Reply to: Advice needed about moving into contracting

[NickIT]

no, I know you know (Oh, God another lovefest.... )

Essentially there's problems when some parts of the organisation are quicker to adopt ITIL than others.. it's sometimes just enough to be comfortable in a time-warp has you walk through doors (just ask zeity - he knows all about this).

And just wait till Malvolio gets started.

Ultimately I'm here cos I know what I'm doing and have had to use my "..so fire me"* statement here only twice.

That's why I'm a contractor...

*only to be used when you're ABSOLUTELY sure you're right and there's no viable alternative to your proposed solution.

LOL Yeah these love fests MUST cease

You right about the disparity of uptake. Can be a real pain.

My personal bugbear is having to explain that a ITSM application is not enough to 'have' ITSM...

One area I have not had any dealing with is the Financial Management. I suspect I am quite lucky!

[Mordac]

You dont even have to do it well ask Milan or Mordac.

You cheeky bastard. I got your permie arse off the hook on at least one occasion.

[cojak]

nice one...

[threaded]

How do you deal with space/time discontinuities within the same contract zeity?

I try to ensure the clients/agents/accountants involved are not working for the same company.

[cojak]

How do you deal with space/time discontinuities within the same contract zeity?

[cojak]

no, I know you know (Oh, God another lovefest.... )

Essentially there's problems when some parts of the organisation are quicker to adopt ITIL than others.. it's sometimes just enough to be comfortable in a time-warp has you walk through doors (just ask zeity - he knows all about this).

And just wait till Malvolio gets started.

Ultimately I'm here cos I know what I'm doing and have had to use my "..so fire me"* statement here only twice.

That's why I'm a contractor...

*only to be used when you're ABSOLUTELY sure you're right and there's no viable alternative to your proposed solution.

[MrsGoof]

..with HUGH commissions....

who's HUGH commissions?

[NickIT]

Well having performed the roles as a contractor and permie for large organisations you can never escape the PITA that is office politics.

However as a contractor I have been lucky enough to not have to deal with it as much as I would as a permie.

If there is a RFC from an old timer I am very much inclined to listen to what they say. I have also to say that in the event of a conflict it is not a major headache to discuss the relevant issues. I can learn something as can the old timer. And ultimately implementation of ITIL is driven top down and if there is resistance that is unwarranted there are internal permie processes deal with such a situation. It is not my job to get involved in that. My job is to deliver a functional ITIL framework.

As for release management - there is no such thing as minimal involvement. The entire process from Configuration, Change and Release needs to be followed. Remember it is an inclusive process.

In my experience I have pointed out issues like Capacity Planning not being up to scratch. Showing the business with sound reasoning, best practice and good presentation seems to work. After all they are not going to ignore you completely. And if they do ignore you then you should not be doing the job.

Or maybe I have been lucky...I don't know.

Service Desk - I hear you on that! Also trying to explain that every incident must be logged and dealt with can be a drag. Also explaining that Incident and Problem Management are not the same thing and must not be performed in the same team.

I have noticed though that management are starting to understand the SPOC concept. Which is nice.

Supplier Reference Site Visits...not a nightmare if your suppliers works within the ITIL framework. (*ahem*)

Of course I know its not all rosy and believe me...I have been through the meat grinder.... but they don't pay high rates for you to sit on your *rse.

The biggest problem is the cultural change and managing it successfully. And that is down to the business. I assist as much as I can but ultimately that is down to the business. If you are weak at this level then you will run into many issues that will threaten the successful delivery of the project.

What about your experiences?

[CM-G]

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...

I suppose for me at the moment its a bit of the grass in greener, but I totally hear what your sayin about there still being politics. I suppose being a contractor just makes you an easier target in a way.

[CM-G]

I didnt think it was too bad, the interface could be more dynamic I suppose and its certainly not cheap though!! I havent used CVS before is it easy to get up and runing? The fact its free is certainly good..

[Ruprect]

What do you not like about it compared to other tools?

Slow, clunky interface, expensive, pessimisitic locking, slow, no merge capability, unreliable IDE integration, and did I mention its slow?

PVCS gave the whole team so much grief on my last project that if PVCS was the versioning system of choice on a contract I was interviewing for, I would seriously consider not taking it.

I really don't understand why anyone would even consider buying it with tools like SubVersion and CVS around.

[CM-G]

What do you not like about it compared to other tools?

[cojak]

..with HUGH commissions....

[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...

[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...