The Power of Perception & IT
By Ausaf Ahmad • Aug 5th, 2008 • Category: Misc • 33 CommentsIT still has a perception problem. In some organizations, we continue to be seen as geeks that play with expensive toys. Sure, these toys power the business, but their necessity is often not indicated in a way that’s “business friendly.”Reality and perception are very different animals. Well-chosen words and a positive demeanor are keys to successful requests and professional interactions with the rest of the business. Although IT continues to gain ground in visibility and potential impact, much of what we do is, and probably always will be, behind the scenes work that no one really understands, nor do they want to understand it, nor do they need to. Like the folks that maintain your office, a lot of people consider the behind-the-scenes work that IT performs as “electronic maintenance.” These are critical tasks that need to be done, but the CEO isn’t going to stop by each morning complimenting the team on doing a great job changing last night’s tapes. Quite honestly, if your CEO actually does do this, he or she may need a little more work!
Rightly or wrongly, some IT organizations have managed to move into the “PITA” category for some executives. That’s not to say that these executives don’t understand the value wrought by IT, but they have begun to tire of hearing the same story over and over again told in the same way. These executives may feel that IT has enough resources to do its job and they don’t understand why they keep complaining about small budgets and small staffs.
Why does this happen? First, look inward. When you make a pitch to the executive team for a new initiative, how do you approach the task? Do you say “We simply have to replace our old, outdated router. It keeps acting up. The new router supports IPv6 and has GigE ports, so we’ll never run out of addresses and stuff will be faster than with the old router, which is no longer supported” or do you say “Our existing router, which is the lynchpin for our connection to the Internet, is no longer supported by the manufacturer. If it fails, there is the potential for an extended outage, which would cost the organization $XXX per hour until the unit is repaired. From a risk perspective, a new router would pay for itself after only xxx hours of downtime.”
I’d argue that the second approach will get you closer to your goal and possible kudos from senior management for being proactive in the face of possible failure. You’ll be seen as understanding the business rather than wanting a new toy, even though the result would be the same from a technical perspective. The second approach gives executive management some meat, too. They get to make a decision based on some real information that they can sink their teeth into. Sure, you could still get shot down, but bear in mind that most organizations have priorities beyond IT needs that must also be addressed and your executive management team may feel that the loss of the router is an acceptable risk for the time being.
When you really think about it, most departments in an organization have thankless jobs that no one thinks about until something goes wrong. Just as you expect your paycheck on time every month, the marketing department has the perfectly reasonable expectation that their database will be well maintained, kept current and kept available. In fact, these folks probably want all of this without having to ask for it. After all, it’s IT’s job to be proactive in keeping these things in working order, and they probably won’t bring you a gift from the Keebler elves every time you apply a patch that keeps their data secure.
The takeaway: Even though the tales of woe are sure to make any IT professional cringe, people outside IT just don’t care about them. They know that something is broken and it needs to be fixed… and now. Understanding this fact and eliminating the complaining within earshot of non-IT staff is critical to maintaining a professional organization. Likewise, understanding how to pitch IT needs in a way that make sense for the business is critical to the CIO’s success.
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About Myself ... Well My name is Ausaf Ahmad which all you can see I have been working in the field of IT for almost 10 years now and have been through from many ups and downs during my career . Being an Electronics Engineer my passion turned me towards Computers and Alhamdulillah I am very much successful in it . During passing through of mid career transition I have done Masters in Computer Sciences and Masters in Business Administration(Management) . Working for one of the leading Automotive Manufacturing Company of Pakistan as Deputy Manager- MIS . I Have worked intensely on the current market "in products" of the IT industry from Linux to Windows - ERP Implementation Project to Desktop / Service Desk Support Implementation . All have done through shear hard work and the blessing of ALLAH and my Family .. Been Certified on IT Governance, ITIL and CoBIT so currently working on the project related to it .
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Ausaf,
It might be a good idea for you to give credit to Scott Lowe, who wrote the above article. Is this state of Pakistan has become that we are just copy and paste words we find on the Internet?
Here is the link to Scott’s article on another Blog:
http://blogs.techrepublic.com.com/tech-manager/?p=570
Dr Alshaer
Yes its been a good idea for me to give credit to Mr. Scott Lowe and I accepted that it was my mistake that i did not give the reference of the article in it . My motto behind the whole thing is that when they are doing this why cant we do those stuff ……… Related to your other comments on one of my earlier blogs …. u havent replied on that do u have any info of that topic … do comments
Ausaf,
Frankly, you make no sense to me by this apologetic statement. You honestly believe that this is okay to say:
“My motto behind the whole thing is that when they are doing this why cant we do those stuff ……… ”
This is an issue of plagiarism and if you did not learn this in school, I do not know what to say to you. It is all about ethics and this is why I even bring it up.
