[Sigia-l] Help! New job ... terrible knowledge management

[David R. Austen]

Hello, Lucie:

Need the name of a great book of RDBMS design so they will understand
why their design is so bad? "Database Design for Mere Mortals."

Best regards,

David                           

http://zillionbucks.com -- Web hosting for the creative industry

Wednesday, July 03, 2002, 10:42:56 AM, you wrote:
LM> After a year of seeking employment as an IA, I finally did a bit of a
LM> career switch, and have been hired as a researcher/analyst at a
LM> government contractor. Part of the reason they hired me was, ostensibly,
LM> for my IT experience, although I doubt anyone understood what the "IA"
LM> thing on my resume was all about.

LM> Well, not surprisingly, the system of sharing research & organizing the
LM> database here is absolutely appalling.

LM> Everyone here thinks it is just fine, and so far no one wants to listen
LM> to me when I say there are serious problems. They are just plowing ahead
LM> creating this massive Access database with totally messed up categories,
LM> all of which were chosen by the programmer. I have no idea why Access was 
LM> chosen, since I'm new, but it's already causing confusion. I've never
LM> used it before now, but am horrified at the interface. 

LM> I just sat through three meetings where everything I said was basically
LM> dismissed out of hand. They kept saying the process was "straightforward" 
LM> and that people needed "training", all in the same sentence. this is so
LM> totally screwed up.

LM> help.

LM> I'm pretty upset about two things... first, that we are creating a huge
LM> body of research, and plowing ahead with a clunky organizational
LM> structure for it that no one will understand or use.

LM> second, after years in a web agency, I am a bit freaked out to find
LM> myself in a place where no one has the slightest understanding of
LM> usability. I have to somehow establish credibility and convince people
LM> that I actually know something about this sort of thing; that I'm not
LM> just there to be a pain in the ass; and that the programmer should not be 
LM> given free rein to totally organize everything. I am the new person, so
LM> although I'm horrified at what is being built, I can't march in and say
LM> we have to chuck it all out because I said so.

LM> I need advice. And a hug.

LM> Lucie



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