This just in from a training colleague with a municipal government in a Midwestern state, and no I am not making this up, because, well, I don't have to:
"Jane,
I thought the City was going to buy the PresentationPro PowerConverter ($199) , but now I understand they'd rather buy something that costs $7800. of course, I have no idea what the $7800 software does; I can't find their web site!
I thought this would be a good entry for your blog! Still crazy, huh! I had referred our IT people to your website for free and lowcost LMS info, but...there's this stuff the police department bought - $7800 for 80 users!
i'm thinking I'll just buy the software myself, install it at home, get my ppt. converted to flash, and post it."
Yet another high performer forced to go out of pocket to achieve the most basic of results...while spending precious energy to circumvent the paradigm, the bureaucratic class, and the Vermicious Knids determined to prevent anything that might resemble a real outcome.
I am so amused by this that I am not going to moderate comments about it. Y'all go to town.
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10 comments:
AAAARRGGGHH!! AARRGGHHH!! And it's a government office!! Someone's tax dollars being flushed away!! AAARGGHH!!
Tommyboy, if I were a betting woman I'd bet you a box of Junior Mints that these people have no idea what an "LMS" is, does, or how it will be helpful to them: "Oh well if the police department has it then by all means let's us get one, too." Good grief.
I still don't know how this is supposed to help my friend convert PowerPoint to Flash...
Jane
If it's more expensive, it must be better. Better for what? Who cares...
Well yes it's clearly a logical bunch: "You need a PPT converter so we'll buy an LMS."
i've often wondered why the powers that be often buy all sorts of things without ever checking with those of us who know a bit more about these things...in this case it was software. i've also seen this happen with hardware...someone somewhere found a deal...LOL...needless to say sometimes not such a deal since no one uses it...
and yet, if i would like a manual or a piece of software often costing less than $100-$200, i have to jump through hoops to justify the purchase...
I'm someone most of you know but am too chicken to post this with my real name.
Does the $7,800 include $3.49 for the tube of KY Jelly?
BWAAHAHAHAHAAHA...
I read today about new "cloud" technology (coming to your part of the world, Jane, out in Research Triangle Park) that may eventually replace OH PLEASE OH PLEASE...the IT DEPARTMENTS!! YeeeHawwww.
Dan, the 'cloud technology' story made our local paper on Friday. It's pretty exciting so I'm interested to see how that plays out.
I am fortunate in having an IT department that's pretty supportive, and I've provided workshops in how a trainer can be more influential in working with an organization's "bureaucratic class" (HR, Finance, Legal, IT). Many times it's just trying to get a common understanding of daily work demands and spending a minute in one another's shoes.
I have found it extremely challenging, though, to work with someone whose mind is already set on a particular product. I get it all the time from other trainers, actually. Lately it's been folks who have seen a demo by [guess which huge money-laden vendor of one of the worst virtual classroom tools]and are just determined to buy it even though I can demonstrate several much cheaper products with far more functionality. They call me really wanting just confirmation, not the advice they claim to be after, and I have learned to just keep the conversation short. I hope they are keeping warm from the heat of that pile of money they set on fire. :-)
Jayne,
It is crazy how some people make a decision concerning the purchasing of software. They solicit no input from the people working with the software, they do no homework about the functions of the software and they really don't seem to care if it works or not.
It is sad that the people who understand what is really going on are left out of the picture...very governmental...read "Catch 22" as some sort of comfort.
Also, Jayne, you need to charge those people who only want confirmation for your advice, that way at least you'd get some reward for giving them the truth...even if it is not what they want to hear (charge double for what they want to hear).
Karl
Just in from the offending location: 3 trainers met Friday afternoon to strategize (you know, bypass the fences!). Following the meeting, I asked my boss about buying the PPT converter. He said yes before I finished my pitch! He said, You know what you need, it's only $200, send me an email and tell me how wonderful it will be now that you have it!" I really like my boss! Now, about the Quia thing...... I'll keep you posted!
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