Subject: Why is it necessary for people to become managers? To: PipingDesign@yahoogroups.com
Its all to do with how far down the food chain and control over circumstances. Why do you think unions started.
"Confident, skilled and experienced people need to stay where they are".
They are always forced to shop around , trying to beg the best deal they can
because they are considered replaceable and their skills rarely understood
and valued.
I've heard many times.. "any draftsperson/engineer/designer/planner/xxx" will do. Skilled journeyman/tradepeople are more valued because they are more scarce and/or protected by their unions and there is a much greater investment by the owner in their knowledge of the businees they are in. If the beleif system is that any substitution can be made, it has little perceived value. The lower down the totem the more readily replaced by more compliant/ less questioning/cheaper/less qualified/better looking or better golf score/less skilled persons.
"need to stay where they are........" They dont and wont, because you have
to move up to survive or be perpetually vulnerable. They become disposable
commoditized "human resources" (like the desks and erasers) with no control
over their livelihood or direction (told what to do) ... beaten down to the
lowest price or function . The bad managers issue (need less) is quite
valid. Many are just expediters... ie work faster/harder. They rarely have
the knowledge or good judgement.
How do you assess or value skilled or quality practitioners when price is
the over-riding criteria and QBS is an under-rated or ill executed nebulous
criteria. Only when price.. ie. the bottom dollar is equal, is skill the
determinant.
Ever noticed how when layoffs come the line workers, grunts, technicians of their professions are laid off in droves, often with little rationale other than on the "Wrong project" by accident or just axing with abandon. The managers , "project managers/PEs" - those ""in or closer to the drivers seat"" survive longer or invoke the Peter principle. Who lost their money / pensions in BRE-ex , Nortel, Enron.., Argentina... Worldcom ........
Fight your way up or Sink, its a dog eat dog world....... you trolled.......bite for grabs.
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-----Original Message-----
From: Pete's Mail [mailto:peteburn@optonline.net]
Sent: Saturday, April 24, 2004 7:03 PM
To: PipingDesign@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [PipingDesign] New Current Interesting Link - Drawing on Ex
"OK, here we go. Seatbelts fastened?
Why is it necessary for people to become managers? What is the appeal in it, aside from (perhaps) money and "status"? Are these two things more important that doing what you enjoy and doing it well?"
I remember reading here one of the regulars saying "if your over 45 you had better be in management " or something similar. That comment opened my eyes a little. I then looked around and noticed MANY senior people suddenly out of work at the age of 55 or so. Some people have people skills and move on to mangement, some with no people skills do also. But about those out of work, I believe the ones that stay at the working level - their salaries and even just cost of living increases put them in a precarious spot. A spot that gets booted out, to be replaced by a younger cheaper person. It seems to me, for you to be secure you need to move up. The computer field looks like the worst in this regard. I know a highly skilled Oracle systems guy that has been in and out of Oracle a couple of times and is now consulting.
Pete
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Yahoo! Groups Links Received on Sat Apr 24 22:25:00 2004
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