A new Project managment job in the land of no projects and Captain Hollywood

To all that see this post.  This is just a safe way for me to vent and cover my butt by posting what is not getting done at work.   For the last few years, I have been working in IT project management.  Up until July, I worked at large manufacturing organization that was somewhat organized....but looking to downsize.  Time to Job Search!  Yay ..40 year old me.  What could go wrong?!

I sent application upon application!  Jobs at Aldi were starting to look promising.  One day, on my way to lunch, I get a call from a small manufacturing company.  He was quick talking and sounded like he had a job right up my alley.  The company had sold off part of the business and was developing a new ERP system and Infrastructure.  He needed a project manager that knew Manufacturing and Infrastructure.  He asked if I was comfortable focusing on the manufacturing needs of the company while working with their intregrator that we will call PITA.  Since the part of the business had been sold off, with the IT infrastructure and employees, he hired them to set up new servers and pcs.  We would take over when all was set up.  Flash forward: How was I so gullible?  He kept talking and talking.  It should have been a red flag.  2 hours later, I needed to run back in to work.  I was excited that I had an interview scheduled though

Showing up in the parking lot for the interview, I couldn't shake this anxious feeling.  I don't know if it was the signal to sprint back to the car and leave, like many match dates that I have been on in the past, but it kept me standing outside the door.  If it wasn't for someone coming out of the door, and looking at me like I might need some help, I probably wouldn't have gone in!

My appointment was for 7:00am.  Around 7:30, Captain Hollywood comes running down the stairs to the reception area.

From 7am to 9am he is talking non-stop while we walk the plant.  I frequently try to stop him to ask questions.  I realize that I keep speeding up in order to avoid him standing closer to me.  Close talker indeed.

I ask him about the new ERP system.  It is a non manufacturing designed one.  I ask if he has looked at these 2 other options built for Manufacturing.  He said that they are looking to buy.

Random Jenna Squirrel thoughts during this....
He wants me to be their Project Manager and IT manager after the Integrator leaves.  (Stupid me!!!!!)
But ohhhh...they have a gym with a squat rack....hmmm!!!)
 Reality: IT Integrators never leave.

Famous last question: I asked the Captain how long we had to get out, and off of, the old infrastructure.  He said one year.

Fast forward to my first day.  I walk in and start running from meeting to meeting.  Topics range from the new security system, xRM (more blogs to come on that!), pc migrations, and migration to Windows cell phones. The final words to me, before getting out after 12 hours at 6pm, was that we had until the end of the year to get everything moved off of the sold off company's infrastructure.

SHITE!  What was I thinking?
I tried to put my mind in a positive space.  I evaluated the way that the 3rd party integrator was imaging pcs, setting up active directory, etc.  I had quite a few concerns.  PCs were set up without security patches or virus definitions.  Group Policy was not up to standard with SoX controls.
I summarized my findings and sent emails to Captain and the integrator, as well as schedule a meeting.  Captain and his boss pulled me aside and told me that I was "attacking" the intergrator.  Captain's boss, actually suggested that I go down their and say "I know this is a dumb question .." and "I know that I am a woman, but" instead of approaching them with the facts.  I couldn't believe that this was coming from another woman.  I told her that as an IT Professional, that I could not dumb myself down, or defend myself as a woman.  Needless to say, the Integrator got their way.

The integrator's idea of getting the company up and running was to ignore the pcs, that were only 2 years old, and replace them with Windows 8.1 tablet laptops!  No! No !  And..no thought to moving orignal data and systems.  So now, users need two pcs.  Also, the original pcs are not joined in to the new antivirus system, leaving them vulnerable.

As a manufacturing company, I assumed they would find an ERP system that would allow for manufacturing/engineering an easy way to plan, quote, and upload drwaings and assemblies.  Since, the Integrator is pretty much in bed with Mr Gates's company, they went with Dynamics.  And...not even with the manufacturing module.  It just seems that their focus is on finance and Distribution.

I had made project suggestions in a hope to bring this forgotten department in focus.  Engineering vault, serial to wireless devices (so that the shop doesn't have to code on floppies and walk to lathe, etc), quoting server, etc.  I was told, after the second time bringing up, that if I valued my job that I would put to rest.

Projects that we discussed on the first day: replacing a 30 year old security system, buying proficient wireless devices, moving over server with barcode scanning, all shelved because my bosses (CFO and finance) have spent too much money.  Hmm...maybe when you consider buying $500,000 in pcs and software that wouldn't have been needed if they would have stayed with the original pcs and Windows 7.  $1500 a month to host a contracts database that would have been free had they just approved moving the server on the new network.

At this point, I honestly don't know why they hired an IT Project manager.  I wonder if it is only to write of the antics of Captain Hollywood.  More to come in the next post!