Job Opportunity

[Jon (Jarod) Hawks]

ING - Hartford, CT
Contact: Dale Ianni, Chief Architect
Mission: Proof-of-Concept for MetaMatrix Tool
Position: Project Manager

After agreeing we would share opportunities with each
other, I thought it should be my turn. Of course, it
comes along with that wonderful, sarcastic flavor that
only 3 of you, out there, actually appreciate.

After talking with Babu, an ING architect, I was
convinced this crew has limited knowledge of living
with a Meta Repository, but high hopes it will be a
silver bullet. When I asked what the Meta-Repository
would be used for, I got a blank,
possum-in-the-headlights, stare. Then, I heard the
words sqeak out, "virtual view." He appeared to have
no idea about the cartesian-products that are so
available from his data. At least that is what I could
glean. Be prepared for handling a convesation that has
no clarity and no apparent stream of consciousness.
MetaMatrix could (and perhaps should) be sued by
Cognos, except you cannot be sued for an idea. The
tool is a simple repository for database and data
files, (however the sales people have a language of
new words, that make data files sound like god-created
valuables). The repository is constructed using their
modeling tool, and capable of receiving an XMI data
from ERWin or other XMI capable modeling tool. It
provides the capability to query multiple sources of
data, across a network, and provide a virtual view.
(Imagine that!) 

This revolutinary concept is well presented and
audiences at-large flock to hear the new words
describing a 25 yr old technology. However, anyone
outside of this audience, is new to this concept. 

ING, the 8th largest employer in the world, is new to
the game. Prime cuts for the hungry and for those who
wish to nod their head and simply say "yes" I know how
to make a tool like that work. Be prepared, they are
completely proud of the understanding they already
possess and highly Unwilling to admit they don't know
about Meta Repositories and tools like Quiz, er
Meta-Query and QTP, er, Meta-Update.  

The Project Manager position requires a stand-alone
capable person, even though, it seems there are
supposed to be others on the team, I got the feeling
they would be looking over your shoulder, learning
what a Phd/Schema, er Meta-Base, can do. I believe you
should consider being a tool-jockey as well as
programmer, however, these requirements seem extremely
fluid. Since they don't know what they want, they just
call it, PM. And, the requirements and definitions for
the Proof are not documented. 

You have the company, the contact and the timing is
critical for this position. "Colorful people,"
recommended. Bring good Karma with you. Make sure you
stick to smiling and nodding and for goodness sake,
don't bring up a real 4GL with a MetaRepository, it
will definitely cause cognitive dissonance. I don't
recall hearing many questions or discussion about
managing an actual project. No mission statement, no
statement of work, and schedule and resources were
sketchy at best. I wasn't really sure they used the
Metholdology they bought from PWC, but I do know it
looked just like SDM, which was the predecessor at
Coopers and Lybrand, just prior to their merger with
Price-Waterhouse. So, there it is. If you have a
pleasant personality, and some charm, the job is
yours. 

I do want you to know, this is a legitimate job
opportunity, and needs to be filled ASAP. Your best
contact is Bob O'Meara or Bob Scandura, of Computer
Staffing in Hartford, CT. They asked me if I knew of
anybody in the business, if I might be able to
recommend them.

(Fr) Sr. Platform Architect, Pfizer R&D and Creator of
the Corporate Information Factory, Imagine That. Seems
like I'll never get out of here.



=====