Policy development 1

[MasterRacker]

Obviously, in the IT world, keeping up with current technology and trends would be considered to be a basic job requirement, since this is related to competence. Methods of keeping informed, would include keeping an eye on sites such as Tek-Tips, and reading books and trade publications. Since this type of reading could be considered to be a part of almost any technical job description, requiring staffers to do all of the reading on their own time would not be reasonable. You would essentially be requiring overtime.

I am trying to formulate a written policy allowing this type of “unstructured research” and am looking for input on what others are doing. How much time per week is reasonable? Do others have this actually written into job descriptions or is it mostly an activity that is informally accepted as long as the normal job is being done.? If your IT staffers have to do formal time tracking, how do they record this time, or do they have to “hide” it in other activities?

I have a friend who is a mechanical engineer who once had a job description that explicitly required him to spend at least 4 hours per week during normal business hours on the Internet reading research papers to keep current. From what little I’ve seen on this subject though, I suspect that this is pretty unusual. It will be interesting to find out how others are handling (or not handling) this.

Jeff

I haven't lost my mind - I know it's backed up on tape somewhere ....

 

[pivan]

Hi Jeff:
I am going to be interested in the respones this thread recieves.

Here is my two sense.

First, I have been blessed to have a develpoment staff that does research on their own time or in the course of solving a work related problem. If as part of their assignment, say optimizing compile time, they have to do research, then I expect to see them researching at their desk. Or if it hits them...at home at 2:00 AM. I dont care. From a time tracking stand point its all part of the assignment and budget allocated as such.

It has never been in any job description I have seen. I personally would keep it out of a job description because I think it could be abused. In walking around, I see glimpses enough times of developers searching the web for things that are not work related. I dont want to give them in open invitation to surf the web.

In getting developers to stay abreast of new technologies I do a few things:
1) set an example by taking classes at UCLA that are withing are technology scope.
2) advocate at every chance that we can not afford to be stupid and that we must constantly stay abreast of new advances in our technology.
3) reimburse developers for books and classes without question.
4) get as many of them as want to and Sr. Mngt will allow to venues such as JavaOne.

My own personal belief is that we are all professionals and keeping up with current technology trends is ultimately the responsibility of the individual.

Hope this helps.

pivan If not now, when?
If not here, where?
If not us, who?

Just do it!!

 

[Tim1]

First, I have been blessed to have a develpoment staff that does research on their own time or in the course of solving a work related problem. If as part of their assignment, say optimizing compile time, they have to do research, then I expect to see them researching at their desk. Or if it hits them...at home at 2:00 AM. I dont care. From a time tracking stand point its all part of the assignment and budget allocated as such.

It has never been in any job description I have seen. I personally would keep it out of a job description because I think it could be abused. In walking around, I see glimpses enough times of developers searching the web for things that are not work related. I dont want to give them in open invitation to surf the web.

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My humble opinion, for what it is worth, as both a manager and non is that this is typical of the approach that demotivates staff. You expect works to use some time at home to research work if an idea hits them, yet resent when they use some time at work to look for stuff that they didn't do at home because they were working.

If we are to assume that our staff are professional, then we should accept that they can be allowed some latitude. I would expect my staff to put in the hours when it is needed, in return, if they want to read the news, or look at holidays while waiting for something to compile or run, so be it.

In return, you get staff who believe you actually value that they have chosen to work for you, and you value them as people.

 

[nehpets]

This is not a bad Manager, but an assertive manager. Whilst this style is not for all it has it's place. Nowhere did pivan express a desire to forbid personal use of the web. I personally have had ideas at silly times of the night or morning, these I have quickly made a note of and then come back to later, when I am refreshed. What do you suggest I do, request time off wortk or be allowed to sleep at my desk?

There is an expression, which if put to practice fully, really does work. That expression is

"Swings and Roundabouts"

Which, for the Non Uk readers, means the same as
"What comes around goes around"

We also operate flexitime. This works too, if we need to work until 1am, so what...we can come in later when we aren't really needed...again this works!

But having said all of this we do not really have any "MANAGER" here that would meet your definitions, we all have roles, yet are all Managers in some sense of the word. Yes of course we have an MD, even a General Manager, a technical Director and so on, but the atmostphere is so much We love working here, together...all that Hierarchy stuff just levels. We have a role, are all a small Cog in the Big Machine and just Gel together and Keep the Machine working nicely.

Perhaps it is not just the Management to Blame, perhaps it is the Culture that should share some of it?

How many of you hve been influenced at some time, maybe in younger days, by Older more experienced staff always putting a downer on the company, it's policies or a particular manager?
How did you react then, initially......then four months later?...did any of their views become yours?....

Just some thoughts


Steve Thomas

 

[pivan]

Thanks Steve:
"Swings and Roundabouts" I like that

You know its funny,in respose to Tim, a friend of mine at a site where I once worked as an analyst borrowed a PC to use at home. While cleaning the system up and deleting files and applications, it appears that the previous developer, a guy from our offshore group, had spent quite a bit of his time downloading porn files and surfing porn sites. I guess this might be considered "research". If this had been my watch, I would have demotivated him right out the door.

Cheers,
pivan

If not now, when?
If not here, where?
If not us, who?

Just do it!!

 

[Tim1]

Pivan,

I suggested allowing some latitude, not a complete free-for-all. At one of the more progressive places that I work, the rules were:

a. Do not let it interfer with your work. If you are waiting for a program to compile or run, or on-hold on the phone, that is OK.

b. Do not use sites that are deemed to be offensive or sexist. There was monitoring software in place to check this out.

c. Abuse it, you lose it.

That seemed to keep everybody happy. They could check emails, at lunchtime they could do their banking or book a holiday, a couple were seen to abuse the privilage and did lose it.

 

[nehpets]

Sounds like Swings and Roundabouts to me!! More than One Way to Skin a Cat