Posted to The Age (20/4/2011) on 21/4/2011 at 5:05 AM
Commenting on “Baillieu ditches crime database update”
http://www.theage.com.au/technology/technology-news/baillieu-ditches-crime-database-update-20110419-1dngj.html?
Professionals in 3 industries rank badly as rip-off artists: IT (software), real estate and used car sales in that order. The biggest IT con in world’s history was the Y2K bug. We have seen many systems failed in Melbourne including the infamous RMIT enrolment system, NAB glitches, LEAP, Myki, just to name a few. The most spectacular and well known software failure in the world was the Wall Street Crash in 1987 costing USD 500 billion in one day!
All good software systems rely on good programmers, and many so-called programmers don't have the grey matter for the job. Programming can be boring, and many good programmers move to other IT areas very quickly. Many of them don’t have the chance to see the systems through to implementation. New batch of programmers start from stretch looking at the same programs, solving some bugs but introducing new ones.
The larger the system, the more money goes down the drain. Large systems involve a lot more unproductive personnel, endless users’ meetings, left hands don’t talk to right hands, million cups of coffee and cost mega-bucks.
Good old programmers don’t die, but got wasted by consultant / employment agencies, and young IT managers who are feeling so insecure that their jobs may be threatened by the grey hair applicants. To add to the insult, many IT managers are good at playing politics, like asking for another $100 million budget, but have no idea about software or hardware systems.
Part 1 of 2
There are many institutions churning out the so-called IT personnel, or programmers who have learnt to code some “Mickey Mouse” programs. They bluff their ways in writing resume and application letters to satisfy the selection criteria. It is time that skill audits be done in the many larger IT departments to weed out those useless “professionals” who bring shame and disgrace to this industry.
It is not a matter of just spending another $100 million to get a new system or fix the existing one. The question is what’s wrong with the present system. All systems can be fixed, but not at that price - the price is highly inflated. I firmly believe that the system can be fixed at a fraction of the cost. How can this be done? Well, just call in the grey army, and send them away on a 4-week refresher course. The revamped system can be up and running sooner than you think!
Part 2 of 2
Commenting on “Baillieu ditches crime database update”
http://www.theage.com.au/technology/technology-news/baillieu-ditches-crime-database-update-20110419-1dngj.html?
Professionals in 3 industries rank badly as rip-off artists: IT (software), real estate and used car sales in that order. The biggest IT con in world’s history was the Y2K bug. We have seen many systems failed in Melbourne including the infamous RMIT enrolment system, NAB glitches, LEAP, Myki, just to name a few. The most spectacular and well known software failure in the world was the Wall Street Crash in 1987 costing USD 500 billion in one day!
All good software systems rely on good programmers, and many so-called programmers don't have the grey matter for the job. Programming can be boring, and many good programmers move to other IT areas very quickly. Many of them don’t have the chance to see the systems through to implementation. New batch of programmers start from stretch looking at the same programs, solving some bugs but introducing new ones.
The larger the system, the more money goes down the drain. Large systems involve a lot more unproductive personnel, endless users’ meetings, left hands don’t talk to right hands, million cups of coffee and cost mega-bucks.
Good old programmers don’t die, but got wasted by consultant / employment agencies, and young IT managers who are feeling so insecure that their jobs may be threatened by the grey hair applicants. To add to the insult, many IT managers are good at playing politics, like asking for another $100 million budget, but have no idea about software or hardware systems.
Part 1 of 2
There are many institutions churning out the so-called IT personnel, or programmers who have learnt to code some “Mickey Mouse” programs. They bluff their ways in writing resume and application letters to satisfy the selection criteria. It is time that skill audits be done in the many larger IT departments to weed out those useless “professionals” who bring shame and disgrace to this industry.
It is not a matter of just spending another $100 million to get a new system or fix the existing one. The question is what’s wrong with the present system. All systems can be fixed, but not at that price - the price is highly inflated. I firmly believe that the system can be fixed at a fraction of the cost. How can this be done? Well, just call in the grey army, and send them away on a 4-week refresher course. The revamped system can be up and running sooner than you think!
Part 2 of 2
