Advice needed about moving into contracting

[NickIT]

Clearcase...Rational...

Forgive my ignorance but I thought Rational was also a ITSM tool...or am I losing it! LOL

[CM-G]

Indeed it is...

The Rational tools are mainly for software development rather than ITSM but ClearQuest (Rational's change management db) can be setup to manage ITIL based incidents, problems and changes etc but I wouldnt say its really intended for that purpose....

Leeds is actually really booming now, in-fact to be fair there's more IT up north now than there ever has been.....

[CM-G]

How long have you been contracting? Would you ever consider going back to being a permi?

[NickIT]

So you can use Clearcase as a CMDB basically?

I am going to have to do some reading!

Many thanks for the heads up....

I have noticed a fair few roles up there....mainly the NHS projects??

[NickIT]

How long have you been contracting? Would you ever consider going back to being a permi?

All told about 6 or 7 years...

Funnily enough I just left a permie job as I had enough of office politics preventing me from doing my job.

Therefore I am looking at getting back into contracting.

[CM-G]

Snap!! Office politics are the bain of my life!!!! I could write a book on how politics stop me from doing what I need to..but I'd like to think that I'm not too bitter

You could use ClearQuest. ClearCase is the Rational version control tool. ClearQuest is the Rational change management db application. I'd look at using other tools for ITSM as a first option though because CQ its not specifically designed to do the job. If a company is alredy using ClearQuest for developemnt purposes they could also use it to act as an ITIL CMDB if they didnt want to purchase anymore new tools to save money (which usually goes down well!). I'll mail you some good ClearQuest ref books to have a look at.

I need to sign off for the evening now but I'll send you the doc's tommorow.

All the best, good luck with the job hunting

[NickIT]

You and I both then (re office politics)

I look forward to the material...many thanks!

I hope which ever choice you make turns out for the best

[Fleetwood]

CMG and NickIT are getting on really well, aren't they?
Let's shut the bedroom door and leave them to it.

[cojak]

And you think that as ITIL/ITSM contractors you'll be exempt from office politics??

Remember that when you reject an RFC from an old-timer or try to roll out a deployment with minimal previous Release Management involvement. Or try to point out that their Capacity Plan isn't. And have I mentioned ensuring that the Service Desk is a genuine SPOC?

And don't get me started on Supplier Reference Site Visits...

Good luck...

[Ruprect]

Warning: Just have to say that PVCS is the most p!ss poor, pathetic excuse of an application that I have ever had the misfortune to use. They must have some REALLY GOOD salespeople at merant...