Office politics ? Or something else ...

Still, more than 25 years working experience, cannot get used to those senior level's non-sense decision. No matter they are younger than me or not, that 'something' behind is obvious, but as it will not be spilled out from anyone's mouth, it turned out to be non-sense.

For a project, if there is a change on schedule, no matter to shorten or lengthen, still need a reason. It will jeopardize the project somehow. That's the reason for the exist of PMO. Literally, it regulate and formulate how a project will run to a success for a company. What senior management thought, it is a tool for controlling the way that juniors work. So the truth is, senior levels did not care any regulations in there if they have a decision.

I know, where the heck is fairness, right? Honestly, it does not exist. Especially in a huge conglomerate. For any small potato, voice out equals end of your life span in that office. And it turns out that, working level small potatos, need to adopt every single era of management level change. If you are going to survive in the same office for a longer period, this is really frustrating. If you are a contract staff, the length of tolerance period is relatively shorter, good for you.

Cannot act what it is right, especially when a man in the mid-age. Overloaded burden, pressure, and all related stuff... the only way to survive is to compromise, though it is not a mutual consent. You know what I am saying.

Good luck.

An old norm culture #goldplating

Gold-plating is not that bad, but when it becomes the key for a staff to show his/her performance, that comes a complication.

When you have plenty of time to accomplish your task, gold-plating could be your final touch. Literally, this is a nice to have step. To working level staff, that is junior staff to middle management staff, this is really a time wasting step. However, some would say, middle management may need this as an essential element to be promoted to senior level. The fact is, if you do have time for gold-plating, you probably off-load some dirty works to others, like junior staff or peer. In other words, you are really prepared to be a senior staff.

It sounds like it is a necessary skill for one to climb up the career ladder. No objection. If your skill foundation is not established from your professional, but with different levels of gold-plating. I don't think this could help you climb up the ladder steadily. 

When seniors did not see what is key for skill foundation, but blindly asking for results, and at the same time require staff can do gold-plating to certain degree. What will a company be under such atmosphere?

Though all said seniors are with crazy ideas which were never be practical, can you not entertain their desires? We, living down to earth, will never understand the underneath. We always tell each other, if you understand why seniors thought in that way, you were already sitting at a senior position.

And all these, distinguished you are in which category of the society. Everything comes with reasons. Never be too surprised for all unexpected, unfaired, unexplainable, ...etc, results that you are taking.

Before new start, may better have a look back

There are bunch of articles on the web which saying the sign for you to determine when you should quit your current job. Sometimes, it is so hard to tell whether the right time came, because to some people, opportunities will never be there for you, all the time. The only thing could be controlled is when to start the hunting. And that is the time you decide to quit the job. The process starts from hunting till resign may take some time. All these may be interesting, though, still depends.

Once resigned, you may need to arrange handover to successor, or how to make your works keep going somehow in the company. I would say, such process is way too hard sometimes. And it is a real challenge before you switching to another new position. Still, it is interesting because you can evaluate what you have done, what you are still working on, and most importantly you will realize what is your value to the company. Of course it could be good or bad. But such review is a good thing for yourself, no matter what.

At the same time, you will realize how much friendships are there in that couple years. Some will keep forever, some will not. Some are your mentors, and some are your padawans.

To me, all these are good times in my life. Experienced some golden ages of the company, changes of the company, like cultural changes, people changes. Then one day, the company is no longer familiar. It is sad, somehow. Maybe just for me. And, I realized, time for a new adventure. Of course, there are other considerations before my decision.

But, I would say, company culture will attract and gather similar type of people. This group of people will enjoy working there in a pretty harmonious way. Who contributes that kind of culture much? It could be Human Resources department. So, changing the head of the department will somehow change the company culture. I don't know whether most of the companies culture could be influenced by a department, but to some SME, it could be the case.

If the chief of the company let the culture change, it may mean a whole new "blood cleanse" exercise will be underway. Consequence? It depends. Some forward thinking leaders knew what exactly they are doing. They knew where they are heading to, with the help of HR, push the company to another new era, for good. How about the rest? Hard to tell. You know, seasoned staff is very precious for a company. That is what a good company could build on.

Am I blaming something? Not really. Like I always say, change is inevitable. No matter oneself, environment, or even the world. Just, like me, in my age, really do not want to change. But when my physical bell rings somehow, with the aid of my mental bell rings, believe it is time for me to seek for something new in my life. I really hope the change this time is good for me. 

Words are being toxified... kind of

When will you use these words? Agile, MNC, cooperation, collaboration, caring, flexible...