As to the other topic, I made my comments to you and stated clearly that, those news services are meant for the masses. If you are serious in wanting to learn about medical issues, do visit this site:
http://www.mayoclinic.com/
Please think about your earlier statement. I do hope we have learned some ethics from our faith and upbringing.
Regards
Ausaf,
I am going to remind you and others here what our respected A Khokar wrote yesterday:
http://www.pakspectator.com/countering-blesphamy-against-the-prophet-saw-whose-job-is-it-and-how-to-do-it/
“A Khokar Says:
August 4th, 2008
It was the churning of wheels of wisdom, knowledge, science and technology pursued by the literates of Iran, Iraq, Turkey and Syria that their endeavour in the light of Quran, took Muslims to heights and gained recognitions beyond their Islamic borders and started influencing the life of people in Europe, in Spain and beyond. But then we know that what went wrong? [Janetay hain per kiya batlain, kuyoon lag gai perwaz main chup?]
Allah keeps on changing the time for the peoples. A Muslim ought to be a man of knowledge and reasoning; a man who possessing wisdom and fore bearing. Logic and reasoning are his tools. Muslims need to be equipped first, before this that they enter the battle zones.”
Regards
hahahahahah……….. well done dr alshaer……………. ,i think this chap should be kicked out of this platform for receiving applause that was infact the domain of mr Scott Lowe,just check out champ profile
About Myself … Well My name is Ausaf cut paste which all you can see I have been working in the field of cut paste for almost 10 years now and have been through many cut and paste during my career . Being an Electronics Engineer my passion turned me towards Computers cut pasting and I am very much successful in it . During passing through of mid career transition I have done Masters in Computer Sciences in cut pasting and Masters in Business Administration(Management) of cut pasting . Working for one of the leading Automotive Manufacturing Company of Pakistan as Deputy Manager- MIS in cut paste technology. I Have worked intensely on the current market “in products” of the IT industry from Linux to Windows - ERP Implementation Project to Desktop / Service Desk Support Implementation in cut pasting
.
add this to your profile taht i like fogery and masters in cut paste studies.
TPS this is astonishing that every dick and harry have been allowed as writer.atleast keep and suggest some criteria ,this is really unacceptable ,thou prerogative is yours.
Capt (r) Dr Razahaider,
When did you retire? Enjoying the good life now out of military service?
I tried gently reminding the chap Ausaf and he did not get the message. These days the youth in Pakistan are getting lazy and it really disheartens me. I have heard stories of PhD students plagiarizing their dissertation papers and getting away with it. No wonder Pakistan is lagging behind other countries.
I should have just kept quiet and let him, and others here enjoy their 15 minutes of fame. What caught my eye was the title of this article “The Power of Perception & IT”, it should really have been titled “The Power of Copy and Pasting”.
Very few articles here on this site are worth reading, the rest are just trash for having a good laugh.
Regards
Ausaf refering the source and giving credit to the original author/s is not just “a good idea” but a responsibility. Plagiarism is a serious offence and amounts to academic theft. I am glad that you have admitted as a mistake and we are grateful to Dr. Alshaer for helping you understand the issue.
Doctor Sahib, you said you have heard “stories” about plagarized dissertation papers. Sahab, kahan hain aap? Just read this:
Five PU physicists shown the door: Plagiarism case
Dawn
February 26, 2008
By Mansoor Malik
LAHORE, Feb 22: Punjab Governor Khalid Maqbool has compulsorily retired the former director and four faculty members of the Centre for High Energy Physics, Punjab University, after a probe body found them guilty in the plagiarism case.
“The director and the four faculty members of CHEP have knowingly indulged in plagiarism”, the two-member inquiry Committee stated in its report to the governor.
In addition to these there was one ‘joker’ of a professor of economics. You want to know his calibre. The man just stole some recent work of Prof. Amartya Sen and presented as his work!! ( he proved to be not only a thief but also a demented protozoa). I don’t know if people find it funny, sad or just a harmless matter without any consequences. At least it helps understand why we could not put together a decent economic uplift program to our people.
Sir, the last para above (In addition to these ……… to our people.) is mine and not DAWN’s.
Thanks you all for giving comments and suggestions…
Specially Dr. Al-shaer for giving his comments and suggesting me what to do …… I Think related to my reply you didn’t get my message of those lines
“My motto behind the whole thing is that when they are doing this why can’t we do those stuff ……… “
What I was trying to say is that if they can think of that idea of Power Perception than why can’t we think of the very same idea and put that in PAKISTAN …………………………….
