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Wow, that is sad...What is it do you think that makes your employers want to keep you in the dark? They must understand that IT is one of the fastest changing fields out there. Would they go to a doctor or dentist who still did things with 20 year old skills and tools? I think not. Yet they pay you and purchase hardware and software but don't want you to know how best to utilize those assets? Managers and companies need to understand that COMMON, IBM Technical Conference, iSeries DevCon, Local Lugs, as well as distance learning opportunities are all Investments, NOT costs. Any investment is intended to return MORE than was put into it. All of these educational opportunities are just that. Of course you would understand that there is a limited budget for this sort of investment as well. Other than those paid to speak I suspect there is nobody that attends all of these things every year or even in a given year. Investment spread too thin does no good either, however NO investment guarantees no growth.
Clearly there are those who attend events such as these who gain nothing from them. These folks can usually be found at the local attractions rather than in sessions. COMMON for instance during any given hour routinely counts only about 1/2 the paid butts actually in seats. Even counting expo, lunch, and volunteer positions some folks just aren't there for education, they're there for vacation. Discounting the 'vacationers' however I believe you and your management would be amazed at the positive feedback that nearly every other attendee would give from any of these events.
I have been very successful in getting my customers to send their folks to COMMON. Clearly I do not take up the cause if the technical staff is not interested and of course I don't always succeed. However In the cases where I don't succeed the answer is nearly always the one that gets Admiral Grace Hopper out of her grave to smack them on the head: "We have never sent people to educational events we've always been this way."
- Larry DeLong, Eric wrote:
Not to beat this dead horse again, but I've never been in a position where I could attend COMMON. I know I could use my personal vacation to attend one myself, but I'm not a member of COMMON, nor am I actively involved with LUG, so the cost could be considerable. I would certainly like to see what it's all about, but I can't easily justify the personal expenses involved. I suppose I fit in the "young" category (at age 37), but with 20 years in midrange, my memory tells me that 1) I've never worked in a shop that was affiliated with COMMON, 2) I've never worked in a shop that supported the notion of sending anyone to COMMON, 3) most shops refuse to allow their programmers to get involved in LUG, 4) only one shop has paid for specialized education. Its a lousy track record, and in my opinion, it's only getting worse. Bummer... In lieu of COMMON, I've come to see these mailing lists as my educationalsalvation.
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Larry Bolhuis IBM eServer Certified Systems Expert: Vice President iSeries Technical Solutions V5R3 Arbor Solutions, Inc. iSeries LPAR Technical Solutions V5R3 1345 Monroe NW Suite 259 iSeries Linux Technical Solutions V5R3Grand Rapids, MI 49505 iSeries Windows Integration Technical Solutions V5R3
midrange.com
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(616) 451-2500 iSeries System Administrator for
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(616) 451-2571 - Fax AS/400 RPG IV Developer (616) 260-4746 - Cell iSeries System Command Operations V5R2If you can read this, thank a teacher....and since it's in English, thank a soldier.
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