Issue 2
Vol 1
Fall 2002

Search Saga Suspense
Sally Seashells

Everyone in the pool. Resume pool that is. The Applications director search takes a dive - but we're hoping for gold during the next routine! This time around, the process is being reversed, in hopes of reversing our fortunes from attempt #1.

That means, simply, Tom has been tasked to go through the original pool of resumes and pull out a handful of qualified applicants that may have been overlooked the first go-around. Viji will interview these candidates, whittle as she deems necessary, and those passing muster will march onto the other groups needing input to the process: the apps group, Leadership team and clients. If all goes well, we should have a new boss before the snow flies. Or melts.

SIS - Search for Intelligent Systems
X. Tur Estual

This is a search almost as difficult as trying to find one honest man. Yet that didn't stop the OIT Technical Evaluation Committee, consisting of Matt, BJ, Teri, Ron, Al, Steve, and Tom. They completed the final SIS tech evaluation in July and turned it over to the president's office prior to July 31. Talk about intelligent systems.

Why the "no leave zone"?

As dads are fond of saying "because is reason enough," but we'll do better than that. Every fall and winter semester there is a blanket freeze on any staff annual leave, running for a period of several weeks to perhaps a month or more. Why gets asked a lot, especially "Why me? I don't support systems that affect students."

Ah, but we all support each other, right? One big OIT team. Plus it's a matter of "share the pain." No favoritism here, and, after all, it isn't really painful. The students really do benefit, whether you help directly or more indirectly. In large ways and small, we all ultimately serve the students. We owe it to them make all systems available during these peak periods. In addition to a smooth transition this fall, the knowledge of a job well done, we also got some great bagels!

Cells aren't just for prisoners anymore
Bizzie Signal

Do you know Western's cell phone policy? Do you want to know? Well, too bad. For those of you unlucky enough to have one of these new electronic tethers, here's a brush up on your rights:

1) Policies & Procedures
a. Cellular phones are provided to improve customer service and to enhance business efficiencies. Cell phones are not a personal benefit and shall not be a primary mode of communication, unless they are the most cost-effective means to conduct University business.
b. All cell phones must be registered with the University’s Telecommunication Dept.
c. Before acquiring a cell phone a "cell phone request form" must be completed and forwarded to the Telecommunication Dept.
d. All requests must be approved by the appropriate cost center administrator. All requesters must have the approval of the next level of administrator. No employee may approve his or her own cell service plan.
e. All monthly payment plans will be administered by the University’s Telecommunication Department (no procurement card arrangements).
f. Possessing a cell phone is a privilege and all employees are expected to use it responsibly. The University will seek restitution for any inappropriate charges. Misuse of your cell phone will result in its revocation and possible disciplinary action (up to and including discharge) and/or criminal charges.
g. If the cell phone contract is based on minutes used, a minimal plan (example Nextel 150 minutes or less) shall be utilized. Written justification signed by department head must accompany phone request for any larger use plans. This will be monitored by the University’s Telecommunication Department. The smallest plan available that accommodates the business need shall be utilized.

2) Billing Statements and Reconciliation
a. The user will receive a monthly activity statement for your cell phone usage.
b. The user must review monthly statement for billing accuracy.
c. After review the statement must be approved and signed by some one administratively senior to the user, or someone designated by the appropriate vice president. Approved statements should be retained for not less than two years for periodic audits by the University’s Internal Audit and/or Telecommunication Department.

3) Personal Use
When personal calls/minutes cause the monthly plan minutes to be exceeded, reimbursement for those minutes must be made to the University. Additionally, all long distance and roaming charges incurred for all personal calls (even if under the plan limit) must be reimbursed to the University. All reimbursements are to be made within 15 days of receipt and reconciliation of your monthly statement.
Same applies to regular work phones. Personal long distance calls should be done on a personal credit card, not charged to the university, or at least reimbursed to the department upon receipt of your monthly statement.

Giant- no, Gnat Killer
We know Bill St. Clair as a programmer extraordinarie, but his "debugging" skills should not be overlooked. One of the most horrendous bug problems apps has faced in some time - gnats - has been swatted by Bill's ingenious, if sticky, solution. Who says there are no more heroes?

Which direction?
If you're a DBA, any direction the group wants. That's what you get in a self managed work group. What's that exactly? According to HR, a self directed team is one with a small number of people with complimentary skills committed to a common approach and goal, or a team that serves customers (instead of a boss), or a work group with all the responsibility, authority and accountability for managing for one or more defined areas.
Now you know "what," but "why?" These teams have been shown to have greater flexibility to get the job done, usually perform at a higher level than traditional work structures, and offer a unique learning opportunity to the individual team members.
I guess we change that acronym from Don't Be Asking to Doggone Better Attitude.

Dance on!
Amanda Miller recently traveled to Dallas, Texas, for the Showbiz National Dance Championships. Being there was honor enough, but her proud parents looked on as Amanda breezed through her routines to place 2nd in the Juniors' solo division! Within group divisions her team placed 4th overall in the Junior division and 2nd overall in the Preteen division. Congratulations, and money well spent after all, Donna.

Don't Skirt the Issue
Do you ever wonder if our dress code has become too relaxed? Is Bob in shorts just, well, too much Bob? Apparently not because Bob now finds himself supporting a dress code revolution. For the story click below:
http://www.mlive.com/news/muchronicle/index.ssf?/xml/story.ssf/html_standard.xsl?/base/news-0/102951090414150.xml
Bob says he stands behind these guys. I wouldn't stand behind them for any amount of money.

Something for nothing!
Well, practically nothing. Just check out the picture below, determine the "star" quality (her name), and e-mail your guess to Tom. First correct name wins a "grand" prize (according to Tom). I have no idea - ask him what grand means. Only apps staff are eligible for the prize.

