James Burke-Frazier

The suspense is terrible. I hope it will last.

2008-08-20T07:41:19-07:00:00

So I was able to finally get the XP sp3 version updated with the newest DirectX. The files are in for WarHammer Online and I am un-patiently waiting for the preview weekend to start.
To add extra effort this weekend is also hood to coast. My wife and her team of runners will be covering a course of about 200 miles, running from Mt Hood, where the Shinning was filmed that really cool lodge, to the ocean. As a supportive husband and retired hood to coaster (yes if you can imagine this keyboard monkey out running) I am volunteering out in the middle of no where from 11pm to 4am.

I'll keep you all posted

Back to the midless stuff - WarHammer Online !!!!

2008-08-19T08:22:02-07:00:00

Ok so I dloaded the client. It was a smart move for EA/Mythic to open up the access to the files early so they do not have as much server issues on the Open beta weekend.
If you have read my blog, I am waiting patiently for the next game after Word of Warcraft. It has been a frustrating and underwhelming wait. Vanguard, Tabla, Conan, etc none have caught my interest. I need something that allows me 20-45 mins of fun when i have 25-40 mins to spare. the public quests, and the ongoing Realm v Realm of WarHammer might just do that.
In my early MMO days PlanetSide was a blast. Getting on team Speak with Odawg, and Ben we would find out where the hot spot was at and dive into combat.
Maybe jsut maybe Warhammer will re-spark my interest.

a bit of HRishness

2008-08-13T12:33:01-07:00:00

I was asked by a friend of mine to explain a bit more on my opinion related to the exit of high impact people. Its just all the ramblings of me, no real expertise besides a real desire to understand how staffing is impacted by the addition and subtraction of certain types of people.
So here it goes.

Everyone one has heard of the "near death experience", wikipedia defines it as:
near-death experience (NDE) refers to a broad range of personal experiences associated with impending death.

I feel the best way to describe the exit of high impact people from a close knit team is to use the example "near exit experience". When a close friend or collegue departs it can cause certain people close to them to start to asking questions.
Why are they leaving?
Do they see something I don't?
Is the market better out there for me?
What will my job be like when they are gone?
Maybe I need a change?

Now these are not uncommon questions for employees to ask. In fact, in some cases (in my opinion) they are very healthy questions for an employee to ask themselves. But, if the departure of the person adds both personal and employment stress to the the staffer asking these questions ,they might not look for a healthy outlet to chat out these questions. If they have no outlet they might just sit on them, and let them fester. This is the unhealthy part.
When a high impact person leaves many companies look to that persons current and project project list, they start reassigning tasks, and start looking for someone to fill the skill gaps. But how many companies ask themselves what intangible roles did the exiting employee play? Was that person the best brainstorming person for a certain employee or department. Was that person the one that organized the birthday list? These missing intangibles can increase the impact on your existing staff on many of the companies employees.
If the staffer is in a "near exit experience" they will be overly sensitive to the gaps in communication, what would have been a normal crazy day just seems to be 'one more example of <fill in the curse words here>". If they are not talking with someone about the frustration that is building then it can boil over and you have an additional exit. Staff leave in 3's. Its not a old wives tail, its just a simplification of what can happen when a perfect storm of stress, poor communication, and a lack of managemental observation occurs.

The standard company huddle with a short RAH RAH RAH followed by an hour of how 'We are all going to have to step it up a notch'.
I mean really how many notches do people really have? Has the bosses ever said, 'well the panic is over lets back off that last notch and take a breather'?

Damn .... another long ramble
I swear it will get back to Wii and WarHammer soon. I fly out to Denver tomorrow so check the twitter for my complaints about the airports

Its difficult to see great people leave

2008-08-12T07:34:34-07:00:00

Work is not always very fun. Hell, there are days I feel like Sisyphus pushing a rock around all day with not feeling of accomplishment, but its over the long haul its usually the people you work with that help you survive the minutia.
So it can be disheartening to see those people move on. Even when you know its to a great opportunity, it leave an impact.

Now I know about exiting companies, over my career I have practically perfected the process, so I feel I have some insight on the mechanics of it. When a high profile person leaves you have to be careful that it does not trigger some of the common issues I have seen.

