Comments on: No, but I think my secretary does http://confusedofcalcutta.com/2007/09/02/no-but-i-think-my-secretary-does/ a blog about information Fri, 19 Mar 2010 09:20:53 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Do we need an Admin anymore? | Just Software: A CEO Diary http://confusedofcalcutta.com/2007/09/02/no-but-i-think-my-secretary-does/comment-page-1/#comment-183164 Do we need an Admin anymore? | Just Software: A CEO Diary Tue, 04 Sep 2007 10:57:05 +0000 http://confusedofcalcutta.com/2007/09/02/no-but-i-think-my-secretary-does/#comment-183164 [...] JP, in one of the usual great posts, asks the question, should a “captain of industry” use Facebook himself or should his secretary? [...] [...] JP, in one of the usual great posts, asks the question, should a “captain of industry” use Facebook himself or should his secretary? [...]

]]> By: Damien Mulley » Blog Archive » Fluffy Links - Tuesday September 4th 2007 http://confusedofcalcutta.com/2007/09/02/no-but-i-think-my-secretary-does/comment-page-1/#comment-183017 Damien Mulley » Blog Archive » Fluffy Links - Tuesday September 4th 2007 Tue, 04 Sep 2007 04:11:52 +0000 http://confusedofcalcutta.com/2007/09/02/no-but-i-think-my-secretary-does/#comment-183017 [...] I think my secretary does. [...] [...] I think my secretary does. [...]

]]> By: Stephen Smoliar http://confusedofcalcutta.com/2007/09/02/no-but-i-think-my-secretary-does/comment-page-1/#comment-182820 Stephen Smoliar Mon, 03 Sep 2007 17:32:51 +0000 http://confusedofcalcutta.com/2007/09/02/no-but-i-think-my-secretary-does/#comment-182820 Ever on the lookout for hard data about Facebook, I feel it would be irresponsible of me to ignore Alaa Shahine's dispatch for Reuters this morning: http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSL0373299920070903 The lead paragraph says it all: -- More than 2,000 Egyptians have joined a discussion group on Facebook, the popular Internet social networking Web site, to ponder one overwhelming question: "What will you do when (President) Hosni Mubarak dies?" -- Once again I think it is worth asking whether or not 2000 constitutes a statistically relevant sample; but, for this particular topic, I think the fact that the discussion group exists AT ALL is worthy of note. To provide some historical context, this is again the sort of topic that was likely to show up on a Usenet discussion group; and, when the discussion involved a government that tended to be "sensitive" about such discussion, most (if not all) of the discussants turned out to be submitting their contributions from OUTSIDE the borders of the country in question. Having said all that, though, I still hold that this is a data point worth considering! Ever on the lookout for hard data about Facebook, I feel it would be irresponsible of me to ignore Alaa Shahine’s dispatch for Reuters this morning:

http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSL0373299920070903

The lead paragraph says it all:
–
More than 2,000 Egyptians have joined a discussion group on Facebook, the popular Internet social networking Web site, to ponder one overwhelming question: “What will you do when (President) Hosni Mubarak dies?”
–
Once again I think it is worth asking whether or not 2000 constitutes a statistically relevant sample; but, for this particular topic, I think the fact that the discussion group exists AT ALL is worthy of note. To provide some historical context, this is again the sort of topic that was likely to show up on a Usenet discussion group; and, when the discussion involved a government that tended to be “sensitive” about such discussion, most (if not all) of the discussants turned out to be submitting their contributions from OUTSIDE the borders of the country in question. Having said all that, though, I still hold that this is a data point worth considering!

]]> By: david cushman http://confusedofcalcutta.com/2007/09/02/no-but-i-think-my-secretary-does/comment-page-1/#comment-182753 david cushman Mon, 03 Sep 2007 14:38:05 +0000 http://confusedofcalcutta.com/2007/09/02/no-but-i-think-my-secretary-does/#comment-182753 JP. I'll back your bet. I believe self forming networks of interest and purpose will trump email - and before too much longer. Already there are colleagues I communicate with through facebook messages/wall rather than via email. Dave Birch (Citizen Dave) wrote about a younger friend telling him they only used email to get hold of older people like him! SMS (itself usually regularly operated between small communities of friends) and socially networked applications are rapidly becoming the preferred mode for a generation who want constant connectivity. JP. I’ll back your bet. I believe self forming networks of interest and purpose will trump email – and before too much longer.
Already there are colleagues I communicate with through facebook messages/wall rather than via email.
Dave Birch (Citizen Dave) wrote about a younger friend telling him they only used email to get hold of older people like him!
SMS (itself usually regularly operated between small communities of friends) and socially networked applications are rapidly becoming the preferred mode for a generation who want constant connectivity.

