How can any senior management say "No." to saving >S$20,000 per annum in cost of maintenance of IT systems?
But in some organizations, it seems that cost savings itself is not sufficient justification to take away the pet system of a particularly powerful member of the senior management, even if he is the only active user. And we were offering the same functionality, only through another application which is no less robust.
I never thought of playing office politics, but I've read enough and attended some professional courses to realise that yes, it happens in real life, even in major corporations, and if I want things to change, I gotta to know what's inside the mind of that "Mandarin",
It's not just that if I pull this off, I got something nice to add to my annual performance review on meeting, or even exceeding my KPI. (First thing to bear in mind that it is my (group's) KPI, not the Mandarin's KPI.
It's not just that my own group leader also wanted a feather in the cap.
Part of it is me can't stand to see inefficient use of IT, i.e., IT pride.
Another part is professional pride.
Unlike other over promoted mediocres who cannot stand the idea of having their own budget cuts, I happen to know this particular Mandarin is rather good at his job and not so LC (low-class).
From all the past courses and books I read, if I'm gonna get anywhere, I gotta get inside the mind of this Mandarin, and that means I got to "Ah" with him if I'm to make any progress.
Personally, I've disdained office politics, and I'm wondering after more than 10 years of staying aloof (and paying the price, politically), this is where I start the first step to 'crossing over to the Dark Side'.
*sigh*
The Darkside is stronger. Give in to your hate and anger. Join us, Darth Beagle!
ReplyDeletekehehe... Resist the temptation O valiant one! ... Ask for wisdom easier. :)
ReplyDeleteYou are the chosen one... who will bring balance to the force... Too long have you been lost to us... too long have you treaded the one-sided path. Fear not the power of the darkside... Embrace your destiny and claim what is rightfully yours!
ReplyDeleteThe saga has just begun ... my group leader has promised our Head of Application Delivery (that's the 2nd most powerful Mandarin in the IT Div) would take it up with her counterpart in the end-users division ...
ReplyDeleteA bitter war seemed inevitable ...
Incidentally ... the savings per annum had just been 'corrected' to S$35,000 - S$40,000 ...
Being older and somewhat wiser now, I think it is mostly unavoidable if you want to climb the corporate ladder. Its how you look at it, its all about having good relations and being professional means you sometimes have to cultivate good relations with people you might not otherwise.
ReplyDeleteBeing able to work and get along with different people is a valuable management skill.
Oh, BTW, don't think one can avoid this by coming out to do your own business, you will soon realise the same rules apply. ;-)
Don't I know it.
ReplyDeleteThat's why I do wish to win some lucky draw and have lots of $$$ ... so that I can choose to do something different, something new.
1. Start a comic company - the Singapore comic scene is rather abyssmal.
2. Open a bakso restaurant, I'll probably be my own best customer. ha ha
3. Go into the publishing business - tonnes of Chinese materials out there untranslated ...
4. Try some way-out science experiments which might just be crazy enough to work and have ordinary daily applications.
Okay, enough day dreaming for now.
Or you can be a freelance writer, you are amazingly good at it. Being freelance means u can write anything and anytime you like. Lots of freedom.
ReplyDeleteDid freelance work before... it can be pretty harrowing sometimes. Freedom yes, but sometimes it depends a lot upon your clients and income can be pretty irregular, some months you are on a surplus and some on a deficit. Truly for a person with family responsiblities, it can be pretty uncomfortable. Whilst for a single, it would mean the person must have lots of discipline to ensure the months ahead are fully occupied.
ReplyDeleteGoing over to the Dark side? Actually, just being pragmatic - I remember someone told me long ago about working with your boss/superior. It is essential to remember that the someone whom you call your boss is there because he had a certain quality that his boss had seen in him; it is possible that his boss liked the way he work. I am not suggesting to work the same way as him, but at least understand why he had been promoted or why is he sitting in that chair.
Some boss might have worked the hard way up and he expects his subordinates to the same thing, however, there are still some boss who sees the problem and tries to tell his subordinate to avoid the pitfalls he had made. It then depends on the subordinate to respond. Of course we will have some bosses that were placed there by the virture of their stock holdings and connections.
At this point veiwing from the outside, I noted you could see an inevitable war will erupt, one of the few things perhaps can happen is that the two heads will be looking to garner support. Know that when the elephants make war, the grass suffer; when the elephants make love, the grass will still suffer. There will be choices to make and lives to live. Given your insight of things, certainly you will come out just fine.