Looks familiar? Right, especially when a company is experiencing or had already experienced a kind of transformation. 10 years ago, these words were still quite new in Asia. When introducing all these concepts and ideas, at that time, was a pretty exhausting task. Wouldn't it be easier nowadays? Everybody thought it would. But the fact is, some words sound familiar did not mean the meanings underneath are familiar to everybody.

I understand that interpretation of those fancy words will be different from different individuals. But the most important thing is how to use these words. For example, MNC, which we all understood literally, Multi-National Company. Nothing very special, right? But some will use it to blame others implicitly. e.g. 'we are working in a MNC, you should be helpful for everybody...' . Any rationale could be revealed here? I really don't know. Please comment below if you have any idea.

Another example, a team is working on a project, they are fully responsible for all tedious things. When there was a deadline 2 days later, they tried to seek help from other teams. Of course as other teams did not know what is going on and refused to help, normally. This team replied the refuse to that "other team" and cc senior management, '...we are talking about collaboration in the company, how can that be... '

Sounds familiar? If you are used to be in the position of that "other team", you know what I am saying.

Plan for the no-plan #Plan4NoPlan

Sounds silly, but that is the popular Buddhist-style, which can be applied to working style and living style.

For someone, sometimes, a well plan will never work. That is not saying project management will not work for those people. Just those people may not be the Project Manager of a plan, but a stakeholder rather.

The world is running in a way for 2 major types of people: controlling others, and being controlled by others. Literally, it is simple to understand. However, to realize, there are too many ways. Some are obviously control freak, who are powerful and easily being spot out. Some are strategists who seldom speak up but are working on a hidden agenda all the time. In other words, not easy to be spotted out. These 2 types of people are controllers, with different vehicles to achieve their ambitions.

To live easier, many people will choose the other type: being controlled by others. It may not be a purposely choice. But to make a proper plan with expected outcome is not that easy. People usually will take it as what it will be for the outcome. Are they satisfied then? Sort of, as they did not pay too much for the outcome, expected outcome becomes a wanted outcome, or even an item in the wish list.

When earning a living is a luxury nowadays, almost nothing you can control it well. Buddhist-style could let people take a break. It is not saying everything should better be let it become what it will be. But in this suffocated city life, plan something for a no-plan style could be a relieve. 

A better network, a better infrastructure, a bigger Infra team

Traditionally, infrastructure is the backbone of the company. It is vital to all systems and applications for the company. 

Some companies thought it is not that important. Some says it is very important but will not invest one more penny. When blaming on bad quality of network no matter LAN or WIFI connections, can't you see what had been bought for your infrastructure.

In the network arena, there are different brands for different classes of company. You can buy different brands, with different standard of quality. Some brands are specifically strong on particular area, and they are weak on particular area. You know what you are buying.

But are you prepared for suffering the weakness? The responsibility, of course shifted to relevant team, infrastructure team, because the team is paid for dealing with all these 'sufferings'. True, very true. But also sad enough. If the team is large, there are plenty of resources to deal with all those hiccups. How about small team? Especially those are exceptionally small when comparing with the size of the company without outsourcing practice.

And, when there are many misconception from all different IT teams, the scenario is much worse. Why did other IT teams think infrastructure team are all superheros? Infrastructure team knew all IT stuff?? The team knew how-to design software architecture, database administration, debugging, security architecture, etc. Maybe it is a norm and also the real role of infrastructure team. 

Or, maybe only the teammate in infrastructure team thought the team size is too small. Maybe only infrastructure team thought budget was never enough. Maybe only infrastructure team thought good brands products with higher cost were better. Maybe all negativity arose were fake. Maybe all were because of laziness. Maybe the team deserved to be burnt out. Who knows.

Cloud, Cloud, Cloud

Here comes the era of cloud, though it exists for quite a long time from now. In Asia, to my understanding, was raised up since last five years. The reason might probably related to the rise of different cloud services from one of the several huge cloud providers.

New terms are overwhelming from time to time. But still, they could be easily picked up by some who are earning live by talking. People who are always getting their hands dirty, working on all the tasks and jobs which are wrapped up by these fancy terms, will seldom hook these words into their daily conversations.

Luckily, those earn living individuals, use these words pretty well even though they knew nothing details underneath. And this way of earning is pretty well. Easily be promoted. They got an army on hands, but are all in the same type. What will such kind of army will be? Something similar to honor guard or ceremonial guard team, and do not need to visit front end battle field.

Some goes worse, shifted all works to other teams via reporting to the senior management that they are lacking resources, or even incapable to accomplish certain tasks for some reasons. And, they succeed, no matter what. Living easier, enjoying their live, chilling and placing comments on those tasks which were no longer their works.