Related to Dr Capt(r) Dr Razahaider…… I am really surprised that making fun of some one is really good….. Does it make sense too you if I do the same to you????…… I think you are that age level where you can counsel people specially younger one by telling them what is good and what is bad … By kicking people is not the solution Dr.Sb ….. you are at that age level where you (With All due respect)“might” have some maturity……. I hope you don’t mind about it.
Mr. Aftab thanks for sharing us your thoughts with example in your comments …… it does help me out for future blogs posting
15 minutes of fame ……… its seems to me that some other person in here want to have it ……… if I want to learn “medical” I should prefer it at that moment of my life where I was choosing my career path based upon my interests … & by the grace of ALMIGHTY ALLAH I am very much happy that I choose this career line which I am following currently ……… Dr. Alshaer …. We do want to learn from the people like you who seems too have knowledge of their fields … why don’t you share your knowledge with us. Are you afraid that people comment your blogs and what if someone points our on your blogs too that it’s Plagiarism or not …… I was not going to say this but it seems to me that you are afraid of it (Sorry in Advance) ………………
Mr. Ausaf! Blame has its built in tendency which exactly work on the principle of cut and paste. People who are caught red handed are always subjected to cruel malign and malice thereby diffusing their acquired profile so that they could not come again with similar cheats. Dear there is no second thought on the subject of plagiarism being conducted by you. As to your inquisition, let me clarify that, I am neither a baby sitter, nor you are a baby .cheating is an offense; admit your fault in this word so that clemency may be granted “dear friends please for give me”. And if you could not follow instructed and laid rules again, there is only one way out to survive and that is to face criticism. You have ruined your impression yourself.
Sorry to say this .. Tanqeed Baraye Tanqeed is not good , Tanqeeb Baraye Islah Is . I think you didnt read my our earlier comments i do accept my mistake …… Sorry for the harsh words .. people like you just wanted to have fun by making Tanqeed Baraye Tanqeed.. ….
Very Bad Indeed Ausaf.
You simply lacks ethics of writing. Atleast mention the name of Author. Secondly, on TPS mostly people writes their own writings. If you don’t have time to write then thank you very much. Atleast give your own views in article by giving reference of the Author.
Try to believe on Quality instead of Quantity. Yesterday you Joined TPS and today there are 5 articles with your name. Out of them, actually only one or two is some how written by yourself. Rest is copy paste. Once in a blue moon, copy paste is ok. but you are relying more on Copy Paste.
Yes i agree with the facts that Good Quality Stuff should be there on TPS , My only question is that why people become so harsh and cruel by making fun of them. They can do this in polite and noble manner ………….
If you have noticed that on my other blogs i do give reference of those sites which have been visited by me ……….
I really learn alot and still learning from the comments which are being giving on my blogs…..
Kind Regards.
Dear Ausaf,
No body on our site becomes cruel and harsh. The guys like Dr Alshaer, Aftab S. Alam, Dr Razahaider, A. Khokar, Farid Masood and few others are members are precious readers of this TPS. Being a writer and reader of this TPS, I learnt a lot from their comments. They all have influential personalities and a bank of knowledge. If you will remain humble, they all will love you like your brother.
Dr Alshaer pointed out your mistake but your reply with a line “My motto behind the whole thing is that when they are doing this why cant we do those stuff” ignited the issue and then you have to expect their comments as a readers too.
Ausaf, I accept that you forget to mention reference or source but your this one line created whole problem. As you wrote, I’m doing because they are also doing… If this is the case then what is the difference left between you and them. Lame excuses makes me also angry.
Once I wrote weak post. Dr Raza suggested me to write after research. Really I appreciated his point in my heart because it proves that he likes to read my posts. It is more than enough for me that such high profile personalties writes and appreciates our writings.
One of my friend ( Lt. Col. ) always sugegsted me that Saleem Sahab try to observe things critically and learn from them always. One day these learnings will let you to see beyond limits. This TPS is source of learnings for different personalities at one place. We all are spread in world but our heart is at one place i.e. TPS site.
May Allah keep all of us safe and happy and let all of us to learn from high profile personalities like Dr Raza, Aftab S Alam, A Khokhar, Dr Alshaer, Farid, TPS administrators, Muskan, Amina, Brig Junaid Zaman and many more.
Dear Saleem,
True i Agree with you on the fact that i made the mistake and i accept that mistake of mine if you read my earlier comments ……..
