Re: From the BBC article
"Management ask for something to be done, IT say it can't be done and/or doesn't work like that. Management say "You're not being very helpful"."
That's because the correct response to management asking for something to be done is to agree completely and then tell them how much it would cost. Management will then calculate how much this will reduce their bonus for the year, and will quietly drop the impossible tasks. Their requests re usually not actually impossible anyway - if it's not a function of an existing bit of software, then just price up a bit of software that will do it, or figure out how much they'd have to spend to get it custom-written.
Remember, when management asks you if something can be done, they are not asking you if it can be done affordably. They think that's their decision, not yours. This allows them to feel they are contributing, despite having no relevant skills or useful knowledge. That's also most of the point of management coming to meetings, too.
Biting the hand that feeds IT
