2011: The Year Of The Hybrids

No, I’m not going to talk about the new Ford Focus.

Recession and joblessness.

These are the words a good portion of the world is familiar with as the state of their employment the past few years.  While the jobless rate is slowly declining(although one report shows that this may partially be due to the fact that some unemployed have stopped searching for employment - Source: http://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.nr0.htm )

One interesting point that the same report showed was that there are a few sectors which have increased in hiring - most notably hospitality, healthcare, and leisure.  Others - at the time of the survey - had not shown a marked increase.  With that in mind, it it interesting that most analyst are predicting that 2011 will be the year that the tech industry will pick up in its hiring - especially in the security and healthcare fields.  (Source: http://career-advice.monster.com/job-search/company-industry-research/2011-it-hiring-outlook/article.aspx)  With that in mind - due to the expected increase - it becomes on natural that some companies may begin to offer perks and advantages to attract top talent both who are unemployed currently as well as from other technology minded companies.  (Remember that I said 2011 would be the year of the brain drain?)

What this means for companies is that the iron rules of old are quickly falling away.  In this post-recession society which we are slowly entering we have a few competitors for the technologically minded.  We have companies which have delayed updates to their infrastructure looking to hire talent which will be able to quickly implement updated equipment/systems to replace their rapidly aging infrastructure.  Other companies will be looking to once again implement complex projects or research - something that was unfeasible during the recession period as department budgets and payroll were slashed to keep companies operating.  There will also be startup companies which will be reaching maturity or will be looking to ramp up their staff now that the economy is picking up.  Startups thrive in recessions as people are displaced from their normal jobs and are allowed to innovate without interruption of a normal day job - but now that the recession is starting to end we will see hiring pick up even in this sector.

What all of this leads to is a job market which for the next few years will be volatile in the tech industry.  New blood, as well as returning previously unemployed personnel, will be coming back into the workplace.  While some analyst predict that this will lead to a buyers market (ie companies will not need to negotiate) - they are assuming that everyone entering the tech industry workforce is of equal talent.  They are assuming that coming into the fray will be an equal number of project managers, helpdesk analyst, operations team members, network engineers, and engineers (both server configuration/running and programming).  If you look at the report from Monster, however, you will notice that something big pops out in the upper half of the document.  Most of the previous generation of tech employees who were laid off were managers - line managers, project managers, business analyst.  In general (there are always exceptions) most of those who were laid off in those positions were management with little to no current technology experience.  What this did was shift the responsibility of those rules onto those they once were managers over - the helpdesk analyst, system engineers, and programmers who were now without their manager.  This has created a unique situation in the workplace.  Due to the need for each of these employees to wear multiple hats, you now have a situation in which there is a diversely  skilled labor pool with not only technological expertise but also a wide managerial expertise.

Since hiring is picking up- and it is the manager positions which are expected to pick up a lot of ground - one would expect that all those old project managers and business analyst who are currently unemployed would be picked right back up, right?  While some of them may, I believe that the new hybrids which have arisen in the past few years to take their place will instead take their place.  Those positions of project manager that open up will be filled by the helpdesk analyst who for the past year has not only been doing their normal job of working on the desk but also helping to lead various projects in the company to make up for the position which was eliminated due to budget constraints.  Hiring these type of people presents one distinct advantage over the previous generation of management: this new hybrid generation has current technological knowledge and usually the drive/compulsion to keep those skills up to date.  

This dramatic shift in management will usher in new possibilities.  Now when a project is discussed, before the design phase even begins, it will be possible to have input from not only a project manager who can help establish the timeline and resources needed, but also provide a qualified opinion on the technological feasibility of the request and if it would be worth it to pursue the project in terms of technology/time needed versus the realistic returns.  Having a manager who is also technologically competent instills trust in those whom are under them.  If one of their employees comes to them with an idea/question and they are on the same level in terms of the understanding of what is being discussed (without the need to go into the background of how a particular component of the technology is supposed to work versus current performance)  not only does this save time in eliminating the background information this also increases the reception of the employee to their managers suggestion(because the manager actually gets the technology), decreases the time of getting feedback/discussion(they are on the same grounds - they both understand technology already), and leads to improved results(two people thinking through something usually results in better outcome, especially if they speak the same language to begin with).

What does this mean for those managers who currently are not technologically educated?  In the past it was enough to just be a manager and manage those under you in an efficient manor.  Make sure you have enough labor, make sure everyone is there, settle disputes, etc.  But as we move into a more technologically focused future and as the economy picks up having a manager that does not speak the same language(technology) as their employees leads to an increase of inefficiencies - especially as there is a large number of qualified manager/employee hybrids.  As these hybrids take over the open management positions, it will quickly come to light the benefit of having a manager who is able to communicate to their employees on their level (technologically speaking).  Having a manager which understands technology will lead to a decrease in misunderstandings between management and employee, a decrease in perceived technology vudu which technologically minded employees sometimes are able to pull over on their managers (“If you click your heels it makes the computer go faster….”), a realistic expectation on the implantation of  a new system/application, etc… The benefit of having a manager who “gets” technology and is a good manager will quickly show that those managers without technological skill working in the technology industry are at a huge disadvantage.  These previous generation managers -  unfortunately for them - will quickly be replaced by the vast pools of hybrids available eager and willing to move up from their current position to a managerial position. They will need to update their resume and start looking for a position outside of the technology sector.  

