The MPE Call to Action !!!

[Scott Gates]

Blue,

It has MUCH to do with a large group of MPE-centric Powerhouse programmers
who will likely find ourselves unemployable after 2006.  Many of us have
experienced some form of OS discrimination by hiring managers who don't
understand that with a few minor exceptions Powerhouse on an HP is the same
as it is on VMS or any of the other OS's that run Powerhouse.  For many
programming tasks on various platforms, COBOL is COBOL, PH is PH, etc. etc.
But a manager who took 2 years learning how to log on, he/she doesn't think
we programmers are smart enough to make the adjustment quickly.  They write
specs for the EXACT hardware and software the company uses and aren't
knowledgeable enough to know when they can deviate from the "wish list".
This is how you find requests for COBOL programmers who are Oracle DBA's,
Visual Basic Developers, and experienced webmasters with 10 years experience
required for all of it.  I've seen job postings requiring 5 years experience
in 2 year old technology.

Many of us will also find ourselves replaced with the new equipment. Many US
companies have virtually stopped investing in training employees on new
platforms because they feel they're easier to just throw out.  I've seen it
dozens of times, new platforms are purchased. A consulting firm is hired to
'help' with the conversion process, then, except for a few managerial track
people, the old people are expected to leave when the new system comes
on-line because the conversion vendor will have a pool of experienced, and
usually cheaper, people to replace them.

Furthermore, responding to your second posting, if Cognos' installation fees
for large shops weren't so close to the national debt of several small
nations, I'm sure there would be MANY more applications written in it.
Accountants concerned with the bottom line can't see the far beyond a one
year ROI in which PH would be quite expensive.  But spread out beyond that
to a 5 to 7 year time frame and PH becomes much more attractive because of
cheaper development and maintenance costs.  I've only worked at one company
that uses any PH where it was purchased separately from a vendor application
like Amisys or TPA.  That company purchased the QUIZ component so USERS
could write their own reports, but we won't recount that nightmare here.
They are now a SAP shop, and trust me, they deserve each other.  
Lastly, Oracle apps, while more expensive, are much better marketed to
decision makers who have no previous development experience, just as SAP is
sold to accountants who've never worked in an IT shop. IMHO, Oracle and SAP
have been selling sizzle for years now and have yet to deliver the beef,
much less cook it.  

So, we MPE PH programmers are asking our colleagues to stand and be counted,
before we're asked to clean out our desks and turn the lights out before we
leave.  

Scott
I want my MPE!  
Vive la 3K!

-----Original Message-----
From: Edis, Bob [mailto:BEdis@usbnc.org]
Sent: Friday, March 08, 2002 11:50 AM
To: PowerHouse List (E-mail)
Subject: RE: The MPE Call to Action !!!


Excuse me, but what does this have to do with PowerHouse?  
<SNIP>
Blue