I would definitely be interested in participating in said discussion. It sounds like something that would be discussed down at GangPlank. I just started going last week after the postings on this list and it is pretty darned interesting. This is an intriguing idea! Ed On 8/20/09 8:37 PM, "Trent Shipley" wrote: > The major downside being that it involves getting up on a Saturday morning. > > Where are Installfests being held these days? What is the last Saturday > in August 2009? Installfests last for several hours, so when would we > want to start the consulting co-op discussion? > > Jason Spatafore wrote: >> Sounds like a good discussion to take place during the next Installfest >> since there's really no "agendas" at those. Plus, you may find those >> "diamonds in the rough" of people that may be able to enlighten you on >> the actual need in the market for such a venture. >> >> >> On Thu, 2009-08-20 at 19:40 -0700, Eric Shubert wrote: >>> I agree Trent. I'd be interested in hashing it over. >>> >>> Trent Shipley wrote: >>>> I just finished the Master of Science in Information Management at ASU. >>>> I guess there's nothing wrong with hiring a junior level JOAT to run >>>> LAMP, and there's certainly nothing wrong with doing this early in your >>>> career. The main downside is that unless the customer/employer gets >>>> VERY lucky, they won't get the expert service a large firm would get >>>> through specialization. In theory what these little companies should do >>>> is outsource the IT department. This is especially true of non-profits >>>> and small government departments where IT isn't strategic. Outsourcing >>>> is more problematic for something like a b2c business where the IT is >>>> strategic. Then you need a way to reconquer IT if your company grows. >>>> >>>> What this indicates is a need for professional, multi-disciplinary IT >>>> consulting targeting small and medium sized businesses, non-profits, and >>>> government units. The big guys don't want it. You can charge enough >>>> and the meals are too small. The little guys, like Red7 and Data >>>> Doctors, started as repair shops and may have trouble getting into the >>>> consultant/contractor rent-an-IT-department mindset. >>>> >>>> I think there's definitely an itch here. I think it would be fun to get >>>> together and discuss it. I'm thinking maybe a professional cooperative >>>> as an organizational structure. >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> Michael Butash wrote: >>>>> In my experience in big enterprise to small offices, either you have >>>>> "the dude that kinda dabbles with everything", or you have quite >>>>> separate roles. Primarily you would have a SQL Admin/Engineer (just sql >>>>> performance/operations/engineering), Linux Engineer (os, apache, sql), >>>>> and a Web Dev/Admin/Engineer (php coding, cms, site management). >>>>> Usually you also have Security and Network folk in the mix too to keep >>>>> things sane. Sometimes you have one person that likes to dabble in >>>>> each, and can varyingly admin them all as so to *get by*, but they're >>>>> subsequently "jack of all trades", and typically "master of none" kind >>>>> of people. >>>>> >>>>> Finding an environment where you can "dabble" professionally in >>>>> everything is typically going to be a low-pay, thankless job I would >>>>> say, as a company wants 1 person to do *everything*, but will pay low >>>>> because they don't know what they really need. They're often trying to >>>>> find their magical unicorn employee that will do everything for little >>>>> pay. Government agencies tend to be fond of these roles, but pay low >>>>> enough they really have no expectation of finding someone close, so they >>>>> settle for the closest that will actually apply. They learn and cope as >>>>> they can, and move on once they pick one of those skills to focus on in >>>>> bigger companies that have already learned the value of the separate >>>>> skill sets among employees. >>>>> >>>>> -mb >>>> >>>> >> > --------------------------------------------------- > PLUG-discuss mailing list - PLUG-discuss@lists.plug.phoenix.az.us > To subscribe, unsubscribe, or to change your mail settings: > http://lists.PLUG.phoenix.az.us/mailman/listinfo/plug-discuss > --------------------------------------------------- PLUG-discuss mailing list - PLUG-discuss@lists.plug.phoenix.az.us To subscribe, unsubscribe, or to change your mail settings: http://lists.PLUG.phoenix.az.us/mailman/listinfo/plug-discuss