Years ago, I was introduced to the (simplistic) dual concepts of profit centers and cost centers.
To many in Management and accounting (and with varying degrees of pointy-haired-ness), profit centers "make money" while cost centers "spend/burn/"waste" money.
The sun shines on the former, while the inquisition perpetually stalks the latter.
Systems and systems software are often seen as a cost center. There is constant pressure to "control" these costs and to do more with less.
People are required to be over-optimistic in their communication while at the same time overly pessimistic ("frugal") in their resource allocation. Note the use of the word "pessimism". It is not so much a matter of "optimisim" thinking that "we can get it done with less"; rather, it is the pessimism of "we can't afford that".
Much of my professional life has been spent in big, "conservative" (cough), risk-averse organizations. I'm sure things are to some degree different elsewhere -- some degree.
Nonetheless, it's worth keeping in mind this (simplistic, and to varying degrees counter-productive) concept of "profit centers" and "cost centers". And if you are working for the latter, expect to be squeezed into ever more unrealistic positions.
It's something the seasoned professional stays attuned to. There will always be some squeezing; when it starts to worsen and become excessive, it's time to go. Your personal solution, as a "simple" employee, is to find another organization -- the sooner, the better.
To many in Management and accounting (and with varying degrees of pointy-haired-ness), profit centers "make money" while cost centers "spend/burn/"waste" money.
The sun shines on the former, while the inquisition perpetually stalks the latter.
Systems and systems software are often seen as a cost center. There is constant pressure to "control" these costs and to do more with less.
People are required to be over-optimistic in their communication while at the same time overly pessimistic ("frugal") in their resource allocation. Note the use of the word "pessimism". It is not so much a matter of "optimisim" thinking that "we can get it done with less"; rather, it is the pessimism of "we can't afford that".
Much of my professional life has been spent in big, "conservative" (cough), risk-averse organizations. I'm sure things are to some degree different elsewhere -- some degree.
Nonetheless, it's worth keeping in mind this (simplistic, and to varying degrees counter-productive) concept of "profit centers" and "cost centers". And if you are working for the latter, expect to be squeezed into ever more unrealistic positions.
It's something the seasoned professional stays attuned to. There will always be some squeezing; when it starts to worsen and become excessive, it's time to go. Your personal solution, as a "simple" employee, is to find another organization -- the sooner, the better.