We all understood and agree the world is not fair. And we all knew the reason why we are still at the end of the food chain. We are just earning for living by maximizing our effort. We knew how to safe money for the company but we are not the one to steer the wheel. We can only be a good passenger even though we do not know where the destination will be.

Observing is fun

In Chinese, there is an old phase really fit what had been observed.

Before a kingdom fall, there must be an evildoer around.

Living in a kingdom, nobody wants it fall. When you see someone investing a lot on something that did not help or increase productivity, and, a bunch of soldiers and colonels are resigned or replaced in no reasons. You really can feel something.

Era changes with changes of management executives. And the king let it happened. It should be a good sign somehow because it shows the king is very insisted on 'Change'. However, as ordinary citizens, we only want to live well and work well for the kingdom. Emphasising on change without proper measurement will turn out to be a show rather than a change. Emphasising on change but the king and the parliament members are not doing in that way. Pushing the change on normal citizens but parliament members are having exemption. Afterall, the whole government will not change, but claimed the whole kingdom changed. Will this change help the kingdom?

This is a myth, but is only for normal citizens, not parliament nor the king. 

Think about it in an office. Usually, there were casualties throughout the process. These casualties were at the level of middle management, and they were termed as sacrifices for the change. This level is always the hardest to survive. Lower level is always blaming this level for bad treating. Higher level is always blaming middle level for bad coaching which lead to bad productivity.

When there came an idea on eliminating middle level, is the senior level ready to take all the blames? Are they willing to think a plan to settle whatever will happen? Are they willing to coach the lower level when they are not willing to coach the middle level?

Middle level is actually the real pillars. They depict the ladders for lower level, by managing staff cost, titles, training, and coaching in all aspects even they knew there are no one supporting them in the same way. Of course, there are tones of very good leaders in top level in the world. But it is the fate to manage you whether you can meet one in your life.

Now, change with eliminating middle management is a great idea to make the kingdom fall, if the kingdom is small. Of course that depends on the current situation of the kingdom. When there are too many middle management, maybe it is a right move. When it is lacking lower level, it is really a bad time to do so. Will top management realize the situation? That is another story. 

Cultural Change

Cultural change of companies are happening everywhere. But are they doing well?

Literally, change needs to be valid when there is something different from the usual practice. So, some of the companies pick an easier way. That is kind of "symbolic change". Saying kind of marketing slogan, with colors, even office renovation/decoration, and the most important part will be some critical differences on some processes which are trivial but obviously floating somewhere.

To achieve this, sometimes will include some casualties, which termed as inevitable redundancies, under the label of restructuring. Everything sounds make sense. Do they?

Everybody knows buy-in is a necessity when going through the journey of change. But how do the top tier know those are real buy-in? Of course if your company is posting some key metrics on how to measure success, you are the lucky one. That makes sense on all the processes afterward. On the other way round, when no proper metrics is imposed, judgement will be a sales session of the advocates which is to be performed to the top tier. All the frictions from staff will be returned a label, sometimes with a guilt, who are "not willing to change". That is, you are hindering the change! Here, think twice, do they accept the change. They do! Because they have to (you know what I mean).

How about the top tier or the advocates? Do they want to change? No. Because they are changing others, all the time. In that sense, they did not change at all because they are changing others without changing themselves. Are they accepting the change? Technically, yes, because they draft the change. And they gave buy-in when making decision for the change. Metrics and governance will be another story, and it depends.

As a piece of grass, be careful, especially that 'label'. Think about it, you will accept the change anyway, why bother to take an extra label which will drag you down in your career.

Similar situation

Similar situation happened 12 years ago. In the same company, without a good boss, without a good set of gears, stuck in that stagnant water, without visionary path, without too much hope, without miracle, and luckily with pay check.

The good thing last time was, I was still young. Now, I am an uncle. Guts got smaller, head got smaller, mouth got bigger. The comfort zone is too big for now, as the burden got heavier and heavier. Sounds familiar? Right, the middle age crisis.

Believe there should be a way out, somehow. Once you get through, you will be the king. To say this afterward should be easy. So how about you are still in the middle of that lost?

Let it be? Things will be gone? Or I will be gone? This is really hard, mentally. All things could be solved, technically. The only concern is 'How?'. Some would say, if you had a clear goal, plan on it and work that out. So true. But when you are in the mist, a normal person, mankind, will you still be able to figure out a goal? I doubt.

Sorry that the dark side is a bit heavier this time. Be gone, be fade out...

Another stage

Things may go wrong or the other way round, the real deal is how you see them.

