Management Logic

[CairnsDuc]

G'day all

I run a photo lab for a large electrical retailer, The lab use's 4 IBM Servers to run the system.
1 of those servers broke down yesterday, the power supply blew up and shorted out, this happened mid afternoon (about 2:30pm) We rang the support line who figure out that the power supply has died and they will send another.
This support call was placed at 3:30pm (4:30pm Vic time)
(it took us an hour to figure out what was tripping the breakers, with 4 Servers, 6 Customer Kiosks, The Massive Photo printer, 2 routers, 2 modems, scanner and more extension leads, double adaptors and power boards than I care to think of because we have a cheap chinese owner who never put in enough power points to begin with)

The part will leave Melbourne today (friday)

So, in the mean time the lab is closed, we can do no work, with this server down the system is dead, So I put up signs and rang all of the local professional Photographers who print with us and let them know.

So I ask the Boss can I take today off (friday) because the part will not arrive until monday (and I'm rostered off Sat/Sun anyway), and with no Lab I would be just sitting there all day surfing the web or watching movies on my iPod, I offered to take it as a annual leave day or a day without pay. I even said to him, if, by some miracle the part arrives today, call me and I'll come in fit the part and work the rest of the day to get the system back up and running.
There is also 3 staff in the Dept that the photo lab is based who know what is going on and can answer any questions that may arise (but with big signs that say "Due to Breakdown, Photo Printing is Unavailable until Monday) what more information is needed?

NO! I need you in the Lab......

When I politely ask why, no response.....

So, today, I go to work to sit there and do nothing for 8 hours, all the staff agreed with me, even the store 2IC and sales manager agreed there was no point me being there, But if the owner of the store wants to pay me to sit on my ass all day and do nothing, so be it.
There is a young guy who is a casual worker who looks after the lab on my days off, he was canceled and told have the weekend off.

I'm not angry or pissed off, just surprised at the logic (or lack thereof) It would be a normal work day for me anyway, so it does not ruin any plans, and the long weekend would have been nice (but running a photo lab is hardly a stressful job  ), he has given me days off without pay before when I have asked for them, I figure the machine is down and we are losing money anyway, so why pay me to sit around all day and lose more money?

But, really, what would be the logic on this one?

[craigo]

"Management Logic" is an oxymoron Cairnsduc. I wish my boss paid me to surf the net all day. oh wait...

[goldFiSh]

The no answer may be a sign that there really was no logic behind it.

I'm in a management role of around 50 staff, and I'm sure I've made my share of "less than well thought out" decisions and no doubt will continue to do so. I've found that if I spend the 10 secs to explain my reasoning of a  decision to those affected, it will easier make sense to all, or I'll realise that I have not thought about it enough. But I do concede that my management style may be a little more progressive than the impression I get from your story!

[dragonworld.]

I work for a large International German company that supplies trains, mobiles, electronics (Ducati electrickery components ) just to mention just some of its businesses. And they couldnt organise a moment of pleasure in a house of ill repute !!

The 2IC sits on his puter all day playing with Fleabay, the Fuhrer sits in his office and doesnt talk to anyone except to ream them. And the "Engineeer" (Who is an electrician by trade) and makes mechanical engineering decisions which he is NOT qualified to do, pumps out a consistant stream of useless and inane memos to the workshop. 

I worked with the Germans at VW and although they could be a right pain in the arse with their singlemindedness and sometimes arrogance, there was no questioning their efficiency and business acumen. 

But this bunch of clowns!! 

 Little wonder they didnt get the new tender to supply more trains for the Victorian rail network. 

We get the blame for all the management cockups and poor decisions, and we are only doing as they direct!

When I was doing some business studies the lecturer said that in management there is the "Gravity Effect", and that shit flows downhill!
And that too many management groups "blame everyone/everything else except themselves and will not take any responsibilty for their own decisions."

 As a consultant he saw quite often his recommendations  (Which the businessw paid for  ) would be ignored because they didnt fit in with what THEY believed was wrong.

Its a worry!!

[Big T]

I wonder some times how businesses survive. Sadly what Cairnsduc, dragonworld and others encounter is far to common in this day and age.... 

I am one of the lucky ones who works for a great company.  Our line managers are able to make snap decisions (within guide lines) and management support them. At the end of the day we have targets to meet and it is up to the individual teams on how they do that. Hell we are even able to provide great ideas back up the management chain.  

Our Asia Pacific / Americas International CEO even comes round for chat every now and then....... 

[dragonworld.]

I wonder some times how businesses survive. Sadly what Cairnsduc, dragonworld and others encounter is far to common in this day and age.... 

I am one of the lucky ones who works for a great company.  Our line managers are able to make snap decisions (within guide lines) and management support them. At the end of the day we have targets to meet and it is up to the individual teams on how they do that. Hell we are even able to provide great ideas back up the management chain.  

