SME Culture

[Mikeoc1962]

Sounds familiar, I spent two years at my last place trying to positively change the culture to be more thorough. Even as a Director if the MD doesn't support then you're swimming against the tide and you won't get anywhere.

Better to find somewhere that values what you do and your suggested approach - let the numpties fail without you.

[xux42]

..Better to find somewhere that values what you do and your suggested approach..

This is what I was expecting - surprised how many responses revolved around stopping to make it work TBH. There is money being spent here so I guess thats a big plus in the present climate.

So its fight or flight then. I am firmly pressing for, and implementing, some small process improvements that shouldn't alarm too much. Meanwhile the campaign to move on to Toronto in the summer begins in earnest right after New Year [rubs hands]

Bit of sparring, cv top up, then flight.

[Paddy]

Hi, I am working in a small-med offshore financial co. so 100s of staff, but Co. income in upper mid range 100s Millions GBP.
After 25years at Insurance Giants - 100,000+ staff - I am struggling to deal with the laid back, muddle through attitude here.
Example - daily batch run is manually scheduled on a Rota basis by 9-5 staff not evening shift. If the rota person is ill we depend on someone else noticing that the normal emails requesting patches and announcing the imminent online shutdown have not gone out.
This is a far cry from automated ops and auto texts by exception to people on standby that I am used to.
When I query the procedures I'm met by a mixture of incomprehension and acceptance of 'the way things are here'. This is compounded by the fact that I have only been here 8months and my immediate colleagues have been here at least 2 years.

So question is - anyone else found themselves the only person agitating for change to more formal procedures when everyone else is seemingly content to muddle through?
Is it futile to try to change things if you are the only one who seems to value rigour and precision and are trying to take everyone else out of their comfort zone?
In case you are wondering, yes about 1-2 times a year the ball is dropped in a major way and some poor saps have to work 36 hours straight to put things right.

Sounds the same one I was at.

VISA transactions unencrypted and transferred by floppy disk.

Password book kept in unlocked draw.

Years of customers statements found behind the MF printer.

No backups had worked for months.

Advice to customers how to get around money laundering regulations.

IT manager buying second hand servers sold as new and getting kickbacks.

[suityou01]

Hi, I am working in a small-med offshore financial co. so 100s of staff, but Co. income in upper mid range 100s Millions GBP.
After 25years at Insurance Giants - 100,000+ staff - I am struggling to deal with the laid back, muddle through attitude here.
Example - daily batch run is manually scheduled on a Rota basis by 9-5 staff not evening shift. If the rota person is ill we depend on someone else noticing that the normal emails requesting patches and announcing the imminent online shutdown have not gone out.
This is a far cry from automated ops and auto texts by exception to people on standby that I am used to.
When I query the procedures I'm met by a mixture of incomprehension and acceptance of 'the way things are here'. This is compounded by the fact that I have only been here 8months and my immediate colleagues have been here at least 2 years.

So question is - anyone else found themselves the only person agitating for change to more formal procedures when everyone else is seemingly content to muddle through?
Is it futile to try to change things if you are the only one who seems to value rigour and precision and are trying to take everyone else out of their comfort zone?
In case you are wondering, yes about 1-2 times a year the ball is dropped in a major way and some poor saps have to work 36 hours straight to put things right.

In these situations you need to warn folks of the dangers politely, maybe a couple of times. Then sit back and watch it fail, then put it right with good grace.

Or go on a pilgrimage to the top, building support from influential people and making promises of cost cutting that will have the CFO crawling to you on all fours.

What you have here me ole son is a status quo. If the shareholders are happy with their meagre returns, and if no one is at the helm driving change, checking in on what your competitors are doing then yours is a lone voice.

In short, put up or shut up. Harsh, but true bud.

[xux42]

*** Old thread alert ***

Better to find somewhere that values what you do and your suggested approach - let the numpties fail without you.

Just wanted to post that with time the gig calmed down from impossible to just bearably stupid (bear in mind I was living 5mins walk from the beach in Guernsey).
Eventually I did move on though (not renewed) and guess what? I've been working for a UK Life Co. since April where they value my work and are very much open to my ideas. The rate is somewhat higher and the expenses much lower.

I shouldn't have let working in somewhere idyllic override a bad engagement.

That said am staying in touch with agents and contacts in the CI..

[amcdonald]

Sounds the same one I was at.

VISA transactions unencrypted and transferred by floppy disk.

Password book kept in unlocked draw.

Years of customers statements found behind the MF printer.

No backups had worked for months.

Advice to customers how to get around money laundering regulations.

IT manager buying second hand servers sold as new and getting kickbacks.

Businesses still use floppy disks and since when has MarillionFan sold printers

[Old Greg]

Businesses still use floppy disks and since when has MarillionFan sold printers

An MF printer is a 3D printer that manufactures cuntractors.