Conference 7.286::digital

    re: .0
    
    Haven't we been doing contract programming work for some time?
    Even if it is decided to increase the amount of project-based
    work we take on, I can't see that the need for non-programming
    consulting or residencies will be eliminated.
    
>                            I'm told that if I don't get into programming
>    I will be left behind.
    
    It's probably best to discuss this issue with your manager.
    
    	- Jerry
    

	I am the District Projects Consultant for the Southeast District, and 
have been such for 4 years.  What you describe are Consulting, or "Advisory", 
Services which we have sold for years.  Admittedly, we sometimes got suckered 
in to DOING a project on what was sold as Consulting Services, but that, more 
often than not, was "loserville" business.

	I think you have mis-interpreted what you hear.  Projects is not ALL 
"coding".  It is not ALL done at customer sites.  To the contrary, we are 
striving to do more and more projects at DEC facilities up to, but possibly 
including, an Acceptance Test Procedure execution.  The on-site portion of a 
project may actually be more of what you want - Sales and System Management!

	Projects require a wide spectrum of disiplines, from Management to 
Technical Leadership, from System Analyst to coder, From Quality Assurance to 
Documentation.  Talk to your own Area or District Project Consultant about the 
Area's plans to set up facilities.  And speaking of Sales, ask them how much 
"selling" is done in getting a project - you'll be surprised!

	Projects that are planned, sold, and excuted correctly are high margin, 
high reward business for the company.  You bet we are going to do more of 
them!

System management and Data Communications resources are
definitely valuable on projects -- our project staffing always
takes those needs into account.

	MKV

    Projects also do not mean coding.  Many of the current projects
    are "System Integration Solutions" where the role of the Digital
    staff is to:
    
    	define the problem
    
    	architect a solution
    
    	select existing software - CMP, ASSETS, std products, etc.
    
    	integrate the solution
    
    	install the solution
    
    	bring the customer/user up to speed
    
    	support the customer
    
    Many different skill sets are necessary.
    
    We have been in various types of 'project' business in the 14 years
    that I have been in the field Software Services.  The 'rumors' of
    residencies disappearing have been around for at least half that
    time.
    
    The business that has decreased is that of 'body shopping'.  The
    well trained, well paid (????), professional Digital Software
    Specialist has a hard time competing, pricewise, with the 'cheap'
    temporary labor type of body shopper.  In fact, in some areas we
    are subcontracting the heavy body count programming tasks to those
    kind of firms.
    
    This discussion may better belong in either SAHQ::PSS or
    SWSNOD::SOFTWARE_SERVICES.
    
    	-Barry-
    

I went through the same presentation.  My take is that the emphasis will be
changing from coding to integration.  Our district just recently signed a 
contract with a paper mill to integrate a package from an SCMP with other
packages.  Big project, done in house, global installations.  System management
and design are definitely more important here then coding.

Larry

    Don't lose sight of the fact that managing something is usually
    not DOING it. This world only goes forward when people DO things.
    The successes are when those *things* are managed AND done
    well/concerted. You can only TALK about the airplane so long before
    you have to go out there and FLY it, but if you just start flying
    without thinking, well... have you seen "The Right Stuff" -- those
    pictures on the bar-room wall....
    
    bruce evans, santa clara

        re.-1
>>>    without thinking, well... have you seen "The Right Stuff" -- those
>>>    pictures on the bar-room wall....

        Noooooo  WHat about them ?  I couldn't last thruout such a long 
        boring movie with a guy pretending to be the "stuck-up"
        John Glenn....  The book was much better!

        What about these bar-room wall pictures ?  I must have missed them.
        What are they.... more old planes & jets that are covered with dust?
        Waiting to hear...  How are they related to this Note?

The pictures on the wall are those that have 'bought the farm' to use a pilot
phrase... i.e. they are deceased.

Lee

    re .0
    
    In some ways your concern about being "left behind" or being
    pigeon-holed in a job you don't want are valid.
    
    I have seen cases where the need for systems management and similar
    functions were ignored on large projects, and by the same people that
    went to other customer sites and told them how critical system
    management was (they were trying to sell system managment services
    T&M).  This also from the same people that can't justify a full-time
    system manager for internal DEC resources.
    
    However, I do see this turning around.  Managers are beginning to see
    how critical resources with the wide breadth of VMS skills necessary to
    be system managers, really are.  
    
    My response to the lack of support and appreciation I recieved as a
    system manager/VMS knowledgable person was to leave the district I was
    in.  However,  its seems that my expertise has been recognized, at
    least post-humously.
    
    With luck, the powers that be are beginning to realize that it is
    absoulutly essential to provide support services to the programmers
    doing the design work, coding and implementation, delivery and
    integration.  
    
    It is ridiculous for a programmer to have to know how to create a queue
    when s/he wants run a batch job, or tweak a system parameter when the
    application begins to get sluggish, or even be able to detect it by
    running SPM.
    
    Judicious horn-blowing at this stage of the game, and emphasizing the
    value of your talents in the new arena SWS is entering may even make
    you more valuable than you ever dreamed before.  I wish you luck.
    
    No promises, though.  Like I said, I couldn't wait.
    
    Jim (happy in engineering)