@#@#@ stupid permies....

[vetran]

surely copy paper is our most valuable asset (copyright Scott Adams)

[Francko]

All that may benefit the company, but Francko's point was that they have shafted themselves in the process (or at least deprived themselves of an opportunity to acquire a more lucrative skill).

It is something quite weird when it comes to some good techies. They know that their coding skills can make a difference. And on this they are quite right. The problem is that the decision makers do not quite know that and instead they believe that there is no quality in coding, it's just a simple skill that everybody can do. The only development who is going to stay here is the one that is tightly linked with the business side and most of the proprietary business process integration suites these days are the ones whose development has a chance to stay here because they integrate business with IT knowledge. Do something with only straight coding and you can be replaced with "much cheapness" the next day (at least for the ms excel managers who are in charge - but unfortunately there quite a lot of them around).

[d000hg]

All that may benefit the company, but Francko's point was that they have shafted themselves in the process (or at least deprived themselves of an opportunity to acquire a more lucrative skill).

I guess if they can get their customer to pay all the expensive costs then maybe, but still I don't have great views about proprietary software. I'm probably spoilt from there being so much great stuff online for main-stream technologies... the Apache libs being one specific example. The one time I worked with an expensive 'secret' technology only one person in the company knew it at all well; he was self-taught and the 'guru' on the subject - though luckily he was the kind of guy to freely admit he wasn't an expert.

[OwlHoot]

So they chose a well-tested, stable, well-documented technology rather than being locked into some expensive proprietary system which hardly anyone knows how to use and would require extensive, expensive training for a few people who then screw the company up if they leave.

What a bunch of morons.

All that may benefit the company, but Francko's point was that they have shafted themselves in the process (or at least deprived themselves of an opportunity to acquire a more lucrative skill).

[BobTheCrate]

"Employees our most valuable asset"

Yes that phrase is a load of nonsense ... they really mean the exact opposite.

The other good one is "we value training as a centrally important aspect for our employees" or words to that effect. The more a company states that phrase the more you know that what they really mean is "turning our employees into non-thinking company robots".

"Customer facing". The more that and similar phrases are used, the more you know the extent to which they couldn't care less about after sales customer service and/or are infinitely more likely to hide behind statements like "nothing I can do - it's company policy" as if company policy is the holy shroud that must never be challenged or questioned. Of course robots wouldn't do that anyway.

[d000hg]

So they chose a well-tested, stable, well-documented technology rather than being locked into some expensive proprietary system which hardly anyone knows how to use and would require extensive, expensive training for a few people who then screw the company up if they leave.

What a bunch of morons.

[BoredBloke]

It's amazing how many permies in large companies actually swallow all that guff about employees being the company's most important assets.

They are but it's a list - before them there are computers, desks, printers, chairs, stationary cupboard, stationary.....................
I think they are somewhere just above the bog roll - not yet met a permie whose boss has wiped his @rse on them.

[milanbenes]

my experience is

companies do not respect software unless it is extremely expensive

once the cost is painful, then they want to get the value from it

a self professing spiral

Milan.

[Pondlife]

very expensive, very much requested by the market, good for building skills to market in the future and eventually go contracting, very little chance of being outsourced

Another opportunity to jump on the gravy train missed, eh Franko.

[Platypus]

they suggested Y in the hope that the company will recognise their dedication to business and the money they managed to save.

Oh dear.

Sad to say that when things are cheap and money is saved, it's perceived as worthless. Whereas expensive stuff is perceived as critical to the business.

[TykeMerc]

It's amazing how many permies in large companies actually swallow all that guff about employees being the company's most important assets.

It's true, but they're the companies most important expendable assets....

[HairyArsedBloke]

[OwlHoot]

It's amazing how many permies in large companies actually swallow all that guff about employees being the company's most important assets.

[Francko]

They really are...

Ok they have the option to use technology X, very proprietary, very expensive, very much requested by the market, good for building skills to market in the future and eventually go contracting, very little chance of being outsourced (at least in the short term) and technology Y, lots of documentation available, easy to learn so not markeatable at all, easy to be outsourced.

And.... they suggested Y in the hope that the company will recognise their dedication to business and the money they managed to save.

Note.... the company is making a lot of people redundant right now. Guess which ones will be next... They do definitely deserve that, no other explanation...