Author: Paul

It’s a bit difficult to say under the circumstances, but seeing the DG operators working the system, doing their own thing, looking at it with a critically unbiased eye, really is a breath of fresh air.  I’m starting to believe the dramatic changes now underway will eventually in the long run outweigh any personally negative feelings we may have regarding Lockheed losing the program, at least for as long as Ikonos lasts.  Looks like things will now be proceeding in a real team environment.

One of my biggest, if not only really substantive complaint was the inflexible, almost dogmatic way operations were implemented.  “That’s the way it’s always been done” was the tacity approved modus operandi.  Innovation, analysis or any attempted change to the status quo was actively stifled.  The very few people with any control selfishly administered this oppressive environment with an iron hand.

Good riddance to that.

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I see a message from one of the corporate email robots this morning telling me to do something I thought I did about three weeks ago.  Evidently, this year’s performance plan updates have somehow disappeared.  At least mine did.  Probably nothing personal.  I’ll bet everyone got whacked.  So I’ll be charging some more overhead time re-entering them later today.  At least I kept my copy.  Data management seems a somewhat nebulous concept these days.  Glad I learned how to do it right a long time ago.

Is depressing, to say the least. Everyone knows the end is near but continues to soldier on – impressive really, under the circumstances. People are frustrated and in at least one case angry about their particular situation. Ikonos seems to have become almost an afterthought or inconvenience in the customer’s eyes. We are not a priority, rather an issue to be dealt with and dismissed, the sooner the better. It is awkward just being around knowing the customers don’t want you there. Previously high standards and production rate are basically gone. “Whatever” is good enough. Mistakes are completely overlooked. At least the pressure to be perfect is off.

Clock is ticking on the Lockheed Ikonos gig. We have been warned the ops people (task order 2) will be let go in June. I’ve steadily ramped up job search efforts over the past year and prospects seem good due to the improving economy. Only downside now seems to be the struggling defense and government sectors – my main targets.