]]> By: Stephen Smoliar http://confusedofcalcutta.com/2007/09/02/no-but-i-think-my-secretary-does/comment-page-1/#comment-182421 Stephen Smoliar Sun, 02 Sep 2007 22:42:09 +0000 http://confusedofcalcutta.com/2007/09/02/no-but-i-think-my-secretary-does/#comment-182421 Mario, Barbara Garson's book, THE ELECTRONIC SWEATSHOP, includes a quote from an anonymous typist dated 1985: "If you think a secretary without a boss is sad, you should see a boss without a secretary." This quote introduced a chapter on office automation and the extent to which it was displacing traditional office roles, such a clerk typists and secretaries. (You might like the chapter title: "The Future of Monogamy in the Office.") The extent to which executives can (let alone actually do) do their own work has a lot to do with both past background and present context. If you are launching a start-up with a "skeleton crew;" then, unless everyone is highly self-sufficient, the launch is unlikely to take place. On the other hand, if you came "up through the ranks" of a large, established firm, you probably feel "entitled" to your own admin (or at least a share of one) when you reach a certain executive level, regardless of what your capabilities are. The issue may have more to do with enculturation than with any more pragmatic factors, even when profitability (the ultimate pragmatic factor) is at stake! Mario, Barbara Garson’s book, THE ELECTRONIC SWEATSHOP, includes a quote from an anonymous typist dated 1985: “If you think a secretary without a boss is sad, you should see a boss without a secretary.” This quote introduced a chapter on office automation and the extent to which it was displacing traditional office roles, such a clerk typists and secretaries. (You might like the chapter title: “The Future of Monogamy in the Office.”)

The extent to which executives can (let alone actually do) do their own work has a lot to do with both past background and present context. If you are launching a start-up with a “skeleton crew;” then, unless everyone is highly self-sufficient, the launch is unlikely to take place. On the other hand, if you came “up through the ranks” of a large, established firm, you probably feel “entitled” to your own admin (or at least a share of one) when you reach a certain executive level, regardless of what your capabilities are. The issue may have more to do with enculturation than with any more pragmatic factors, even when profitability (the ultimate pragmatic factor) is at stake!

]]> By: Mario Ruiz http://confusedofcalcutta.com/2007/09/02/no-but-i-think-my-secretary-does/comment-page-1/#comment-182382 Mario Ruiz Sun, 02 Sep 2007 19:58:11 +0000 http://confusedofcalcutta.com/2007/09/02/no-but-i-think-my-secretary-does/#comment-182382 Dear Stephen, I am saying that even "admins" are not any more the need for the company. Executives do most their own work with the input of other people. The CEO does not configure his dashboard although he can certainly could. It is not profitable. Very funny story. Let me give you one from Spain. How do you make a presentation at 5 p.m. You don't. We take a nap at that time. Mario Dear Stephen,

I am saying that even “admins” are not any more the need for the company. Executives do most their own work with the input of other people.

The CEO does not configure his dashboard although he can certainly could. It is not profitable.

Very funny story. Let me give you one from Spain.

How do you make a presentation at 5 p.m.

You don’t. We take a nap at that time.

Mario

]]> By: Thomas Otter http://confusedofcalcutta.com/2007/09/02/no-but-i-think-my-secretary-does/comment-page-1/#comment-182336 Thomas Otter Sun, 02 Sep 2007 18:08:13 +0000 http://confusedofcalcutta.com/2007/09/02/no-but-i-think-my-secretary-does/#comment-182336 Reminds me of doing a demo for Manager Self Service about 5 years, and the customer asking whether there was a secretary self service module too... Reminds me of doing a demo for Manager Self Service about 5 years, and the customer asking whether there was a secretary self service module too…

]]> By: Partha Kannan http://confusedofcalcutta.com/2007/09/02/no-but-i-think-my-secretary-does/comment-page-1/#comment-182296 Partha Kannan Sun, 02 Sep 2007 16:10:24 +0000 http://confusedofcalcutta.com/2007/09/02/no-but-i-think-my-secretary-does/#comment-182296 Secretaries definitely are roles of the past. In Ricardo Semler's Semco (as mentioned in the books Maverick and 7 day weekend) most of the senior people don't even have an office leave alone a secretary! Social networking definitely cannot be brushed aside. However there are negative sides to this as well. I was a bit shocked to read an article about 2 recent deaths of people who left personal information in the social networking site orkut. Not sure if you are aware of this already. http://www.hindu.com/mag/2007/09/02/stories/2007090250010100.htm http://www.hindu.com/mag/2007/09/02/stories/2007090250020100.htm Secretaries definitely are roles of the past. In Ricardo Semler’s Semco (as mentioned in the books Maverick and 7 day weekend) most of the senior people don’t even have an office leave alone a secretary! Social networking definitely cannot be brushed aside. However there are negative sides to this as well. I was a bit shocked to read an article about 2 recent deaths of people who left personal information in the social networking site orkut. Not sure if you are aware of this already.

