Comments on: Whose Fault Is It? http://lonesysadmin.net/2008/06/10/whose-fault-is-it/ im in ur data centrz patchin ur serverz Thu, 20 Nov 2008 09:03:48 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Bob Plankers http://lonesysadmin.net/2008/06/10/whose-fault-is-it/#comment-74295 Bob Plankers Mon, 16 Jun 2008 16:56:29 +0000 http://lonesysadmin.net/?p=1292#comment-74295 Kevin, while your statement about "we all know... that problems... will occur" might be true for sysadmins it definitely isn't true for our customers. Which, when you think about it, is why they hire us. Sometimes they decide to not listen to our advice because of other reasons (often financial), and their alternate solutions are actually big risks in the long term. If I can't convince them that they are taking a big risk I have to cover my duff, because I need the people that made the bad decision to take responsibility for it when their imperfect systems melt and can't be restored. It's nice that your employees have a boss that understands these issues, but for a lot of folks out there, especially consultants, that just isn't the case. And for two companies I've worked with as a consultant legal liability was the only thing that ever got their attention. Kevin, while your statement about “we all know… that problems… will occur” might be true for sysadmins it definitely isn’t true for our customers. Which, when you think about it, is why they hire us. Sometimes they decide to not listen to our advice because of other reasons (often financial), and their alternate solutions are actually big risks in the long term.

If I can’t convince them that they are taking a big risk I have to cover my duff, because I need the people that made the bad decision to take responsibility for it when their imperfect systems melt and can’t be restored. It’s nice that your employees have a boss that understands these issues, but for a lot of folks out there, especially consultants, that just isn’t the case. And for two companies I’ve worked with as a consultant legal liability was the only thing that ever got their attention.

]]> By: Kevin Shafer http://lonesysadmin.net/2008/06/10/whose-fault-is-it/#comment-74293 Kevin Shafer Mon, 16 Jun 2008 12:35:01 +0000 http://lonesysadmin.net/?p=1292#comment-74293 As a manager of sys admins, it has always amazed me that there is so much CYA'ing among certain sys admins. Hey, we all know how complex these systems are and that problems will - not can - occur. Then again, it is probably my ilk that caused the problem in the first place by demanding perfection from people who are forced to support imperfect systems. As a manager of sys admins, it has always amazed me that there is so much CYA’ing among certain sys admins. Hey, we all know how complex these systems are and that problems will - not can - occur. Then again, it is probably my ilk that caused the problem in the first place by demanding perfection from people who are forced to support imperfect systems.

]]> By: Bob Plankers http://lonesysadmin.net/2008/06/10/whose-fault-is-it/#comment-74281 Bob Plankers Wed, 11 Jun 2008 22:34:23 +0000 http://lonesysadmin.net/?p=1292#comment-74281 Yeah, usually people are much happier when you're being totally straight with them. Even if that means admitting that something was your fault. Own up to it, fix it, prevent it in the future, move on. Yeah, usually people are much happier when you’re being totally straight with them. Even if that means admitting that something was your fault. Own up to it, fix it, prevent it in the future, move on.

]]> By: Michael Janke http://lonesysadmin.net/2008/06/10/whose-fault-is-it/#comment-74256 Michael Janke Wed, 11 Jun 2008 02:14:32 +0000 http://lonesysadmin.net/?p=1292#comment-74256 Or - when explaining a problem or failure: No bullshit. No excuses. Or - when explaining a problem or failure:

No bullshit.

No excuses.

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