When were young, you believed you can change the world, in any ways, any how. That was at the time your internal flame was overwhelming. Once you were grown for a certain period, the flame shrunk, day by day. Your strength no matter at physical or mental side went down together. Any kind of actions with any kind of reasons came from above sound normal. This is very scary. The first question came up is: what will gonna be for the rest of life? Second: Is the world running in this way for most of the people? Third: Accepting it, is not that hard, isn't it?

The only thing left to support staying reason will probably be the pay check. In addition to the usual laziness of man kind, the comfort zone. Created a very strong standing point. But this really made one struggle. Even though it was convinced by the pay check, productivity or performance will be compromised. Then the depreciating performance will be revealed as expected. The consequence will be: increasing the risk of losing the job.

So, when you sensed something, you know you need a remedy. But the truth is you did not have many choices. Still, you have to move forward if you do not want to be compromised.

Disruption and Transformation

For the last 5 years, we heard a lot of disruptions. The word 'disruption' is quite confused nowadays. Literally, it means a process that disrupts something, no matter this 'something' is great or not worth for a glimpse. 

However, what caused the disruption is an interesting topic. In the past years, disruptions, especially in business world, are something related to evolution. You heard about business disruptions or technology disruptions. Are they destroying something? Not exactly.

Business transformation and digital transformation is a heat nowadays. Enterprises are seeking ways to help keeping their businesses on the right track. In other words, keep gaining profits. But why is this important? Are businesses not doing well due to the week global economy? It maybe one of the factors, but it is complicated.

The fast emerging new technologies, especially with the assist of internet technologies. All these impact traditional ways on doing business. I am not saying the fundamental core on how to run business, but the processes that configuring the path to run business.

Take an example, the traditional supply chain, which relies on lots of people communications with diversified information. Including emails, fax, letters, invoices, product specifications, etc. And because there are lots of communications among different parties, different industries arise.

Between product suppliers and customers, there are sourcing agencies, traders, out sourced factories, product polishing factories, wholesalers, retailers, etc. There are massive amount of information flow in the whole supply chain. With the fast developing internet technologies, for example, they speed up all information flow and streamlined some unnecessary channels. Suppliers can communicate with different factories and materials suppliers directly. No more agencies are needed.

On the other hand, customers can shop directly from product suppliers' web stores rather than visiting retailers. This reduces the amount of mark-up prices, literally (of course, that depends on marketing strategy).

All these are disrupting the way of traditional information flow among different parties in the whole supply chain. The world is demanding faster responses with the new internet technologies emerge. This kind of disruption is happening daily with new technologies emerge daily. To an enterprise, it tweaks the approach and ways to deal with their daily operations, maybe with new technologies. Or, finding new ways, even establishing new business models to keep them survive. To keep in pace with new era, change seems inevitable. This is a kind of transformation.

But, still, it is hard to say traditional industries will fall. The key is how could you seize opportunities with new technologies emerge, and how could technologies help your business. I would say, disruption will happen, transformation is up to you. 

Sandbox in comfort zone

Wherever no rules, establish one.

Interestingly, small to middle size companies usually did not have concrete and proper rules in all aspects. Some claimed a big company, but experiencing the same. Is it a real large company could be more formulated, with clearer directions and road map for staff to follow? Apologize for my narrow horizon.

The good is, in SME, you can have more opportunities to try your knowledge in order to prove they are practical. I would term this a sandbox in the comfort zone. Bottom line is, your trial will not bring your company down or create lost. 

You can try different management skills, procedures, methodologies, etc. Because, companies usually did not impose proper standard to deal with problems, or projects, in different situations. You can try what you have learned in whatever extent. Still, bottom line is to get things done. Though learning curve will not be steep enough, but you are still learning. It would be good for you to prepare your next step on your career ladder.

Second, if the way that you tried is good. You can make it as a standard in your managable areas. That is what we called, establish one for yourself when there is no rule.

Losing control !!??

I don't quite understand the world. Uncertainties and conflicts come out from everywhere, all over the world, in a similar time frame.
New national leaders emerging, but without full supports. Referendum looks not very promising in order to proof the existence of democratic experiences. Vision of globalization seems not rooting well enough into everybody's heart. Worrying the lost of benefits right in front of people rather than how their children and children's children survive on earth. Not even mention the plan to the Mars. Are they really supporting or treating it just like another Sci-Fi story?

I don't even know whether it is the world's original form with original mankind's thinking algorithm, or those instances really came up coincidentally.

I missed our peaceful world which was just 20 years ago. Though there were wars, but seems not that much and without a convincing purpose. Or, religious are usually being used to trigger a war. I don't think ordinary people love to have war all over their countries. No one wants. Or the gods that they believe want to fight to each other in order to spread their ideas? Even at their over sky high level? I don't think so.