http://www.hindu.com/mag/2007/09/02/stories/2007090250010100.htm

http://www.hindu.com/mag/2007/09/02/stories/2007090250020100.htm

]]> By: Stephen Smoliar http://confusedofcalcutta.com/2007/09/02/no-but-i-think-my-secretary-does/comment-page-1/#comment-182271 Stephen Smoliar Sun, 02 Sep 2007 14:42:34 +0000 http://confusedofcalcutta.com/2007/09/02/no-but-i-think-my-secretary-does/#comment-182271 Mario, here are a few data points. First of all, just as a cultural observation, I do not think that the noun "secretary" is proper usage in the United States any more. It has been replaced by "administrative assistant," casually known as an "admin." I make this observation without any editorial comment! Second, it was certainly the case ten years ago that I knew several admins who took care of electronic mail for senior executives. In my own sample space these same executives also had staff (sometimes several staff members) to do their PowerPoint presentations for them. My guess is that they did not do any better with Word and would have been totally stymied by Excel. This brings us, thirdly, to "enterprise software." I think it was at an Oracle World that I attended three years ago that I saw a slick video touting Oracle's escalation from databases to enterprise software. The protagonist of the narrative in this video was a CEO, and the basic punch line was about how a dashboard made him a better executive. The key feature for me in the video, though, was that this CEO was having his IT Manager "drive" the dashboard for him! (Hey, he probably had a chauffeur, too!) Finally, an anecdote from the Dark Ages of the early Seventies: One of my colleagues had developed a database query language with a really powerful capacity for programmability. He eventually got to pitch it to the executive level of some colonel in the Pentagon. After the initial presentation, the following dialog ensued: COLONEL: What if I want to know the current disposition of all Navy carriers in the Mediterranean. MY COLLEAGUE: That's easy, you just type ... COLONEL: WRONG!!! COLONEL'S DON'T TYPE! (Capitalization represents shouting.) You get the point. Much as we would like to believe otherwise, I doubt that things have changed very much. Mario, here are a few data points.

First of all, just as a cultural observation, I do not think that the noun “secretary” is proper usage in the United States any more. It has been replaced by “administrative assistant,” casually known as an “admin.” I make this observation without any editorial comment!

Second, it was certainly the case ten years ago that I knew several admins who took care of electronic mail for senior executives. In my own sample space these same executives also had staff (sometimes several staff members) to do their PowerPoint presentations for them. My guess is that they did not do any better with Word and would have been totally stymied by Excel.

This brings us, thirdly, to “enterprise software.” I think it was at an Oracle World that I attended three years ago that I saw a slick video touting Oracle’s escalation from databases to enterprise software. The protagonist of the narrative in this video was a CEO, and the basic punch line was about how a dashboard made him a better executive. The key feature for me in the video, though, was that this CEO was having his IT Manager “drive” the dashboard for him! (Hey, he probably had a chauffeur, too!)

Finally, an anecdote from the Dark Ages of the early Seventies: One of my colleagues had developed a database query language with a really powerful capacity for programmability. He eventually got to pitch it to the executive level of some colonel in the Pentagon. After the initial presentation, the following dialog ensued:

COLONEL: What if I want to know the current disposition of all Navy carriers in the Mediterranean.

MY COLLEAGUE: That’s easy, you just type …

COLONEL: WRONG!!! COLONEL’S DON’T TYPE!

(Capitalization represents shouting.) You get the point. Much as we would like to believe otherwise, I doubt that things have changed very much.

]]> By: Frank Hamm http://confusedofcalcutta.com/2007/09/02/no-but-i-think-my-secretary-does/comment-page-1/#comment-182240 Frank Hamm Sun, 02 Sep 2007 13:14:31 +0000 http://confusedofcalcutta.com/2007/09/02/no-but-i-think-my-secretary-does/#comment-182240 Michael Glos is Minister for Economics and Technology in Germany since November 2005. In springtime 2007 he said (in a tv interview, my translation): "To use a mobile, that's already a mess. Thank God I have some people who use (do?) the internet for me." Yes, he is responsible for technology. May be it's not Facebook. But I wouldn't bet against social software. I guess our Minister even would bet against the internet. After all I wouldn't bet against the power of the people. Some folks even call it "Democracy" (greek origin is from demos = people and kratia = power) Michael Glos is Minister for Economics and Technology in Germany since November 2005. In springtime 2007 he said (in a tv interview, my translation):

“To use a mobile, that’s already a mess. Thank God I have some people who use (do?) the internet for me.”

Yes, he is responsible for technology.

May be it’s not Facebook. But I wouldn’t bet against social software. I guess our Minister even would bet against the internet.

After all I wouldn’t bet against the power of the people. Some folks even call it “Democracy” (greek origin is from demos = people and kratia = power)

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