It's been a week...
Mar. 21st, 2020 08:17 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
rosa_heartlilyMonday at work there was an announcement that anyone who fell into a vulnerable category, or had someone at home that did, could work from home with immediate effect. So, I've been here since late Monday afternoon. And I've got work done, too! I haven't quite got the full collaboration tools working - my PC was refusing to connect to the server the other day - but I've got the app on my phone that allows me to use it for work calls, so it's been all conference calls.
Last week when I was preparing the report on the Portfolio, one of the managers asked me to include a piece of work in the 'Active Projects' list. I scratched my head a bit because I hadn't heard anything about that particular item in months, and certainly wasn't aware that it was running as a project. But I put it on the list because a) I didn't have time to argue because said manager had waited until the last minute to throw this at me and b) well, they're a manager... When I had time to investigate, I found I was right. This item hadn't been near the decision-making body. We had a full project-related-people meeting (we no longer have a Project Delivery Team, of course) and I raised the fact that this had come out of the blue, as far as I was concerned. One of the BAs acknowledged that they were currently gathering requirements in order to complete the form that will go to the decision-making body. In which case it isn't an active project and we shouldn't be reporting on it! And I will remove it from the Portfolio report until it is. And I will have a bit more faith in myself and my processes.
I also did an exercise in rationalising the list I maintain on SharePoint, the stuff on the Portfolio that the manager gave me (most of which is BAU, so I'm happy for it to stay), AND the list the same manager rattled through on Tuesday. You've guessed it - each list has items that don't get a mention on the other two. I wrote an email summarising my findings and asking for some information on the things I couldn't make sense of. Email back from same manager to say that they won't have time to look at it until the end of next week and we have too many lists. You THINK?! How about we start with my list, since it's my fucking JOB to maintain it, and you add to that? As I've asked repeatedly for people to do. The BA who has been around the longest of the team and one of the new PMs are, actually, very good at updating the SharePoint list. The other new PM only started on Monday poor soul, so gets a pass for now.
Anyway, rant over.
I've managed to convert two powerpoint presentations into videos (once I worked out that my webcam was switched off in 'settings'...) and upload them to the University's YouTube channel. So, progress on the Induction Materials front, too.
I could get used to working from home but I do miss my colleagues. I really needed to rant about the manager situation above but only had myself to talk to!
Last week when I was preparing the report on the Portfolio, one of the managers asked me to include a piece of work in the 'Active Projects' list. I scratched my head a bit because I hadn't heard anything about that particular item in months, and certainly wasn't aware that it was running as a project. But I put it on the list because a) I didn't have time to argue because said manager had waited until the last minute to throw this at me and b) well, they're a manager... When I had time to investigate, I found I was right. This item hadn't been near the decision-making body. We had a full project-related-people meeting (we no longer have a Project Delivery Team, of course) and I raised the fact that this had come out of the blue, as far as I was concerned. One of the BAs acknowledged that they were currently gathering requirements in order to complete the form that will go to the decision-making body. In which case it isn't an active project and we shouldn't be reporting on it! And I will remove it from the Portfolio report until it is. And I will have a bit more faith in myself and my processes.
I also did an exercise in rationalising the list I maintain on SharePoint, the stuff on the Portfolio that the manager gave me (most of which is BAU, so I'm happy for it to stay), AND the list the same manager rattled through on Tuesday. You've guessed it - each list has items that don't get a mention on the other two. I wrote an email summarising my findings and asking for some information on the things I couldn't make sense of. Email back from same manager to say that they won't have time to look at it until the end of next week and we have too many lists. You THINK?! How about we start with my list, since it's my fucking JOB to maintain it, and you add to that? As I've asked repeatedly for people to do. The BA who has been around the longest of the team and one of the new PMs are, actually, very good at updating the SharePoint list. The other new PM only started on Monday poor soul, so gets a pass for now.
Anyway, rant over.
I've managed to convert two powerpoint presentations into videos (once I worked out that my webcam was switched off in 'settings'...) and upload them to the University's YouTube channel. So, progress on the Induction Materials front, too.
I could get used to working from home but I do miss my colleagues. I really needed to rant about the manager situation above but only had myself to talk to!
