Theoretical question (getting off topic but, of general conce rn)

[Johnson, Tracy]

Funny, last night, err ... this morning at 1230 AM
on the Sci Fi channel, they had an old Twilight Zone
episode where an "Efficiency Expert" was replacing
personnel right and left with computers.

"Computers don't need pension plans or get sick."

The 2nd to last person to be fired was the 
"Routine Maintenance" employee of the new
machines.

The last two scenes, the efficiency expert was 
finally fired also, echoing all the same statements 
all the other prior employees he had fired said.

Then it cuts to the last scene, where the 
Efficiency Expert's office is now occupied 
by none other than the 1950's classic creature,
"Robby the Robot."

BT
NNNN
Tracy Johnson
MSI Schaevitz Sensors 

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Guy Werry [mailto:guy.werry@hbms.ca]
> Sent: Friday, November 08, 2002 10:11 AM
> To: 'Powerh-L (E-mail)
> Cc: Guy Werry
> Subject: RE: Theoretical question (getting off topic but, of general
> conce rn) 
> 
> 
> I agree with Scott that this is a foolish and, to me, tragic 
> way of doing
> things.  If you're not willing to invest in your people then you start
> sending dangerous messages.  My own story is not a 'Canadian' 
> situation.
> It's perhaps more of a mining story - we are in a remote 
> location - 4 hours
> drive over a very lonely road to the nearest city of any size (40 000
> people) and we have historically had problems recruiting new people.
> Consultants are not an attractive way to do business due to 
> the high cost of
> transportation (you can fly Winnipeg to Florida much more cheaply that
> Winnipeg to here - Flin Flon).
> 
> For me it just makes sense to drag as many people into new 
> technology and
> situations as what you can ... it produces more flexible and valuable
> employees in the long run.  Unfortunately, we don't always get the
> opportunity.
> 
> G.L. (Guy) Werry 
> Senior Systems Analyst
> Hudson Bay Mining & Smelting
> Ph:  204-687-2374
> Fax: 204-687-2771
> guy.werry@hbms.ca
> 
>  -----Original Message-----
> From: 	Gates, Scott [mailto:SGates@olbh.com] 
> Sent:	November 8, 2002 8:40 AM
> To:	'Powerh-L (E-mail)
> Cc:	'Guy Werry'
> Subject:	RE: Theoretical question (getting off topic 
> but, of general
> conce rn) 
> 
> The problem is not "WILLINGNESS" to diversify.  It is being 
> PERMITTED to
> diversify.  I'm not sure how things run in Canada, but south 
> of the Canadian
> border, companies generally set the people on the curb with the old
> hardware.   We're seeing that now with a new materials 
> management project.
> Millions of dollars have been allocated for hardware and 
> software upgrades
> and replacements, $0 (Zero, Nil, Nada) for training of people 
> to maintain
> it.   And so, one or more of our employees will be replaced 
> with someone
> else (probably at a higher salary) rather than spend the 
> $10000 and two
> weeks to train the guy who already works for the company.   
>  
> Employees are expected to be already trained on any hardware/software
> systems the company purchases in the future, including 
> technologies that
> didn't exist when the employee was hired. Companies have 
> become EXTREMELY
> pennywise and pound foolish when it comes to qualifications.  
> Nobody gets
> trained anymore, they just get replaced with consultants.  
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Guy Werry [mailto:guy.werry@hbms.ca]
> Sent: Friday, November 08, 2002 9:23 AM
> To: powerh-l@lists.swau.edu
> Subject: RE: Theoretical question
> 
> 
> As a dinosoar myself, going all the way back to the PUNCH 
> CARD DAYS (albeit
> only briefly), is part of the problem looking for a strictly 
> HP3000/ph site?
> I've been fortunate in a way, I've been forced to migrate 
> machines / OSs
> several times (while being with the same corporation) ... 
> unless a person is
> willing to diversify, life can get difficult.
>  
> Guy Werry
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Kent Heatherington [mailto:kent.heatherington@sympatico.ca]
> Sent: November 8, 2002 8:17 AM
> To: powerh-l@lists.swau.edu
> Subject: Theoretical question
> 
> 
> Interesting discussion, but I want to add something to the 
> mix.  I don't
> think the issue of whether or not life would go on with 
> support/unsupported
> PowerHouse and HP3000 is possible.
>  
> We will never get to find out, because any firm with 
> shareholders etc.. is
> not going to want to give any consideration to having their 
> systems run on
> unsupported hardware and software.  Who on earth would want 
> to bet their
> career and providing systems in such an environment. What 
> business would
> want their systems which support their ability to make money, 
>  operating
> under such
> a premise.
>  
> I would bet within 3 years you'll be hard pressed to find an 
> hp3000/ph site
> anywhere.  In this ENRON environment,
> company brass are going to be very anxious to have everything in the
> business, including their accounting 
> practices right and proper !
>  
>  Its already difficult to find any sort of job/contract in 
> the PowerHouse
> area.  I live in Cognos's home town, and their is 0 PowerHouse work
> available period ! 
>  
> My 2 cents into the discussion...
>  
> Kent Heatherington
> Unemployed Dinosaur PowerHouse Programmer
>  
>  
>  
>  
> 
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