask for more work without highlighting the fact that they are mostly paying you for just your presence? I have asked "What next?" and "Do you have another task?". I don't want to seem critical of the manager's ability to assign tasks. Nor do I want to be a pest, but how often should I keep asking "Do you have something for me to do?". Come on folks, surely you can provide me with a list of short & sweet inquiries (humor OK). I can pick one to e-mail each day to at least seem like I am earning my keep!

Oh, by the way, any suggestions on productive "busy" work? I have written utility scripts, explored what I can of the database, created document templates, rewritten spreadsheets, surfed TT and been bored out of my mind. The only bright spot to many days is when there is an Oracle problem the staff developers come to me for help.

[sup]Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance.[/sup][sup] ~George Bernard Shaw[/sup]
Consultant Developer/Analyst Oracle, Forms, Reports & PL/SQL (Windows)
My website: www.EmuProductsPlus.com

 

[CajunCenturion]

Is there anything I can do to help?

--------------
Good Luck
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[traingamer]

Me too?

Greg
"Personally, I am always ready to learn, although I do not always like being taught." - Winston Churchill

 

[p5wizard]

Try and get permission/funds to attend courses they deem valuable for the project?

 

[SantaMufasa]

Barb,

I was on a similar contract many years ago where I found myself "uncomfortably idle" from time to time. During those downtimes, I surveyed the manager's Kingdom and asked myself, "If I were in charge, what would be the most useful pieces of information that are not currently available?" I also asked higher-level managers, "What information would you find useful that you don't currently have available?...What is the source of such information?"

I set about creating the data repositories and generating the reports that met those needs. It turns out that the top management for the entire contract (a 255-person aircraft-maintenance software project for the Royal Saudi Arabian Air Force) started depending upon the reports that I had devised and generated during my "idle moments". It gave me not only increased positive visibility, but it gave me "job security" on the contract to the point that I outlived the contract itself (and all of the other contractors and project leaders) and the company looked for other contracts to put me on so that they didn't lose my skills.

So, during those "idle moments", look for ways to become indespensible, even outside the scope of the contract for which you where hired. (Just don't do anything that the project manager perceives as a threat to her/his job.)

Mufasa
(aka Dave of Sandy, Utah, USA)
[I provide low-cost, remote Database Administration services: www.dasages.com]

 

[BJCooperIT]

CajunCenturion: Is there anything I can do to help? Good one, heads the top of my list. The last three times I used it I was told that it would have to wait until <insert reason here>.

p5wizard: Unfortunately, there will be no courses because I am the Oracle resource on this project. Besides, state contracts here are notorious for not investing money in the training contractors.

SantaMufasa: I have tried to be of some help in the manner you describe, but I have very few database privileges and even fewer tools (SQL*Plus only). I also have to be very careful because of the sensitive nature of the data.

Part of the holdup is due to the analysis being done by a group of people, most of whom I have not even met. They are from two distinct state agencies and meet when they can but often do not agree. I would love to be involved, but am not permitted. I am at the bottom of the heap just waiting for tasks to trickle down.

In sheer frustration I would like to say (but wouldn't):

I am bored silly and the taxpayer's money is being wasted by having me sit idle. If no one has time to create a work order for me, how about giving me all documentation about the project so that I can familiarize myself with it? <-did this already I can provide detailed testing scripts for your Oracle objects if you will grant me the appropriate privileges. <- asked for these months ago I can create views that your devleopers can use. <-did that too I can teach your COBOL programmers basic SQL and PL/SQL if you would like to cross-train staff. Since this is a one year contract, how about we get busy?

That is why I have turned to Making An Impression posters to ask help verbalizing this in a professional manner that doesn't jeopardize the contract.

 

[Ladyazh]

My friend contracted for a Subaru 2 years ago. $70/hour. For 3 month hadn't done a thing. At the end of it Subaru wanted him as a permanent employee. But contract forbade it. He is still very puzzled...Good Luck!
P.S. Just wanted to tell you it happens.

 

[Welshbird]

BJCooper:

Ah.... I see. What you really want is a form of language to use, rather than suggestions of the content!

Is that correct?



Fee

The question should be [red]Is it worth trying to do?[/red] not [blue] Can it be done?[/blue]

 

[p5wizard]

You might suggest to use some time to create a de-sensitized (? not sure of that word) test database that can be used for demos?

Or even a tool that "automagically" creates a de-sensitized test database based on the real data and randomized names, multiplication factors, ...

No mean feat, but as you have all the time in the world (or at least the state)...

That is of course if you have access to the real database in the first place.

 

[Remou]

While jumping up and down ...
"Bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored ..."
Continue until you get something to do.

 

[BJCooperIT]

Fee: Correct. If I were seeking contract advice I would have posted in one of the watercooler fora. I am so frustrated that I am woried all tact, discipline and professionalism might disappear if I open my mouth.

My manager, whilst in the throes of a production disaster, stopped by my desk yesterday for 30 seconds and said "I know you have nothing to work on, but there is nothing I can do about it until this is resolved." At least I am now satisfied that I have kept them properly informed on my progress.

Remou: Not too consultant-like, but Hadn't thought of the Temper Trantrum Approach!

p5wizard: Interesting concept. When I first started here, I wrote some queries to get a feel for the data and table relationships. Someone saw a query that pulled together statistics with name & address. I was told in no uncertain terms: "Get the names off that query!" They are very sensitive about that here.

