> -----Original Message----- > From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List > [mailto:ibm-m...@bama.ua.edu] On Behalf Of Mark Jacobs > Sent: Thursday, December 24, 2009 9:44 AM > To: IBM-MAIN@bama.ua.edu > Subject: Re: CA MSM > <snip> > > I don't have any philosophical objections making day to day > work easier, > in fact that's one of my main goals in my professional career. The > problem with all these gee-whiz tools is that they > remove/eliminate the > need for understanding the way things work under the covers. > As system > programmers we have to know the nuts and bolts of the environments we > support else when things break (and they always will) they can't be > fixed by using your own personal experience and knowledge. > > Look at the personal computer environment as an example. If > an automated > install process fails at the best it will automatically back > itself out, > at the worst your system is dead. Do we want our environments to even > more dependent on vendors fixing all our problems? > > These tools are another attempt to dumb down the system > programmer work > force and allow management to say to themselves why do I need an > expensive system programmer when I can get a button pusher > who can click > an icon on a screen for far less money. > > <snip> > > -- > Mark Jacobs
The entire point of IT and automation is to remove the need for non-vendor companies to have any technical expertise. I.e. to "dumb down" the workforce. This is a plus to companies, in general, as it allows them to hire cheaper labor who become productive in a shorter period of time. Again, this is a plus because it means that people are easily replaceable and interchangeable. How many jobs have computers eliminated? How many accountants does a company need now as opposed to 30 years ago? How many file clerks? Eventually, there will be no need for any non-management people. That is "company nirvana". Not that I like it. -- John McKown Systems Engineer IV IT Administrative Services Group HealthMarkets(r) 9151 Boulevard 26 * N. Richland Hills * TX 76010 (817) 255-3225 phone * (817)-961-6183 cell john.mck...@healthmarkets.com * www.HealthMarkets.com Confidentiality Notice: This e-mail message may contain confidential or proprietary information. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply e-mail and destroy all copies of the original message. HealthMarkets(r) is the brand name for products underwritten and issued by the insurance subsidiaries of HealthMarkets, Inc. -The Chesapeake Life Insurance Company(r), Mid-West National Life Insurance Company of TennesseeSM and The MEGA Life and Health Insurance Company.SM ---------------------------------------------------------------------- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@bama.ua.edu with the message: GET IBM-MAIN INFO Search the archives at http://bama.ua.edu/archives/ibm-main.html