What will this do to the employment pool?  Assuming a rapid uptake in hybrids to the managerial positions this will create a vacuum for new talent as well as for current employees to move into more senior positions.  This is where the brain drain comes in (remember - I still think 2011 will be the year of the brain drain).  My contention in the brain drain is that as salaries increase in 2011 and the tech industry picks up, top talent from companies which are less than flexible and don’t offer what employees feel to be adequate compensation, will move to companies that offer better pay/flexibility leading to potentially fatal drops in talent of some companies which for the past few years have been able to “abuse” their talent by keeping wages/raises artificially low even though the companies themselves have turned a sizable profit.  Another segment of the brain drain is that as these management positions become available and companies are looking to fill these positions with qualified hybrids, employers will sometimes need to look outside of their current company and court employees to come and work for them.  This is almost like a double brain drain for some companies as not only their top talent is being lured away but some of those employees also happen to have excellent managerial skills.  As these employees move around to managerial positions and to other companies, there will be opening in other companies which then (provided the company decides to re-hire the same position) are either vacant for new talent, talent from other companies, or internal promotions. The net result?  Some companies (those with low loyalty) will see an unhealthy portion of their senior staff move on to other positions with other companies and those vacant slots will either be filled with the less talented staff, or with outside hires.  For those low positions which are then left open due to re-organization and internal promotions, a new generation of techs will then be brought in - fresh blood if you will.  While some may look at this and frown - having fresh perspective and employees new to the company (who do not carry around the baggage of the previous generation of employees) may be exactly what some of the companies who experience the most brain drain need.  Its like receiving an injection of caffeine, it can revitalize a stagnant company by introducing new idea and methods which are unburdened by the previous generation and how they did things.  A new group of employees removes all currently setup political plays within the company, bringing all things back to a level footing.  Who knows, maybe this fresh injection of blood will be what is needed to take a company that before the brain drain was suffering to a fully competitive company as their culture is re-worked from within by the new employees - and maybe the next time a brain drain comes around their company will not be the one who looses workers to other companies but instead attracts employees from their competitors.

Peter Griffin - herald of Idiocracy

Who has seen the movie Idiocracy?  

Like 95% of the population, you probably have not seen this jem of a movie.  In fact, you probably have not even heard of it.  Your not to blame, Fox didn’t market the movie much.  

Its not for the faint of heart, as it looks at what is probably our very near future.  The movie depicts our future as a world populated by brainless zombies unable to think for themselves to perform even basic tasks.  The world is falling apart - plants arn’t able to grow, the government is more of a wrestling sideshow, and ads rule the world.  Ads are at every turning point - plastered all over the television, on every shirt, and even plastered over the remaining building left standing.  The most popular shows involve people being kicked in the groin, while a border of ads border the screen.  The chair which people sit on to watch the show includes not only their food tube to suck on their food substance but also a toilet so they never have to leave.  Even the doctors have fallen prey to this, having the nurses choose from a multiple choice board instead of actually looking at the patient in front of them - if they didn’t fit on the board then they went to a diagnostic machine which wasn’t much better.  

The future painted in this movie really is bleak - the not so subliminal advertisement of the drink Brawndo plasters everyones mind - people repeat the ads without even thinking about what the ad says.  Even to the point of giving it to plants because the ads say that its what plants want - no one stops to think that the electrolytes advertised in the ad are bad for plant growth - the ad says its what plants want.

I cringe - not because of some of the scenes in the movie - but because this is our future.  I feel - and probably sound like - an old man on the corner screaming at the top of my lungs at teenagers and twenty somethings walking by.  “Those young whippersnappers” 

If you have not been under a rock in the recent years, then you probably have at least heard of the show Family Guy.  If you haven’t heard of the show - congratulations- your mind has not been tainted.  For the rest of America - let me do you a favor - it is exactly because of shows like this that the future predicted in Idiocracy is going to come true sooner than 2505.

Before I continue, let me admit state a few things.  

• I have seen a few episodes of this “show” - some by choice to analyze and some not out of choice.  For those that I have watched to analyze - I wish I could scrub my brain out with bleach to remove the information contained therein - the show is a waste of time.
• There is no redeeming value of this show.  There are those out there who look at items and say - yes - everything has a redeeming value.  To say that this show has redeeming values is like saying Satan is full of kindness.
• Bringing this show back from cancellation was the worst mistake Fox ever made.

