I fix computers for a living.
Let’s imagine somebody came to me and said they have a faulty computer.
They say, “We have four computers and one of them is too slow for people to do their work”.
My first thought would be there is something different with the computer.
I’d ask:
Are the computers used for different tasks?
“No. They can get booked out for specific processes but most of the time tasks are pooled between them. Over the month that would all even out. “
“That machine is not block-booked very often. Specialists have machines they prefer. ”
Do they have different software? Set up?”
“All have the basic office programs. More niche apps are divided between them. There’s nothing on here that isn’t on another one. ”
I would then look at the hardware. Are there disparities?
No less processing power. Same RAM. Not overheating from a blocked fan intake.
This is where your metaphor breaks down. Age and experience are not virtues for computers.
If they all meet the minimum spec then there should be no issue.
So the problem is with the computer.
If the computer was given the opportunity to defend itself it might say
“I do not have capacity to complete all the tasks required of me”.
And that is the problem.
We are asking for why you lack the capacity
They ask me “if this is acceptable behaviour.”
I can only think it is inevitable.
"What more can one do than their best?"
I have a problem at work.
Or.
I am a problem at work.
I don’t understand why. I cannot guess at a solution. If I spend all day —doing work— then … what?
Work is assigned and not completed.
A coworker is assigned to coach me. He keeps asking why these tasks are not completed. He keeps referring to things as ‘just a 10 minute job’ but they often aren’t really and even so that still takes time.
How can I look to answer a question I do not know to ask.
What are you thinking about, faulty computer?
[MSTeams is not responding.]
I am reminded if I don’t know a fix that I should ask a team mate. I look at my list and they are all things I know how to do. If my problem is having 4 tasks and only the time for 3 … I suppose I have not asked them about their time management.
They say batch do jobs in the same area. Swap out devices when that’s faster than troubleshooting.
They tell me go find the user when they are not answering emails. I phone. I’ve am told I am unsociable. I do not think I have time for the walk there. It’s only a few minutes, they might say. But if I don’t find the user then I wasted much more than 40 seconds holding a phone.
Is the solution to pass that on to someone else because that is what is being complained about here. Is the difference that asking in week 1 means they don’t have to do it in week 2? They already complain about picking things up in week 1. So it was already spread.
Comparing yourself to a computer does not help the accusations.
It’s to be consistent in the metaphor.
Does the abstraction help you express yourself?
I think it increases my alienation. I don’t think I am faulty. Just…
Missing some key information?
Once I was handed a laptop because the webcam did not work. I could see the camera peeping out from within the bezel. Whatever app I tried it would say there was no camera attached. Same with all the settings. Device manager. No camera to be found. Damaged? No sign of damage from outside. But in the BIOS … the webcam was not enabled. The operating system did not know the camera was there because deep down it believed it had none. It couldn’t find the camera I could easily see. It did not know there was an option to look there.
I cannot run ProcMon on myself.
I have no interest in being decommissioned.
They tasked me to do tasks. I do not do them all.
2021-2025