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A billion reasons never to buy IBM services

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Re: A billion reasons never to buy IBM services

#101

Post by itronitron »

mgkimsal wrote: post #93
danmaz74 wrote: post #92

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> There's a dimension left out here on the Phoenix disaster: It wasn't really IBM's fault at all. I respectfully disagree. IBM management either knew what they were contracting was a recipe for disaster, or they were incompetent. In both cases, as they were supposed to be the billion-dollar expert on the matter, they bear great responsibility for this failure. And at an industry level, companies that promise the impo…

you're both right, but you're a bit more right. IBM should have been pointing out that losing the institutional knowledge may cause problems. they possibly assumed some of their milestones and deliverables would be while working with existing staff. if the existing staff is let go, many of the assumptions in the original estimate are just wrong at that point.

Yeah, with that price tag IBM could have rolled out multiple federated payroll systems and then iterated on the theme until they had a unified system, but they would not have been able to farm out the development to off-site contractors.

Re: A billion reasons never to buy IBM services

#104

Post by protonfish »

alecco wrote: post #50

12 years ago some guy had the courage to report this predatory activity in Kuro5hin "How IBM Conned My Execs Out Of Millions" http://atdt.freeshell.org/k5/story_2005_9_27_95759_4240.html (cache) I remember the guy was harassed by IBM lawyers and even lost his job.

Yep - this is IBM's standard scam. I guess their branding is strong enough to obscure their history of catastrophic failure, to the VP level exec, at least.

Re: A billion reasons never to buy IBM services

#105

Post by itronitron »

rgbrenner wrote: post #100
mgkimsal wrote: post #93

Earlier quoted context omitted.

you're both right, but you're a bit more right. IBM should have been pointing out that losing the institutional knowledge may cause problems. they possibly assumed some of their milestones and deliverables would be while working with existing staff. if the existing staff is let go, many of the assumptions in the original estimate are just wrong at that point.

The managers needed IBM to tell them about the concept of institutional knowledge? They need to be told that people with experience have learned their jobs? That new employees need training? This is like Management 101. Just how incompetent are these managers?

The competent managers likely had no say in the matter.

Re: A billion reasons never to buy IBM services

#107

Post by mcguire »

ebiester wrote: post #82
sg0 wrote: post #27

Well, this news that came out last year is somewhat relevant. MD Anderson Cancer Center's IBM Watson project failed, with $62 million paid to IBM and PwC for essentially no results. However, I don't blame IBM, I blame people who dove in without clearly thinking it through. https://www.healthnewsreview.org/2017/02/md-anderson-cancer-...

We have all seen a project go wonky with requirements. However, I haven't heard of a successful product that IBM built/managed in the last decade. On the other hand, talking with friends in the government and government contracting, they argue that IBM and the major contractors have perfected the art of exploiting government into maximizing billable hours at the expense of results. It's a bit like the metaphorical ma…

It's been longer than a decade. See Taligent and WorkplaceOS.

Re: A billion reasons never to buy IBM services

#108

Post by user5994461 »

blueside wrote: post #83
kraig911 wrote: post #49

As someone who used to work in/on/underneath websphere. I can tell you I am loathe to even consider anything IBM. I was almost recruited by them and then I recalled how miserable I was on one particular project. The money was good but I said no. I recommend everyone I mean to stay away from IBM and Oracle as best I can. I just don't think the line between open source and enterprise is crystal clear anymore.

As a general rule, if a work task lands on your desk that involves working with a IBM/Oracle/SAP product, preemptively apologize to those regularly around you for your miserable attitude in the near future.

I'm not sure why Oracle is in the list. The databases are very expensive but they work well.

Re: A billion reasons never to buy IBM services

#110

Post by Retra »

rgbrenner wrote: post #100
mgkimsal wrote: post #93

Earlier quoted context omitted.

you're both right, but you're a bit more right. IBM should have been pointing out that losing the institutional knowledge may cause problems. they possibly assumed some of their milestones and deliverables would be while working with existing staff. if the existing staff is let go, many of the assumptions in the original estimate are just wrong at that point.

The managers needed IBM to tell them about the concept of institutional knowledge? They need to be told that people with experience have learned their jobs? That new employees need training? This is like Management 101. Just how incompetent are these managers?

They're the ones spending the money. It's not "oh, we're getting paid? Caveat emptor." Everyone involved has a social responsibility, but the ones who are getting paid to be there have more responsibility.
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