Icon134 0 #1 October 5, 2007 I took over a program from someone that retired... and before he left he never really effectively defined my job... and he also didn't leave me with the resources that I need to learn how to do the job... Really... What the Fuck is a program manager supposed to do anyhow?!?Livin' on the Edge... sleeping with my rigger's wife... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
normiss 904 #2 October 5, 2007 is it like a Managing Programmer? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Icon134 0 #3 October 5, 2007 Quote is it like a Managing Programmer? you've got me... I just finished a Masters in Materials Science... and I haven't done any science since I graduated in March... Livin' on the Edge... sleeping with my rigger's wife... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sundevil777 102 #4 October 5, 2007 QuoteWhat the Fuck is a program manager supposed to do anyhow?!? Everything, and then some more. Is that the problem?People are sick and tired of being told that ordinary and decent people are fed up in this country with being sick and tired. I’m certainly not, and I’m sick and tired of being told that I am Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Armour666 0 #5 October 5, 2007 QuoteI took over a program from someone that retired... and before he left he never really effectively defined my job... and he also didn't leave me with the resources that I need to learn how to do the job... Really... What the Fuck is a program manager supposed to do anyhow?!? Manage a program? Sorry couldn’t resist, on a serious side maybe it a good time to rewrite your own responsibilities as long as you find a way to CYOA and get the people above you on board and to change how things are done having a clean slate can be a good thing if you can arrange that. But I would go back to them to get some clear guideline and objectives for the role or it could turn in to a big setup for a failure due to lack of communication and not having everyone being on the same page for goals and objectives. What you think should be done and what they expect to be done may be worlds apart. .SO this one time at band camp..... "Of all the things I've lost I miss my mind the most." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Icon134 0 #6 October 5, 2007 QuoteBut I would go back to them to get some clear guideline and objectives for the role or it could turn in to a big setup for a failure due to lack of communication and not having everyone being on the same page for goals and objectives. What you think should be done and what they expect to be done may be worlds apart. . I've been trying to do this since I got the program back in April... unfortunately my manager doesn't actually have the time to manage his people because he has too many other things to do... so I've asked for a number of things mutiple times with no results... unfortunately the Contract I am managing was in place for a year and a half prior to my arrival and a lot of the problems that crop up are due to mistakes made (or at least disicions made) prior to my involvement...Livin' on the Edge... sleeping with my rigger's wife... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sundevil777 102 #7 October 5, 2007 Quote I just finished a Masters in Materials Science... and I haven't done any science since I graduated in March. A program manager must be in charge of schedule, budget, and the manpower that actually does the work in the trenches. Unless you don't actually have any manpower to manage, you don't do the real work yourself, you just get to make powerpoint slides to report the results of that work to those that approve your schedule and budget, and ask for more schedule and budget. The farther up the program management ladder you go, the farther away from the real 'science/engineering' you get, but the more influence you can have over what others are supposed to do and the credit that can be claimed for it. I think there is a corollary of Murphy's law that applies here. People are sick and tired of being told that ordinary and decent people are fed up in this country with being sick and tired. I’m certainly not, and I’m sick and tired of being told that I am Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
simplyputsi 0 #8 October 5, 2007 QuoteI took over a program from someone that retired... and before he left he never really effectively defined my job... and he also didn't leave me with the resources that I need to learn how to do the job... Really... What the Fuck is a program manager supposed to do anyhow?!? ha, you bark orders at people and make eveyone else do work while you just make sure it goes smoothly. when it goes wrong it is your fault. Isn't it government work though? They move slightly slow, might want to invest in a PSP or something.Skymama's #2 stalker - Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Armour666 0 #9 October 5, 2007 QuoteQuoteBut I would go back to them to get some clear guideline and objectives for the role or it could turn in to a big setup for a failure due to lack of communication and not having everyone being on the same page for goals and objectives. What you think should be done and what they expect to be done may be worlds apart. . I've been trying to do this since I got the program back in April... unfortunately my manager doesn't actually have the time to manage his people because he has too many other things to do... so I've asked for a number of things mutiple times with no results... unfortunately the Contract I am managing was in place for a year and a half prior to my arrival and a lot of the problems that crop up are due to mistakes made (or at least disicions made) prior to my involvement... Thats kinda sucks but you do have a chance to make soem changes because being a new face on the contract should give you a chance to make soem changes and I would look in to the contract deeply and do a risk assement for your self and see where there are potental problems in the future could crop up and you can start to plan and head them off before they actualy become a problem.SO this one time at band camp..... "Of all the things I've lost I miss my mind the most." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bolas 5 #10 October 5, 2007 Join the club. No direction, no support, no standards. The only time we hear anything is if we're bitched at for doing it "wrong." C'mon reorg. Stupidity if left untreated is self-correcting If ya can't be good, look good, if that fails, make 'em laugh. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SkydiveStMarys 0 #11 October 5, 2007 Even knowing the "job description" might not help. I was asked to get the paint brush and extra paint out of the utility closet, which I did, and then was told to go touch up the scratches on the walls at place I work. THAT was NOT in my job description!!! I'm a Sous Chef/Pastry. Bobbi A miracle is not defined by an event. A miracle is defined by gratitude. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Armour666 0 #12 October 5, 2007 Quote Even knowing the "job description" might not help. I was asked to get the paint brush and extra paint out of the utility closet, which I did, and then was told to go touch up the scratches on the walls at place I work. THAT was NOT in my job description!!! I'm a Sous Chef/Pastry. Bobbi Been there done that lol nothing like a job description of "you do what ever I want you to."SO this one time at band camp..... "Of all the things I've lost I miss my mind the most." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MrFreefall383 0 #13 October 5, 2007 That's how I started my present job. Veteran of 10 years at the company left the position, was training his replacement for two weeks, and the replacement left the same day. So I was called up quickly and thrown into the fire without any training whatsoever. It sucks, but if you're smart enough to get creative and figure out what the last guy did, you can succeed."If at first you don't succeed... well, so much for skydiving." - aviation cliche Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