Maybe it is just a process, just taking a really little time slot of the earth. For the sake of millions years age of the earth, it is just nothing to it. Things will pass, time will pass.

Project, not under my control

The time I joined the project, was in the mid-way. Everybody treated me as a pro since then. I don't know the requirements, scope, stakeholders...etc. And my task is to take control of it. Yup, isn't it in sane, huh?!!!

Anyway, I have to be involved, to deal with all key stakeholders, and remember, without proper knowledge and information on the project. I am not familiar with account concept, the new requirements, the timeline, the impact, the progress...etc. I don't know the technology behind the scene. What the heck! I have to deal with it.

Vendors did not have a concrete requirement specification. Users don't know how to present their concept. Actually, their senior or supervisors did not have the idea on how to execute the project. And what would result? Obviously, if the project could pass, it should be a miracle. If not, it should be expected. Users not that clear on what they need. Vendors thought they knew all the things. And they did know all the things from their perspective. And I don't know what I am doing.

Ah, I got it. I should lead the project whatever the progress or the status it is. Right, but I don't want to, because it is meaningless to do the things all over again at this critical moment. It is gonna roll out... My action is far too slow to react in a correct manner. Anyway, a good experience. Seriously?

Out of control

Head quarter is not here, we cannot take full control on all the things. US side is the head quarter. They are taking over our responsibility. But my little project is on its way, now zero status reported. What is the problem there? Hmm... obviously, first, they are out of resources. Second, I am not a PM, they would not let me know the change of the schedule. Even my PM would not keep me post. I know, I can ask for the status. But keeping all stakeholders with latest information is PM's responsibility.... ok ok. PM got so many projects on hand, may not be able to let us know latest news on time. Maybe this is his working style?

System is there, methodology is there, but nobody care. Big boss keep on pushy. Other things are loosely controlled. So what is going on? Anybody?

The world is no perfect, get back to the real world

After working for different companies in these years, I can see that the world is not as good as what we thought. 

Every time you planned to change job, may somehow due to lack of opportunities to grow your career, or dissatisfaction on the working model, or disappointment on boss's complement model. So you hope these uncomfy feelings could all be gone when you change job. The fact is, different companies have different issues that would not make staff feel comfortable. Ideal company with good working environment, good system to handle problems, projects...etc could not be found easily. It is a kind of luck. If you do think you can do something to change the environment, of course depends on your position and power that you have, just go ahead and try. You will probably get something unexpected.

Still, change job is up to your decisions, with your emotional conditions. Good luck to all of us.

4 months... almost

Starting support tasks. Time difference is actually not an issue. The most critical is I am not familiar to the system. Even a tiny issue would take me hours to figure it out. If it was really system error, nothing I could help but forward it to development team to fix.

Now, I can see, my role is not very important but better have. It could be a bridge. The expectation on me is clear. Simply put, AP role with some more management jobs on several guys in another offshore office. The problem is, not much instruction at the moment, even what deliverables my boss expected. And obviously, my boss did not put much expectation on me, and, trust neither. My judgement is doubted because I am not familiar to the system. 

So, whatever, at the time being, try to adapt the working culture, working environment, and working style. ... before finding another better place.

Idling...

Supporting work is not as what I expected. Nothing could be pro-actively planned and worked on. Maybe in the past, I was involved in lots of development works as well. This time, a lot of waiting. Even am involved in a deployment project, still have to wait for information, requirements. I cannot ask for that as our position is a supporting and operational role. 

However, the contact focal point, on the other hand, is in a huge busy period. Because there is only one person there. We cannot expect too much for that. Just, if one day the requirement is confirmed, that other side will expect us to be ready for all the things, no matter we are magicians or wizards.

Anyway, the world is running in this way. Everything should be in equilibrium. Idling time would be covered by busying period, and would be a real extreme one. I've no idea about how balance is the equilibrium. But that extreme busy period would be there soon.

When the day you don't wanna go work...

Heard that when the day you feel like not wanna go to work, it may be a sign for you to think there should be some problem with you and your work. The most possible conclusion that may draw at once is: the time to change your job. Right, that may be the end result. But there should be some reasons behind.
Usually, people may blame that the boss is not easy to deal with, or the job is too tedious, or the works are not what they wanna do. For me, a bit because of the works that I don't wanna do. Also, the company really makes me disappointed in several aspects. Well, many would say that every single company are the same. They are all difficult for employees to survive, their managements are difficult to manage, their directions are stupid somehow. Fine.... but they do make money, and you are given checks by them to pay your bills. So what is the problem?