IT in a small company... OH !MY! GOD!!!! 1

[Klari]

Hello

I am at this moment programmer/database administrator/system administrator... (everything that has to do with computers) in a small company (we are running a shop). The idea of programming and administrating before I was here was: just get it done, fastly. we don't care if it is not the right way to do it.
A few examples:
* In our sql database we have a customer table with name, address, telephone and everything... we also have an article table (No, descrip, price, blabla...). In the table where the sales are kept every data is present. Per sale you can find the customer's name adress and so on, the same thing for the article data... There are no kind of relations at all. When I asked why this was done, the answer was that queries were faster that way. Of course all the programming is based on this database and I can't just change everything.
* There is no data whatsoever on the years before 19**. 'The database was getting to big so we deleted all the records before that year'. And then of course the question 'Can you run some queries that will tell us when customers came here for the first time and all?'.
* The guy wo was here before me didn't keep a system logbook or nothing of that kind. All the programming had ofcourse absolutely no comments or nothing.
* When I want to make some improvements to some programming that was done before, i get the comment 'It doesn't realy need to be done, just let it the way it is'
* Our mail server has very very little free space left on it (something like 2%). Of course I tell my boss about it (I say that we just need a bigger drive, and we really really do), and the answer I get is 'Well..... yes..... eurmmm....... keep monitoring the free space left....... and.... eurmmmm..... I'll think about a solution'. Translatoin to normal people language: 'Just do nothing about it, we'll see when things get realy bad'. I just gave the guy a solution!!! a new drive!!!! g*dd**ned!

There are more things like this....

What's the deal here? Am I worried to much? or are thing realy as bad as I think they are?

greetings

Klara

 

[tanderso]

On the other hand, maybe your management doesn't really care about email. Maybe they take care of most business via telephone, and would rather cover the phone bill for the next month than prevent a server failure. It's quite possible they see IT as convenient but superfluous. In that case, if money is tight, then maybe waiting for a failure is the right idea instead of laying out money right away to prevent something which can simply be handled later a little less efficiently. But then of course, you'd think they'd see a full-time IT salary as superfluous as well.

It's really hard to guage what your managers' motivations are without asking them. Maybe expressing an interest in how your role in the company is perceived by management would be a good step. Find out which systems are considered most vital to the company's bottom line. Ask about the total IT budget, and if you can help shape that budget. Propose a formal requisition process if one doesn't already exist.

If you can't get your foot in the door to make these discussions happen, then perhaps a well-written memo would be a good start. Or maybe just a light-hearted inquiry about the company's direction, a current client, etc., over lunch or while walking out to your cars after work. Small companies are nice this way... it isn't so beaurocratic that talking to top management about business outside of your direct scope is taboo.

The point is that taking some initiative to put yourself into a position in which an informed suggestion based upon established facts tying business and IT concerns together can be formulated and presented with confidence and received with interest will help to cement your place as a recognized and respected keystone in the company's prosperity.
Sincerely,

Tom Anderson
CEO, Order amid Chaos, Inc.

http://www.oac-design.com

 

[sha76]

If you're getting nowhere taking the direct approach to getting your bosses trust then try something a bit less obvious. It's amazing the effect a few users (subtley)mentioning how much you've improved things & how helpful & approachable you are can have on management!

Sharon