Ok, lets continue…

I constantly hear from people how funny the most recent episode of Family Guy was.  They ask if I have seen it and if not, insist that I watch it.  (No thanks by the way).  What I fail to understand is why this show has taken off in popularity.  One of the clips that I caught was the main character of the show - Peter - was kicked and for almost a minute laid on the ground grasping his knee moaning in pain every few seconds.  Really we find this funny as people?  We find someone lying on the ground in pain because they were just kicked something that should be held up as comedic value?  Another clip I caught was the mother - Louis - stole and made out with the daughter’s - Meg- boyfriend.  While apologizing Meg rips out her tooth in rage.  Really?  This is realistic?  This is funny?  Another clip that comes to mind is that while Peter is reminiscing about something he remembers a time when he would deliver bad news to people.  In this particular instance which was a small musicale number - he along with a few other people delivered the news to someone in song that they didn’t have HIV but instead “full blown aids.”  No one in real life would be that crass would they in how bad news is given - would they?  And if we don’t expect people to be that crass - why do we go and bless it as something that is acceptable to be funny.  When bad news is delivered - nothing about the process is funny.  Next time your in emergency room give me a call - I’ll come in with a few people and deliver the news that your going to loose a leg in song - lets see how funny it is then.  (oh please take me up on this offer)

Do I have an eternity to write?  Well not yet.  But even if I did - the crudeness of the show could not be fully described.  Frequently the show either has some form of swearing in it, or a form of suggestive nudity.  I could find less fault with this show if it was given an Adult Only rating (which it honestly should have - our rating system has gotten too lax) but its on during prime time when younger audiences will be there to watch.  I don’t believe in a nanny state where procedures should be dictated from on high but being an animated show during the prime time hour attracts younger audiences.  Kids naturally are attracted to animated shows - be hey Spong Bob Square pants or Family Guy - how are they (kids) to know which are safe.  Just how bad is this show?  If this show was of good quality - why then would the executive producer of the show not allow his own children to watch the show? (source: http://urlink.co/famguyfail)  That should be the test.  People will often say or ask if you would perform the action if Jesus was around/with you.  With our culture the way it is - the religious question isn’t always accepted.  So in that case, lets ask this one.  If your own kid (one who was impressionable and still innocent) was with you 100% of the time would you do what you do - watch the shows you watch, etc…  No?  You wouldn’t watch that with your kid with you?  Why is that?  You wouldn’t want them to learn that or see that?  Then how is it good for you?

I know from the description that show is supposed to be about a dysfunctional family but if this family was real they would all be shipped out to the loony bin for drugs and counseling not to mention being labeled unfit parents (for other reasons other than just this example).  

Have we as a society declined to such a degree that watching this extreme form of dysfunctionalism is funny?  Really were supposed to laugh when the father shoots his daughter for her saying “Hi” to him?  Thats supposed to be the high light of our day and make us laugh?  

Someone may read this and say - “But hey - you watch the Simpsons” - to which I say “Yes.  I do take part in that delicious yellow treat- that yellow treat of joyful happiness which unlike that awful pasty family guy - actually is funny and not at all offensive.”

I hope professional business writing goes and dies in a fire

Professional writers must be the most miserable people on the face of the earth.

Think about it.  Professional business writing must be done in a third person voice, show no opinion, be factual, source everything, and sound formal.  Sounding formal can be anything from using technical jargon, to big words that requires a doctorate to be able to read and understand.

I was tricked into attempting to write like this – never again.

Recently I was asked to write a blog post (previous post) regarding mobile computing and the long term healthcare for work.  I’m used to writing on my own website/blog but once you start thinking of writing something that is going to appear on an actual website other than your own  - thoughts start to go toward being more formal. 

Formal.  I hate formal.  I hate formal wear.  I hate formal speech.  I hate formal syntax and I hate formal writing.   This became even more apparent when I tried writing the above mentioned blog post.  Besides the impossible task of trying to keep a post relevant about ever changing computing, I also attempted to write in a “formal business writing” style.  The results?  Well I’ve seen vomit that was more readable than what I had produced.  I tried.  I really did.  I tried to make a witty introduction, used formal words, sourced all my information and used a third person writing style throughout the entire document.  I finished the first eight versions of the post – and just could not get it to work.  A portion of the last of the first version read as:

On May 20th, 2007 at the All Things Digital conference Bill Gates talked about his vision for the future of computing.  He talked about a future in which people carried around not only one device, but multiple mobile devices and relied on the PC less.  One device he described was a larger tablet form factor computer with an optional keyboard attachment, the other being a smaller device which could fit in pockets and was geared more toward media

<snore>

I tried as much as I could to get that to work but no matter how much time and work I put into it – it sounded like one of those horrid press releases which is instantly sent into that secret black hole called your trash bin.  To get past it, I deleted the post entirely keeping it only as a reference in a backup which you must travel through a small hole while reciting the Klingon alphabet while at the same time solving various physics equations without a calculator.  (I went through a lot to get the above quote – but its worth it just for you).  Without any history to upset me with I started out to write the post again, this time writing it in my writing style.  Third person formalized business writing style be darned.

The result?  The result was something I was happy with. 

I could never imagine having to write in formal business writing again– if I had to ever write a paper like that I think I would rather just quit and move into a cardboard box.  Doing that would be more acceptable then attempting to live by those archaic rules of “business writing.”  Anything else that I write – be it on this or another blog/website will be written in my style with my voice, with my opinions, observations and (sometimes lack of) wit which I poses. 

I guess its true – in whatever you do – be true to your own voice.  Unless you’re a voice actor – then you can use someone else’s voice.