Venting - Joys of the job (Middle management)

[LElkins]

Well, it is about time to have a little vent.
For those CAD Managers amongst us, how many of you have a good working relationship with middle management? Do you experience the scenario of too many chefs?

Why is it that someone middle management know-it-all feels they know what CAD is about, when they use it for 2 hours a week?

Do I tell them how to design a building? NO. Do they tell me how to do my job? YES!
How is it that these guys achieve middle-management level when they are so narrow minded that a flea would feel squashed?

Any advice for getting around them and providing a system that suits all users and not just their needs?

Anyway, as I am sure you can tell, having a few frustrations today...

Hope you are all having a good one.

Vent over, for now...:unsure:

Cheers

[Ritch7]

lol get above it mate!, ur the boss you should tell them how to do their job and what theire limits are not the other way round! :D

[LElkins]

tell me about it. but when you are still in the 3 month probation period, have to be careful who you upset...
getting there, slowly but surely, just frustrating explaining something 100 times (no exageration) and then still having silly comments made because they don't read the documents...
Just a turbulent tuesday.

[Hedgehog]

I'm sure I have tackled this but I never remember how... maybe my attitude... that & being realistic, giving lots of feedback on progress & problems, & being extremely efficient :P

[LElkins]

I'm sure I have tackled this but I never remember how... maybe my attitude... that & being realistic, giving lots of feedback on progress & problems, & being extremely efficient :P

umm,:? thanks for the input hedge..

[StykFacE]

Just another classic case of managers that think they are smarter than they really are. I've known plenty of people like this, and they really believe they are actually smart, or "right", at everything. 8)

[NBC]

It is never an easy situation to be in is CAD Management. You are pulled in one direction by the people who you support (namely the CAD users) and pulled in generally a very different direction by middle/senior management.

Striking a happy medium between these two quite often very differing directions us a tricky task to juggle at the best of times. When the fan & pooh are in close proximity to each other it is nigh on impossible.

My advice would be to discover some common ground between the both of you (if any exists). Explore why it is common. Generally middle/senior management are often financially orientated. Whereas CAD is usually technically orientated. Where they meet is down to you, the CAD Manager. The understanding and appreciating this concept as soon as possible will help to alleviate any difficulties that arise from time to time.

[LElkins]

Thank you NBC. Unfortunately, it isn't the penny-pinchers I am getting a hard time from. I have proved to them that we can save money, and they are in agreement with my proposals. The problem comes from the guys a bit further down the pyramid, the guys who use CAD part-time (at the most) but seem to think they understand what is best for the users.

As is always said, a little knowledge is a dangerous thing, add that to a middlle-management ego, and we have an A-Bomb capable of unearthly things.:twisted:

Cheers

[NBC]

Ok, in that instance. Do you have the authority and support from senior management to tell these 'know-f-alls' what to do or indeed where to go ?
If you do, great. If not, then you may want to remind them that their expertise lies in engineering design; whereas your expertise lies in knowing what is best for CAD. Try not to raise your voice if you can; keep yourself calm and authoritative. I have been through this situation many times. Indeed, it makes you want to rip your hair out, and tear them a new derrier

[LElkins]

Well, theoretically yes, although I am still in that damn 3 month period, so have to be careful for now.
Looks like the hair is going...

Anyone got a good joke for a bit of a cheer-up?

Whats the difference between a tire and 365 used condoms?

one is a goodyear, one is an f'in good year!

[Hedgehog]

Ah... let 'em dig themselves a hole & then, when they're in the deep stuff, throw 'em a line... very irritating but it only (usually) happens once.

If they're trying to implement systems for you to use it's a different story... growl lots & hold your ground :D

[StykFacE]

Luckily my direct boss sees my talent in AutoCAD and allows me to make decisions that even he adopts. But most of my teachings come from this board and others, so all i'm doing really is getting my office to "quality standard" that most other offices utilize. :)

[LElkins]

Ah... let 'em dig themselves a hole & then, when they're in the deep stuff, throw 'em a line... very irritating but it only (usually) happens once.

