Reply to post: Re: funny thing about these requests

Sysadmin told to spend 20+ hours changing user names, for no reason

Vic

Re: funny thing about these requests

If a manager asks for something gibberingly stupid, then get everything documented then go about the task in a safe manner

I was contracting a few years back. One particular customer had a tendency to think up some half-baked "solution" to a problem that would take me twice as long to do as a more conventional approach, but be fraught with problems. I tried the arguing cost/benefit with him, to no avail.

Eventually, I hit on the correct approach: smile broadly, and say "Certainly, Sir. Just put the details down in an email and I'll get right on it". After the first couple of pratfalls, he started to recognise my coded language for "that's barking and will fail miserably".

I had no need to sabotage anything - he just was that bad...

Vic.

POST COMMENT House rules

Not a member of The Register? Create a new account here.

  • Enter your comment

  • Add an icon

Anonymous cowards cannot choose their icon