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IBM Consulting is done playing around, orders immediate return to office
The Register ^ | 18 January 2024 | Thomas Claburn

Posted on 01/19/2024 11:30:57 AM PST by ShadowAce

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To: EEGator

I used to spend a lot of time keeping the old programs running even if it meant keeping old operating systems and old machines running.


41 posted on 01/19/2024 11:55:18 AM PST by Reily (!!)
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To: Rowdyone

The only “creativity” and “urgency” we had in our offices were the creative and very loud phone discussions LaQuisha had three cubicles away about how “urgent” her “good boy’s” latest problems were with local law enforcement.

Lol.


42 posted on 01/19/2024 11:55:32 AM PST by cgbg ("Our democracy" = Their Kleptocracy)
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To: 1Old Pro

I’m glad I’m retired.

I don’t see how I could get my old job done at home [working with relatively large physical “properties” to design, build, program and test them for function].


43 posted on 01/19/2024 11:56:08 AM PST by Paladin2
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To: ShadowAce

I wonder how much of this is a white-privilege thingy??? We need workers in the office, so that we can have do-nothing middle managers to watch over them???

I don’t think that is all there is to it and I do believe for some jobs you need an office environment. But IBM is demanding everybody come in three days a week, and there are surely a bunch of employees who could do their work remotely.


44 posted on 01/19/2024 11:58:09 AM PST by Penelope Dreadful (And there is Pansies, that's for Thoughts. +Sodomy & Abortion are NOT cornerstones of Civilization! )
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To: Reily

“...keeping old operating systems and old machines running....”

Dat chit used to actually work great....


45 posted on 01/19/2024 11:58:13 AM PST by Paladin2
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To: Paladin2
I don’t see how I could get my old job done at home [working with relatively large physical “properties” to design, build, program and test them for function].

Some jobs aren't conducive to this, Hospital workers are a good example, maybe 5-10% could work from home.

46 posted on 01/19/2024 11:58:27 AM PST by 1Old Pro
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To: Reily

We liked people like you.

Without exaggeration, it’s every single program. It seems deliberate.


47 posted on 01/19/2024 11:58:48 AM PST by EEGator
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To: Penelope Dreadful

Notice the example of the employee quoted in the article that had a boss three states away.

My boss was two states away.

Going to the office accomplished nothing.

They had to measure me remotely—no matter where I was and no matter where they were.

Once a quarter we all traveled to HQ for a week to hang out together.

There was some real work done—but it was mostly parties.


48 posted on 01/19/2024 12:02:46 PM PST by cgbg ("Our democracy" = Their Kleptocracy)
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To: ShadowAce
"Winning in the marketplace demands our collective focus and alignment on innovation, speed, and execution. We believe alignment includes face-to-face interaction as it drives the engagement, productivity, and the culture we need to bring world-class client services and products to market." -- John Granger, SVP of IBM Consulting

WINNER!

Meaningless Buzzwords Blather of the Year!!


49 posted on 01/19/2024 12:05:44 PM PST by ProtectOurFreedom (“Occupy your mind with good thoughts or your enemy will fill them with bad ones.” ~ Thomas More)
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To: ShadowAce

Part of the problem for managers is that many lack ways to assess the productivity of remote workers.

BS

They are either meeting or exceeding KPI’s or MBO’s or they are not.

My boss had this idiotic and anachronistic demand that sales come to office before going to the field.

Why?

There was no meeting of any kind so WTF for?

I was number rep in sales and GP.

I came and went as I please until one day, after 3 years, he called a meeting with little old me.

He informed me that in the interview I was told I would be in the office everyday before hitting the field.

I informed if I even knew that was a requirement I would not have agreed to come here.

He then proceeded to tell me that any sales job I have that is a requirement.

I LOL’d and said “I have been in sales my entire, outside sales and the only time anyone ever wanted to see me was for Monday morning sales meeting, which was fine by me, so I could brag and let everyone know how much I sold so far.

The only other time they required my presence was for recognition awards and “Hell Yeah!” I was there”.

My customers don’t come to the office and I will not be caught talking around the water cooler or coffee maker.

“I’m completely okay if you need someone to fulfill your requirement to be in the office but, my job is to put numbers on a board and with good GP. I do both exceptionally well but, I want you to be happy and will be fine if you need someone to fulfill that requirement” I explained.