Thanks for your noble comments .In future I do keep that in my mind that what have to quoted and what has to be written in prescribed manner
Thank you all for your precious comments
Entry gives you numerical success at one end whereas it boosts your experience on the other
It validate your experience at one end whereas certifies your claim at other (dr Raza)
Admittance justifies your presence at the scene whereas it reflect your profile as deterrence factor as man of word on the other (dr Raza)
Humiliation has a built-in tendency as intention to uplift the profile, so to lesson the future indulgence, in terms of realization
It has the essence of grooming which prepare the individual of the fact that, advocacy demands logical justification as circumstantial evidence, on ground of available facts and figures and in terms of interpretation and requisite parameters, thereby dictating to keep them, foremost, whenever encountered and when indulgence becomes the fate as part and parcel. (Dr Raza).
Acceptance topples element of curiosity to inquire (dr Raza)
What has been accepted, admitted and relinquished, need no further treatment but abidance (Dr Raza)
Kind regards! Welcome a board.
I read all comments and i personally agree with dr raza ,dr alshear ,saleem ,hina and aftab (sorry if i forgot to add any above participants name) …the point with which i strongly disagree rather felt bad was a sorta ridicule initiated by extremely respected dr raza….shown by para given below
About Myself … Well My name is Ausaf cut paste which all you can see I have been working in the field of cut paste for almost 10 years now and have been through many cut and paste during my career . Being an Electronics Engineer my passion turned me towards Computers cut pasting and I am very much successful in it . During passing through of mid career transition I have done Masters in Computer Sciences in cut pasting and Masters in Business Administration(Management) of cut pasting . Working for one of the leading Automotive Manufacturing Company of Pakistan as Deputy Manager- MIS in cut paste technology. I Have worked intensely on the current market “in products” of the IT industry from Linux to Windows - ERP Implementation Project to Desktop / Service Desk Support Implementation in cut pasting
…
dr raza you are mashallah such a nice player of words …i wish if u have not ridiculed some new comer ,indeed this guy did a big mistake but one should not be ridiculed this way rather u should show logical reasonings that why its so disgusting to publish someone else s creation by another name .
any way i too condemn ausaf ahmed for this .and hope he would not carry on the practice any more and will come up with his own original unique ideas.
dear amber please go through his other article and comments
Beware of Fake Flash Player Downloads
By Ausaf Ahmad • Aug 6th, 2008 • Category: Misc • (3,706 views) • 2 Comments
It is been confirmed that malicious hackers are now using the Fake Flash Players Downloads as Social Networking Decoy for malware . On the website of Abode , they have informed their users to validate installers before Downloading such type of softwares updates …….. Here is the whole warning thing which is issued on Abode.com
”
We have seen coverage from the security community of a worm on popular social networking sites that is using social engineering lures to get users to install a piece of malware. According to the reports, the worm posts comments on these sites that include links to a fake site. If the link is followed, users are told they need to update their Flash Player. The installer, posted on a malicious site, of course installs malware instead of Flash Player.
We’d like to take this opportunity to reiterate the importance of validating installers and updates before installing them. First off, do not download Flash Player from a site other than adobe.com – you can find the link for downloading Flash Player here. This goes for any piece of software (Reader, Windows Media Player, Quicktime, etc.) – if you get a notice to update, it’s not a bad idea to go directly to the site of the software vendor and download the update directly from the source. If the download is from an unfamiliar URL or an IP address, you should be suspicious.
Second, all Adobe software for Windows is signed with a digital certificate that is validated by Windows when you install our software. The Publisher will always be ‘Adobe Systems, Incorporated’, and you can verify this when you double-click the installer, or by right-clicking on the installer, selecting ‘Properties’, and going to the ‘Digital Signatures’ tab.
For Flash Player in particular, you can always go to this page to verify what version of Flash Player you have installed, and what the current version of Flash Player is for your Operating System. The current Flash Player version is 9.0.124.0.
“
2 Responses to “Beware of Fake Flash Player Downloads”
1
Saeed Says:
August 6th, 2008
Dear READERS, Please read first hand report. Original Post is below one. Writer should at least appreciate the one, who wrote this post. or give reference of the post.
http://blogs.zdnet.com/security/?p=1648
This is wrong practice indeed.
2
Capt(r)Dr Razahaider Says:
August 6th, 2008
do you have any thing to say ,mr ausaf.?now do you want yourself to quit the platform or you want us to drag you down.you are habitual .
i try to contact admin so that i could submit my complain about this person .hope all others do the same
…
action should be taken by admin
Couple of days ago, we told the said author about our concerns regarding this practice, and now he is in the court of people, and he must answer the comments.
best regards
TPS