Archive for the ‘Verse’ Category
RE: A Corporate IT tragedy in five limericks
A manager’s response to A corporate IT tragedy in five limericks:
I see you have taken offence.
But axing your job made good sense.
You had to go
to save us some dough,
and that’s why you are in past tense.
It broke our hearts to do it,
but it’s because of the market.
Our bottom line
has to climb
a long way to make us a profit.
Let me say this just between us:
For savings, on me was the onus.
And it’s better to see
you gone, than me.
It may even earn me a bonus.
I know you will soon secure
another big fat sinecure.
Where you’ll do no work,
and continue to shirk,
while gaining promotions galore.
And so I bid you adieu;
and many good wishes to you.
See, writing bad verse
may feel good at first,
but later just may get sued.
A Corporate IT tragedy in five limericks
They tell me my job’s on the line
They say it’s for real this time.
The bosses, they say,
“It’s going away,
it’s heading for sunnier climes.”
This time they’ve gone really far.
I reckon they’ve been reading Carr.
Who tells us that IT,
is a mere utility.
Strategic it isn’t, oh darn!
Consequences of centralization –
servers in another nation.
Miles from here;
too far, we fear.
And what of the implications?
Every little bit and byte
traverses a long and thin pipe.
All the way to our users
who’ve become snoozers,
waiting for docs from last night.
Perhaps the circle will turn,
but not before users get burned
by rotten support –
they’ll see it’s a rort.
Then bring the whole darn thing back home.
An elegy on the failure of a project
I’ve written a project tragedy in limerick form earlier, so I thought I’d try an elegy this time.
Those interested in sampling a real elegy written by a real poet will do well to read Elegy on the death of a mad dog by Oliver Goldsmith, instead of my sorry attempt below. Anyway, for what it’s worth, here’s my first (and I promise, last!) elegy commemorating the failure of a project.
All ye PMs far and wide,
listen to this tale.
Of a project gone awry,
and verily doomed to fail.
It started many moons ago,
with a project plan
mapping how to reach the goal
within the time in hand.
Requirements were discussed,
in meetings way too long.
Where many stakeholders fussed
over details right and wrong.
The small and petty arguments
over matters rather trifling,
stalled signoff of documents,
causing a delay in starting .
Then all went well for a bit,
as deliverables were crafted.
Until, alas, the tech lead quit,
to the competition he defected.
The PM hunted high and low
for a replacement.
But despite the perks and dough
there was no applicant.
Progress slowed to a drag
as the days went by.
Team morale started to sag
and there was no wonder why.
The PM was soon commanded,
to explain the sorry state.
The powers that be demanded
his head on a plate.
So ends this tale so drawn
of a PM and his team.
Fortunately I woke this morn,
realising ’twas a dream.
Eight to Late 