Never heard about it again....

They told me to sell 10 I regularly sold 30.

They told me GP was minimum 45% I averaged 74%....

The numbers are on the board. Neither one of us can hide but, maybe only one of us right....

cuz being in the office is a Yuge waste of time...


50 posted on 01/19/2024 12:06:40 PM PST by Vendome (I've Gotta Be Me https://youtu.be/wH-pk2vZG2M)
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To: HamiltonJay

KPMG just walked off from their RE sink hole

Saleforce no longer occupies their own tower

and so forth...


51 posted on 01/19/2024 12:08:18 PM PST by Vendome (I've Gotta Be Me https://youtu.be/wH-pk2vZG2M)
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To: cgbg

[Party on, dude...]


52 posted on 01/19/2024 12:08:31 PM PST by Paladin2
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To: ShadowAce

So I’ll just come out and admit it. I totally goofed off while working from home during the pandemic. I did figure out what work needs to get done and when I needed to be available throughout the day. Somehow or another, still got some recognition for my work. But to say I got more done at home versus work would simply not be telling the truth. And I have no guilt about. None.


53 posted on 01/19/2024 12:08:49 PM PST by flatpickingflyer
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To: Penelope Dreadful
We need workers in the office, so that we can have do-nothing middle managers to watch over them???

I don't want make a sweeping statement, but I think one of the side issues right now is that many middle managers were let go a while ago. Perhaps not at IBM (though I expect so). The middle managers had already been identified as "dead weight" so they got hollowed out.

What that means -- is that the great mass of "worker bees" have little chance of moving up. There's no path to the top since so many middle positions are gone. So the "entry level" positions are now seen as dead-end jobs that lead to paychecks (which is nice) but do not lead to careers (which is what people want).

And although some middle management really was "dead weight", a lot of those folks actually knew how to lead a team, how to measure performance, how to manage a project. Good management is really critical and I think many companies decided to "save money" by getting rid of it.

Now they have "worker bees" at home and the companies can't figure out how to manage them.

54 posted on 01/19/2024 12:09:17 PM PST by ClearCase_guy
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To: Gaffer

Tele everything is crap.

It doesn’t work well for school, college, government offices, doctors...

It’s another fad that was amplified by Covid and taken far beyond its practical best application.


55 posted on 01/19/2024 12:09:47 PM PST by Red6
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To: Vendome

I was number 1 rep in sales and GP.


56 posted on 01/19/2024 12:10:04 PM PST by Vendome (I've Gotta Be Me https://youtu.be/wH-pk2vZG2M)
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To: EEGator

Unfortunately it will probably take an existential war to get the US back on track, assuming we win it.


57 posted on 01/19/2024 12:10:13 PM PST by mikey_hates_everything
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To: mikey_hates_everything

I agree. It’s bad that my hopes rest on a couple billion dead.
If there’s another way out, it escapes me.


58 posted on 01/19/2024 12:12:25 PM PST by EEGator
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To: EEGator

IT hated me! They wanted standardization to make their lives easier. The network ran with no glitches was their measure of success. Individual computers at each node doing things the company needed done to make customers happy, not their problem! Glad I retired and consult now - when I feel like it.


59 posted on 01/19/2024 12:12:45 PM PST by Reily (!!)
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To: ClearCase_guy
"This is all about the real estate.
It’s not about productivity.
"

^^ That's exactly what this is about. ^^

The productivity of these kinds of jobs can, and are, easily monitored from anywhere there is connectivity whether that's in an office next to a group of cubicles, or from the other side of the planet.

The only time "IT" personnel must be in person, is if they are those that physically install or maintain hardware (servers, routers, etc). The rest can type on a computer/video conference/pick up a phone from anywhere.

The only physical space these companies need are for data centers and the like.

Instead, they have to justify paying for and maintaining (i.e. operating, cleaning costs, etc) their office buildings by mandating people drive/commute in so they can sit in a chair at the office and do the same exact thing otherwise.

60 posted on 01/19/2024 12:14:19 PM PST by rxsid (HOW CAN A NATURAL BORN CITIZEN'S STATUS BE "GOVERNED" BY GREAT BRITAIN? - Leo Donofrio (2009))
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