 

[Welshbird]

BJCooper I really do feel for you. It's a tough place to be I think.

It occasionally happens to me, but as I'm permie and know my boss very well I can just ponce about and join in with other people's work and help out where I can.

Would it work to phrase it to your manager along the lines of
"I really do appreciate that you can't personally resolve the issues which lead to me not having a current work order. Is there anyway I can help you with any of your tasks to relieve the pressure you are under? Obviously that might then give you time to look at the issue again.." Smiling all the while of course...!

I guess is depends on the character of the person concerned.

You could always write some share-ware to keep your hand in maybe!

(Want me to send you some of my Oracle tasks to keep you busy??)

Fee

The question should be [red]Is it worth trying to do?[/red] not [blue] Can it be done?[/blue]

 

[BJCooperIT]

I did respond yesterday with "If there is anyway I can help, please let me know". I am (thank heavens) a permanent employee with my consulting firm. The good news is I just received a bitty task that will get me through the afternoon anyway. Wish I could give you a hand, Fee. I hate being idle!

 

[SantaMufasa]

Barb,

Here's a thought...does the customer firm have a very well-behaved, accurate Entity-Relationship Diagram (ERD) that depicts the attributes (columns) of each table, and (more importantly) the relationships (PK-FK), along with their cardinality and optionality?

I have found such a deliverable to be amongst the most valuable and heavily referenced within an IT organization. I have software that I wrote that produces a text-based version of that diagram, which I then use to produce a graphic version.

I know that there are software offerings out there that advertise such (ERD-generating) capabilities (e.g., Visio, Oracle Designer, Embarcadero, ERWin, et cetera), but I haven't encountered a package yet that has institutionalised my level of anal retention:

1) No crossing or corner-turning relationship lines
2) All relationships appearing as vertical lines
3) All "child" entities/tables positioned above "parent" tables, thus depicting roots upward to branches and leaves of the data architecture.

If you produce such a deliverable (and I'm happy to help you build it on a friendship/gratis basis), the customer technicians will worship the ground you walk on...I guarantee it! (Plus, it will give you something VERY productive and meaningful to do for a few days, depending upon the size of your application-data architecture.)

Let me know if you are interested,

Mufasa
(aka Dave of Sandy, Utah, USA)
[I provide low-cost, remote Database Administration services: www.dasages.com]

 

[gbaughma]

Dave:

Wow.

I saw your virtual-lips moving there, but I didn't understand a singly bloody word you said. :-(




Just my 2¢

"What the captain doesn't realize is that we've secretly exchanged his dilithium crystals for new Folger's Crystals." -- My Sister
--Greg

http://parallel.tzo.com

 

[SantaMufasa]

Greg,

Boy, you are right...I went back and re-read my reply, and to someone who is not tuned into "Database Design Speak" to which I was addressing, I came across like a blinkin' twit! Sorry.

Because Barb and I are Oracle colleagues, she speaks that language. (Or were my presumptions waaaaay off base, Barb?)

In any case, my apologies to anyone to whom my Techno-Geek Speak was foreign...I didn't intend it that way.

Mufasa
(aka Dave of Sandy, Utah, USA)
[I provide low-cost, remote Database Administration services: www.dasages.com]

 

[MeGustaXL]

I'm a 'Subject Matter Expert' or SME, providing advice and guidance to Project Managers (PMs) about my specialist subject.
The whole area is organised under a Business Area Manager (BAM) who is responsible for drumming up business and new contracts, and appointing PMs to those projects.

Those PMs then task me to provide my specialist services, either in the form of reports or attendance at meetings, or just giving them advice.

When I've completed my work for a PM, I am then at a loose end, unless:

A. The PM can find me something to do, or
B. The BAM hits the streets and brings in more business.

Neither A nor B have happened lately, so I'm forced to book my time to 'Waiting' - a practice that is discouraged, unless you really want to lose your job.

I need a polite way of lighting the BAM's fuse so that (s)he goes and gets us some work to do.

Any suggestions?



Chris

When his pin is pulled, Mr Grenade is not our friend - USMC Infantry Manual

 

[Gooser]

Santa - as a database guy, your post on modeling was easy for me to read.

Chris - sorry 'bout your luck. I find the contract side of government work to be rife with people who don't feel like doing their job. That often leaves those of us who want to earn our keep in a lurch one of two ways: either with nothing to do, or in a position where we feel the need to do their job and ours.

v/r

Gooser

 

[gbaughma]

SantaMufasa:

No.... it wasn't meant to imply that you were being a twit.... I was just reminded of Socrates (I'll probably not get this quote exactly right....) "The only true knowledge is knowing that we know nothing."

I was just, once again, humbled in the knowledge that I still have so much to learn.



Just my 2¢

"What the captain doesn't realize is that we've secretly exchanged his dilithium crystals for new Folger's Crystals." -- My Sister
--Greg

http://parallel.tzo.com

 

[rosieb]

If it's feasible, I think Dave's idea of documenting the database is a great idea! Not only does it produce a valuable output but it really gives you familiarity with the system so that when the work orders do start coming in, you're well ahead of the game.

Rosie
"Don't try to improve one thing by 100%, try to improve 100 things by 1%