Group Efforts 21

Group Efforts
The Diary of a Workgroup Manager

Episode 9 (1994)

Llewllyn agrees, the girls complain, Peg informs and the managers learn very little.

Monday 5th
The document pool controversy comes to a head with a meeting involving myself, Amrat, Cathy and Chris Llewellyn. Llewellyn rather rudely asks what it's got to do with her anyway, and without undue concern for Amrat's feelings I reply that she's my front-line defence against over-excited, under-experienced I.T. juniors trying to sabotage my department. Llewellyn then suprises us by immediately agreeing that moving the pool to a shared PC is terrible idea, and that this is clearly a situation where only a server-based solution will do. To my even greater surprise, Amrat enthusiastically concurs. Cathy and I leave feeling that our victory is somehow not everything it seems.

Wed 14th
I'm reminded of the onward march of the seasons as Sheila, June and Rose lodge their quarterly formal complaint against Danny. This time he's installed Windows Chat in their startup groups and keeps 'phoning' them across the network, treating anyone who answers to an online assessment of Arsenal's Cup prospects, which he claims are very good. Apparently they wouldn't mind but they're all West Ham fans, something I never knew before. I load Windows Chat myself, ring Danny and give him an online assessment of his career prospects, pointing out the ever-present threat of relegation. He agrees to stay off the line, on pain of having to wear a West Ham scarf (supplied by June) for a week if he transgresses.

Tues 20th
A rendezvous with George and Andy for a swift homeward beverage. At the bar the landlady, Peg, informs me that I'm top of the the list for the NT Server pilot, which comes a something of a surprise as I'd no idea such a list existed and even less that I was on it. How Peg got to know before I did is also a mystery, but I spot Amrat playing pool in the other bar and swiftly sum two low-value even numbers. I ask Peg to keep me posted, and George and Andy what an NT Server is. They don't know either, but perusal of a magazine later that evening reveals that it's an alternative to NetWare, and works especially well in conjunction with Windows for Workgroups. I sleep fitfully, the weight of the inevitable bearing down on me.

Thurs 22nd
A day's in-house training, entitled '123/Windows for Managers'. The mood is jovial, as is usual on these occasions, with Andy in fine form doing his impression of Brison's infamous 'cost vigilance' lecture, and George amiably informing the seminar leader, a squeaky-voiced antipodean lady wearing what appears to be a wig, that he's far too busy to spend all day farting around with computers so could she just tick him off the register and let him get back to some real work. Colin Smiles, on parole from Solvents Stores and clearly desperate to get a good report, scribbles furiously into his notebook, prompting Andy to buy him an apple from the canteen at lunchtime with the suggestion that he presents it to Teacher afterwards. By the end of the day we've all learned how to embed the company logo in our worksheets, but are otherwise little the wiser.

Fri 30th
Brison emails me wanting a progress report on our CD-ROM initiative. I decide that 'Cinemania was great at first but I've got bored with it now' is not going to fit the bill, and in panic ring Llewellyn, who to my surprise (again) says he'll send Amrat round with Lotus 1-2-3 Multimedia Edition for me to try out, and if there's anything else I want then just to let him know. Amrat in fact turns up with a whole pile of CDs, including a large database of Microsoft technical information which he gazes at lovingly until I demand a go myself. By the end of the afternoon I'm able to compile a comprehensive report on CD-ROM's potential for enhanced applications, reference data and software issue. Unfortunately I also owe I.T. one, which I'm sure they intend to collect. As a precaution I try to find out if there are any developments on the NT Server front. Peg hasn't heard anything, but the beer tastes good.