1) People leave or die in three's - this is a common myth that actually is a self fulfilling prophecy. When high profile people die, people start looking to count other deaths. So when others die that might not have triggered the counting on their own it is common for those watching to group to a set of three and then lament about it.
n my opinion is similar for "people leave in three's". When a high profile person leaves the company (or even when someone is let go) it brings a lot of the self speculation that has been just trembling below the surface to the top of each persons minds. Am I at the right job? You know in my last review they said my job would change. I am not getting as much education opportunities as I was promised. As an employer I would think that any time you can keep this below surface is a win. There is already so much that you have to worry about as boss, the current state of your employees personal view is hard enough to fret about just around review time so having it be brought to the surface randomly through out the year should be minimized and managed aggressively if signs are seen.

2) Companies overly dismiss staff's impact and choose to over 'rah rah' - I hate it when executives do this. I know the value a good employee brings, and can see the impact of their efforts. These past efforts do not just disappear because of their current job status. Certain types of employees find it insulting, and then it could feed into the self speculation mentioned above. When has it hurt to give credit where credit is due? I would think it would be a great opportunity for managers to show some of their observation skills to find a healthy way to talk about the gaps being created and the opportunities that it creates for their team.

3) Companies do not take the opportunity to celebrate - I swear I get birthday notices, community events, baby showers, but rarely ... very rarely do I see the celebration of individual and team effort. Sure there is an occasional mention, a token 'good job' but companies are more likely to pull everyone together for a panicked huddle than for a celebration specific to the teams accomplishments. So in relation to a departure the common reaction is to pull in the team to talk abut how 'it will be difficult put together we can get it done'. I say pull them together and have some fun, the nerd herd can smell fear and any sense of weakness in the vision can lead to that self speculation. Get them together, celebrate the team, don't be afraid to mention the person leaving. In many cases they treat the person leaving like a pariah. This may work if the team does not have strong ties to each other, but if they see someone they relied upon and work alongside treated unfairly (remember perception is reality here) then it can again trigger self speculation.

WOW ....... I guess I had a lot just floating around up there. thank god I have no staff to worry about. My department is a single person and he can be a bit difficult at times, but we seem to muddle our way through.

Wii Fit .... no really

2008-08-11T16:00:37-07:00:00

So far I have been working for 3 days on the wii fit, and its a lot of fun. Boy am I out of any shape (other than a weeble wobble) but the game is encouraging and 'direct' enough to keep me interested so far.
I can guarantee no videos of me doing hula hoop will be on you tube.

off to Rochester NY

2008-08-06T16:00:21-07:00:00

Wow .. you know to a Pac Wester anything west of the mississippi is just plain odd.
I'll be sending some Twitter updates, since i am trapped on Untied and going thru Chicago who knows what will happen.

Headed East

2008-08-05T14:38:48-07:00:00

Looks like I am headed east for a quick onsite in upstate New York.
it will be a fast an furious leave thurs, back friday night.
more info to follow

Simplify weekend

2008-07-28T07:20:57-07:00:00

It was a really busy weekend.
We have people come for a visit
I spent many hours coding validation for PSCU merge

and ...... we simplified.
There was not a box, a tote or a closet we did not review. We spent a lot of time soring thru the accumulated 'things' we all seem to pick up in our lives. Hard choice were made, and I will running our second large donation to goodwill later today.
We have a 2 car garage again (well minus the treadmill and television setup).
It was a real annoyance to do, but I find that I create the feeling of annoyance when I am challenged with something I know I should do but know that it takes a lot of little effort to accomplish.

Help ..... I had a lotto dream last nigh

2008-07-25T12:48:36-07:00:00

Those are painful to wake up from. It was one of those where you win the lottery and you outline what you change about your life. It was a small one, about $30 million.
Its funny to think about:
Did we move?
I quit my job, but what am I doing with my time?
How much can you afford to give out to friends and family?

Made me go out and buy a ticket.

Credit Union Market is insulated a bit it seems

2008-07-24T10:19:46-07:00:00

I hear the doom and gloom of the job market, but I keep getting good info about CU's and vendors hiring in out limited market space. I had an opportunity to jump ship in 1999, to a startup in Portland. I am a bit of a worrier about my salary, insurance, retirement, etc so even though on paper the job was a great opportunity I hesitated and stuck with the slower grind of CU's.
that place survived about 14 months, and if I the stock was never worth more than the paper that it would be printed on at Kinkos.
I only hope our little patch of nerd heaven keeps its wits about it, and can easily weather the storm of economic unrest.