Life's Two-Minute Decisions

On Friday, I went for a very 'stimulating' session. We were roped in on the pretext that it was a meeting, where our views would matter. Instead, it was an 'instruction' session and we were asked to complete some mundane operational matters by Christmas. Our views were shot down like the Allied planes on D-day- well, it didn't matter what we say really. The bottom line was that we had to do it and what we had to do must be completed by the due date. And I did not appreciate it when my comments were disregarded and I was asked not to get 'excited'. Huh??

Who decided this? Who were the people consulted? Were the alternatives considered? The whole bloody instruction could have been sent out by e-mail instead of that particular manager calling for a meeting & disguising the whole exercise like something we had a choice in. And his choice of people to work on the 'commitee' leaves much to be desired. The programmer himself is not exactly a brightly shining bulb, to say it kindly.

I've always thought that process re-engineering would actually simplify your work. Just because we happen to have 2 weeks when students go on holiday, that doesn't mean that we don't have anything ELSE to do. I was also surprised that this esteemed manager actually suggested that those going on leave for the 2 weeks carry out their duties at home. Doesn't that breach the Employment Act or something?

Anyway, for this cause I am prepared to question the decision-makers. Because I care. And because I do not want to put my effort and time in something that will not work out and may be abandoned in the end. God knows how many 'great ideas' and 'new processes' have died a quiet death while some simply looked pretty without much purpose.