Disclaimer: employees and family of this newsletter ineligible. Residents of Hawaii and Vermont may be required to pay sales tax. Prize is final and unredeemable for cash. This publication can not make accommodations for those with bad eyesight.

News from the Work World
Remember Sevis? The Student and Exchange Visitor Information System to track potential terrorists, I mean the feds way of keeping a better handle on certain student visas? Look for implementation the end of January.

And speaking of new systems, who wouldn't want to be FAMIS? The Facilities Management Information Systems organizes the entire facilities lifecycle, from space planning, construction management, maintenance and operations, into one, integrated, Internet-enabled software suite.
FAMIS will help WMU effectively and efficiently maintain and operate facilities assets, manage space, and control capital projects. The project team consists of Daoli, Tom and Dan. Phase I of this project ends in December, with a target completion date for Phase II this coming March.

The HR PeopleSoft upgrade is on target. Or should that be targets? When the powers on high decide on which release - upgrade from HR 7.5 to either 8.3 or 8.8 - yet either way the PS team is putting the pieces together to hit the upgrade window between April and August of 2003.

WAG your tail
No, WAG is not the latest trash-rock group (though some of its members high school yearbook pictures make Marilyn Mason look like a choirboy). The Web Applications Group consists of staff from several divisions within OIT. The goal is for one centralized group to handle web application requests from the university community, prioritize and develop, or at least hand off to the appropriate personnel for development. Representing apps on the WAG are Bruce, Tim, Bill, Joe, Roy and Dale.

Just isn't the same as sighting Elvis at BK
Bruce Paananen was sighted in a local McDonalds enjoying a delicious repast of the famous "Golden Arches" chain’s finest lunchtime fare. Bruce is well-known for considering the culinary output of this restaurant as unworthy of serious gustatory consideration, let alone the close association of the word "culinary" with any mcfood. His presence, and outright willingness to eat there, was noted with great surprise by his usual lunchtime companions, one of whom is entirely without qualms regarding McDonalds.
"He just about blew me out of my socks at acquiescing to go there!" Roy exclaimed.
What was even more shocking is that this was Bruce's initial and quick suggestion, when prompted "Where do you want to go today?" None the worse for this experience, Bruce is still happily among the living, and thus continues to be able to formulate an increasingly better opinion of "McFare." Do we see a franchise in Bruce's future?

Quote of the Quarter:
"I don't get paid to think enough." R.Z.

Spotlight on…

The Crash Test Dummies! No, not those loveable, unlucky characters from the commercial. We're talking about the Fantasy Football team owned and coached by Tim LaLonde. Below we see coach Tim being congratulated by the Great Lakes Football League commissioner Joe Hulsebus. Tim is being honored after getting the number 1 pick in the draft. Of course his smile didn't last long. The CTD's have been involved in multiple, ugly "accidents" and currently hold a 1-4 record. Look for this expansion team to fold as easily as the joints on those test dummies.

Get with the Program - Tips & info from fellow apps members. A little knowledge can be dangerous!

Suggestion not to make to your boss

"World According to Mot"
Hemademe Doit

Who is MOT? That is what Tom Wolf's dad called his son during the seventies. The obvious explanation is that MOT spelled backwards is TOM, but the nickname could have been in reference to the MOP of a haircut Tom sported during the disco era (see http://homepages.wmich.edu/~wolft/). This writer had a chance to sit down with MOT, er, Tom, er Ex-Coach Wolf, er, PeopleSoft Projects Manager Wolf, er, Interim Director Tom Wolf, and discuss some of his thoughts with respect to careers in "Applications," especially WMU Applications. Here's the first in a series of extract articles from our conversation. I should add the disclaimer that the opinions expressed are solely those of Mot and are not in any way representative of this publication nor its staff.

What's your take on "comp" time, and the issue of hours beyond "40" needed to perform a job?
"I once had a client who insisted I assign 40+ hours of work to several of my staff. Granted, it wasn't going to be for an indefinite period of time, but to knowingly assign "overtime" seemed to me to be a violation of HR policy. So being a manager, I took up the issue with HR only to find out that for salaried positions there is no such thing as a formal 40 hour work week. Man, was that eye opening to me.

I think we owe it to the students, to our peers, and to our clients to work 8 "hard" hours every day. If you do the math, most of our staff is making around $29+ per hour, not including benefits. I don't know about you but when I spend $29 of my hard earned dollars I expect a lot in return. On any given day I can look at the clock and say, dang I've been here 10 hours today, but that doesn't mean I worked 10 hard hours. Maybe I had to mess around on the phone getting a furnace repair guy scheduled to the house, or I ran into Tim Kellogg in the halls of the Admin building and got to talking about autograph collecting. As long as I gave the students 8 hard hours I feel good when I leave in the evening, and feeling good when I leave is one of the things that gets me fired up about coming back the next day."

Outsourcing, especially in IT areas, is making the news. What are your thoughts? Could it happen here?
"Did you know that Whirlpool farmed out their ERP Applications support to the tune of $39,000,000.00 for 5 years. When I saw that number I was in shock. Then I sat down and did some quick math. By my math, which could be flawed but I don't think so, WMU spends about $6,000.00 a day on salary and benefits for the Applications staff. That's about $1.5 million dollars a year or $7,500,000 for 5 years. I'm sure if I added in the costs of Systems and Ops staff support I could put a substantial dent in that $39 million amount. I can think of a hundred reasons not to outsource but that doesn't prevent me from laying in bed at night wondering if the President ever plays around with the numbers. The bottom line is that we have to continue to deliver quality and timely products to our customers as they are the strongest advocates for our services."