Job Titles (a 1911 rant w/ Questions)

[archive_1911]

...since this thread went so far off on a tangent, nevermind.

[This message was edited by 1911 on 01-20-05 at 05:44 PM.]

[archive_xtinct]

I am not sure if I understand what you are referring to but I have noticed the trend of companies "awarding" fancy titles instead of salary increases. Instead of giving a "Research Associate III" a $5,000 raise while keeping the same title, the same person now gets the title "Project Specialist" with a $2,000 pay increase. Under those circumstances I am not really surprised when I run into a person with an impressive title that is wholly inappropriate for that person's skill level.

[Monster]

Its not just you.
A while ago it seemed like we were seeing a decline in that by the streamlining most companies were doing (i.e. eliminating the 25 redundant "vice-presidents" in charge of things that dont need a vice-president).
But now its like that trend is back, but this time in the guise of a bunch of B.S. titles being custom made for fools who someone, somewhere wants to promote (perhaps in leiu of a better raise) and needs to find a place for.
Not to discount unqualified individuals being promoted to positions that they dont have the experiance to back up.
As a consultant Ive had the displeasure of dealing with a number of CIO's who were promoted to the position because the company needed SOMEONE as CIO and didnt have an understanding of the role IT plays in their business to promote and individual with the required skill set for the job. They promoted more based on seeing a "deserving senior managment member" advance to the next level of managment.
Some of these companies are extremely reliant on their IT strategy and have put a buffoon at the helm.

An example is two companies we take care of. Theyre in the same market, and we've been with both of them from day one.
Both started off as full on "paper" offices, and no IT strategy.

Company 1 (started with one office)let us handle their IT direction fully. They were willing to invest and look to the future for their ROI. We dont have "free reign", but they are willing to accept that they are not IT professionals, and invest in projects that may be beneficial.

Company 2 (started with two offices)listened but did their own thing in many ways. The are short sighted and dont pay much attention to what we've advised. Ive made some suggestions as the the TCO of several projects they have insisted on (which they ignored), and its come back to haunt them at every instance.


Company 1 now has nine offices, are fully paperless and has an administrative staff that is larger than the entire company was when they first started. Several of their employees have been given awards as best in their field in the state.

Comapny two is a prime example of "the goose that laid the golden egg". Their short sightedness bought them an initial boost and saw them branch out to four offices. But as they killed the goose to get more golden eggs (i.e. the TCO/ROI issues I mentioned) they have downsized back to two, and will probably end up consolidating to one.

The people who make the decisions in Company 2 are people who were handed job titles for reasons other than qualifications, and it has come back to bite the company on its ass. But sadly these companies never learn from their mistakes...

I feel your pain 1911... I really do.

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"Will it not be felt that Virtue, however beautiful, becomes the worst of all attitudes when it is found too feeble to contend with Vice..."

	ASS Nelson Montana

[archive_Bjaarki]

Just look at the White House, for Chrissakes! I'm surprised no one mentioned that "C-level exec" (literally, in terms of his grades) who is being re-inaugurated today.

Unprepared. Uninterested. And accepts no responsibility. Just your kind of guy, 1911!

Bjaarki

First, say to yourself what you would become.
Then, do what you have to do.

[archive_LuckyDog]

Especially considering that he's spending about $40 Million for all of his hooplah today...anyone else see that as a little excessive, especially when we're in a war that was CREATED by him, for his purposes...Just a thought.

Education is a continuous process ending only when ambition comes to a halt.
-Col. R. I. Rees

[Curious George]

Sorry to hijack this thread......LD, go out and buy "The President of Good and Evil" by Peter Singer. Ulter and B recommeded it a while ago....I read it and it makes a lot of sense.

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"No one is completely worthless. They can always serve as a bad example." -Brian Oldfield