Our Asia Pacific / Americas International CEO even comes round for chat every now and then....... 

Yeah Big it aint rocket science. 

Good communication-both ways, with good people-both ways, and heads out of arse and the realisation that its not just the management that makes a successful business. 

[Dockstrada]

I would have got you on garden duties its natural relaxation.

 Or wash my car my bike clean my office make me coffee ,do some stand up comedy,Give your self an uppercut just to See the outcome, you know shit like that .

[Big T]

In a past life I worked for a CEO who I went to school with and he was a dick even back then.

He had his desk (which was always immaculate) facing the door so when you walked in the first thing you would see is the big name plate with him name and title. Then his chair was raised to be higher than the chairs you had to sit in so he could look down on you. He was on a huge power trip.

So whenever I had to see him I would walk past the chairs, round his desk and stand next to him so he had to loom up at me.... He hated it...

Off to the side he had a door to his PA who he treated quite badly. He would call out from his office (which the whole office would hear):
"Mary get me a cup of tea".
"Mary get me so and so on the phone".
"Mary take a letter".

Then one day Mary went on AL and we had Annabel (a young country gal) fill in. So the boss continued to treat Annabel the same with barking orders to her. By day 4 she was getting jack of all this. Then all was quiet in the office one afternoon and the following conversation took place:

Boss: Annabel get me a cup of tea.
Annabel: Get it your f..k..g self (she then walked out the office)....

There was a silent cheer that went up round the office.

To cut a long story short, the Boss was sacked by the Chairman sometime later for sexual harassment of his PA....

What goes around comes around...

[CairnsDuc]

Well, it gets better!! 

IBM has rung and advised due to some incorrect info about which server had the problem supplied to them by the company that installed the lab for us, the wrong parts were sent and now the correct parts will be sent today, they should arrive here mon or tues! Joy!

So it is 100% confirmed our lab will be down and out of action until Monday at the earliest!

I Emailed this info to the Boss who is having a day off, he emailed me back advising that he had rung the guy who covers for me over the weekend who was told have the weekend off has been told now he has to come in and do lab duty even though there is no work, the machine is broken and he will have nothing to do! 

WTF?!?!?

I mean seriously... WTF?!?!?

[dragonworld.]

In a past life I worked for a CEO who I went to school with and he was a dick even back then.

He had his desk (which was always immaculate) facing the door so when you walked in the first thing you would see is the big name plate with him name and title. Then his chair was raised to be higher than the chairs you had to sit in so he could look down on you. He was on a huge power trip.

So whenever I had to see him I would walk past the chairs, round his desk and stand next to him so he had to loom up at me.... He hated it...

Off to the side he had a door to his PA who he treated quite badly. He would call out from his office (which the whole office would hear):
"Mary get me a cup of tea".
"Mary get me so and so on the phone".
"Mary take a letter".

Then one day Mary went on AL and we had Annabel (a young country gal) fill in. So the boss continued to treat Annabel the same with barking orders to her. By day 4 she was getting jack of all this. Then all was quiet in the office one afternoon and the following conversation took place:

Boss: Annabel get me a cup of tea.
Annabel: Get it your f..k..g self (she then walked out the office)....

There was a silent cheer that went up round the office.

To cut a long story short, the Boss was sacked by the Chairman sometime later for sexual harassment of his PA....

What goes around comes around...

Sounds like this knob did the manager training course with modules like:

Power dressing

power positioning of office furniture

Intimidation of staff

etc, etc.

They generally think that they are the only ones that know these tricks and cant cope when it gets used on them . (Go Big )

[dragonworld.]

Well, it gets better!! 

IBM has rung and advised due to some info about which server had the problem by the company that installed the lab for us, the wrong parts were sent and now the correct parts will be sent today, they should arrive here mon or tues!

So it is 100% confirmed our lab will be down and out of action until Monday at the earliest!

I Emailed this info to the Boss who is having a day off, he emailed me back advising that he had rung the guy who covers for me over the weekend who was told have the weekend off has been told now he has to come in and do lab duty even though there is no work, the machine is broken and he will have nothing to do! 

WTF?!?!?

I mean seriously... WTF?!?!?

Bring the waste of money to the attention of the owners/franchisors?? Stiff the knob.  (Just 'cos ya can!! )

[CairnsDuc]

sad part is.....
The Boss I refer to is the owner!! 

[dragonworld.]

sad part is.....
The Boss I refer to is the owner!! 

Bugger.  . Then he is a bigger dick than first thought. 

[mostro900]

Bugger.  . Then he is a bigger dick than first thought. 

No accounting for true stupidity.

[Betty]

Public service mentality ... not the type to own their own business.