Bad Habit: Mind your own Business

I have seen this in Nible2. There was a financial crunch. Suddenly, every manager, every clown acts like the Finance Director. How so? They stop hiring, sighting the lack of money. They stop buying equipment.

Hello? Why on earth should the R&D Manager do the work of the Finance Controller? The work of the R&D Manager is to see if the purchase is necessary. Then, find out what's best to buy for the company. Compare products. Ensure the products work. Work out the utilization if purchased. Work out alternatives if the company cannot purchase - rent it, or the simple beg, borrow or steal. Try to avoid the last option. What are the justifications for purchase? Return of investments? And what happens if the purchase is not made. In any case, all these must be done regardless of the financial situation of the company.

Then, you get a fucked up Finance Manager doing the work of the R&D Manager. The Finance Manager would ask why is the equipment needed. Are you sure you need it? I mean, fuck it. Unless the R&D Manager is buying dildos for his staff, or anal plugs, please do not ask such moronic questions. If the R&D Manager hasn't done his job, tell him to do his part - as stated above. Don't try to do his work.

I have seen endless chaos. HR trying to figure out how many staff should be in production and how to use staff better. Hello. You have your production manager. If he or she is doing a bad job, fire him / her. Then, get a new Production Manager. Don' try to act smart. You are in HR for a reason.

HR Managers and Finance must remember their roll. Their roll is a supporting roll. If someone needs staff, their job is to find the best staff. If the company needs financing, the job is to get the money. R&D too. Their bloody job is to do R&D. Don't bloody ask - is the product necessary? If you are given your task, just do it.

So, who exactly decides what to design or manufacture for the company? It should be Marketing. Marketing must do it's research on customers. See what customers want. Then, they will do a proposal, including investment required and returns. This should be submitted to the Board of Directors for approval. Once approved, Marketing must brief all, including Finance and HR on what the new product is all about. Sell them the idea. Then, all departments must strive to deliver - not poke holes at the proposal. If you want to poke holes, do it before the damn thing is approved. The approval process should cater for feedback.

This is the only way forward. Not try to tear things apart. Imagine - every department trying to tear each other apart. They act in their own best interest. They don't want to do the extra mile. Look around you - this is all too close to home.