If they're trying to implement systems for you to use it's a different story... growl lots & hold your ground :D

The thing is, they are in the brown stuff, I am trying to throw them a line, but they are too busy painting their nails to grab hold of it...

[Hedgehog]

Ha, ha... so long as you've shown them a way out then just wait... no need for told-you-so's 'cos it'll be damn obvious... you know your job, they don't :)

[Tiger]

Whats the difference between a tire and 365 used condoms?

one is a goodyear, one is an f'in good year!

*todays giggle, brought to you by the LElkins* what is with the capital LE by the way? anywho...now I've had my giggle - I'm heading home!

And oh, Lel? Tomorrow is a new day - and a better one - it'll all work out. :)

[LElkins]

what is with the capital LE by the way?

I will leave that for you to decide. am i slightly 'special'? am i a secret government agent? do i have trouble typing? 1 of the many mysteries of the world.

Tomorrow is a new day - and a better one - it'll all work out. :)

*bursts into song*
Some things in life are bad,
They can really make you mad,
Other things just make you swear and curse,
When you're chewing life's gristle,
Don't grumble,
Give a whistle
And this'll help things turn out for the best.
And...

Always look on the bright side of life.
dodo, dodododododo
Always look on the light side of life.
dodo, dodododododo

[brassworks]

Sounds a lot like the top boss here - he insisted once that I do a rendering in Photoshop when I had never done anything in Photoshop. I reinterated that I had no experience in Photoshop, but he insisted that I use it. So I did, and the rendering - a very simple one - took 16 hours. Without a manual, too. Then he was mad at me for blowing the budget for the rendering, and especially mad when I reminded him that I had told him I didn't know the first thing about Photoshop. Another CAD user here backed me up on that statement. (The boss isn't stupid, but he has his moments - )

As ugly a moment as it was, it did serve as a prompt for the company to pay for two Photoshop classes which I attended.

[dbroada]

a lot of middle managers rise to "above their level of incompetance".

If you have a bunch of 5 guys, one of which is useless, you will get at best the work of 4 people.

Promote the weak one and production rises (fewer mistakes) with fewer people. Obviously the promoted one is an excellent manager.

Promote any of the others and production goes down - proving that this one is not a good manager.

Having now promoted your man to just above his own level of incompetance he will do all he can to stay there, and taking advice from underlings is not usually an option.

It may not be the case here but look around - it is too easy to see! :shock:

[Hedgehog]

Very well put Dave :D

[LElkins]

a lot of middle managers rise to "above their level of incompetance".


competance is a mighty splendid thing, until dealing with people with little of it...:roll:

[Mr T]

a lot of middle managers rise to "above their level of incompetance".

If you have a bunch of 5 guys, one of which is useless, you will get at best the work of 4 people.

Promote the weak one and production rises (fewer mistakes) with fewer people. Obviously the promoted one is an excellent manager.

Promote any of the others and production goes down - proving that this one is not a good manager.

Having now promoted your man to just above his own level of incompetance he will do all he can to stay there, and taking advice from underlings is not usually an option.



The 'Peter principle' ?

[LElkins]

The 'Peter principle' ?

sorry if it is just my head that it went over, but could you explain...
:?

[StykFacE]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Principle

8)

[dbroada]

Thanks Mr T & Styk, I've never heard of that before. I did find myself in the wiki....


One complication is that competent employees sometimes pretend to be incompetent. The simplest reasons for this might be avoiding the jealousy (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jealousy) of co-workers and to annoy managers. A more complex reason might be avoiding promotion to management, i.e. "Creative Incompetence", which is especially common in ...

[LElkins]

Cheers Styk, seems to be particularly relevant. I may have a need to start refering to middle management guys in the office as Peter, just to ammuse myself and keep frustration levels low.

Well, its a new day, hopefully not a Whinging Wednesday, but a Wonderful Wednesday....:?

Have a good one guys.