It's kind of like a doctor/patient relationship. Even in your last interview it seemed as though your job had the underpinnings of a doctor's job.
It is very much like that. Tell me where it hurts. Let me see if I can help you. Some IT managers have a tendency to look at every data storage problem as the same. But it's just not so. Every company is unique to its data storage management team, just like every patient is unique to their doctor. A doctor wouldn't give the same treatment to every patient displaying different symptoms. Likewise in our world. It seems a hiatus for your personal needs has also simplified your view on what you do professionally.
Perhaps, but I suppose it's common sense too. Sympathy and listening go a long way in this industry. I hope I'm not dumbing down the interview, but the people in this industry who have the "holier than thou" attitude won't last long. On the other hand, care and concern will take you far in this business for a long time. People can't get that from books. When you're dealing with an hysterical assistant who has accidentally deleted an important file and is afraid they're on the brink of getting fired, that human aspect of care and concern goes a long way. That's the human difference -- we have the ability to listen and respond. So would it be fair to say this human aspect is part of the "best practices" for data storage management?
Absolutely! But I think a mutual dialogue, one that is open and free, is very important to any project, department, or business. Arrogance seems to be a particular problem in the IT world though. There needs to me more interpersonal skills training for technical people. Okay, so down to some nitty-gritty. Can you think of one the bigger mistakes you've seen companies make, in terms of them suffering financially because they didn't follow best practice?
Well, the CIO of a giant healthcare corporation purchased new servers that were never previously tested nor certified to comply with any other software already installed in this company. Our only instructions from him were, "Make it work." And you know what? We couldn't. A $1m piece of equipment is now sitting in the basement under a layer of dust. It was a real albatross for the company. A simple lack of communication to the Storage Management Manager prior to any decision making, in addition to lack of research cost the company big bucks. Sounds like the lack of communication aspect really gets your goat. Have any other beefs with the industry as a whole?
Dealing with computer geeks who want the latest and greatest. That doesn't necessarily mean it [the latest innovation] provides the best quality.