Manager Training and memories of MTP (Managing Thru People)

July 2017

Long ago and far away, I and others had Intel front-line manager (FLM) training.

Courses: There were online and internal training courses that led to Mgr. paths.  Most were good, some not.  The best thing about the in-person courses was always meeting others as managers and discussing the situations that arose, and getting feedback and new perspectives on your own situations too.

MTP: A bunch of us wanna-be's and actuals went away for a week (to a place with great food!) and worked on how to be a better manager.  This was called "Managing Thru People" (don't snicker! That's the title. I still have the pin and lanyard.)  It really was about how not be an Individual Contributor, and how to do those skills of managing people.  It was a fun and challenging course, especially the project on the last day. The skills are different from being an engineer, and I've always respected those I worked with who were able to pull those off (shout out to you, DanD!)

But then MTP vanished.  And apparently some of the other manager training did too or was curtailed.  I was made aware of that by some recent anonymous posts by an Intel FLM (see references below). Seems like development paths for managers had taken a back seat.

IOPEC unfortunately that vanished a long time back in the early 90's. (IOPEC=Sr. VPs would go once or twice a year and give a 2-3 hour discussion and lecture in person, on how Intel works from their perspective.  AWE-some events for those who could attend them.)

So it was with some interest that I learned of Google's Project Oxygen back in 2009.  It started with the premise that, to paraphrase, "We don't need no stinkin' managers!"

But the actual conclusion they came to was kind of the opposite.  "We do need managers. And what if everyone had a Great Manager?"




Project Oxygen came up with 8 Rules and an upward feedback survey and much more, but I don't know how much they really still use it.  It would be interesting to hear that from inside Google.

The re:Work teams' copies of the Google Guides are a good place to start to get more details, and as a course of self-study.

•  https://rework.withgoogle.com/guides/managers-develop-and-support-managers/steps/review-googles-new-manager-training/

If you want more, well I guess you can Google it! (-:    It's now part of Silicon Valley lore.

• https://www.google.com/search?q=google+project+oxygen

Bottom line: Managing is a different set of skills than you may have been trained for as a technical specialist.  (Chemist, Engineer, Programmer, Machinist, etc.)  Learn to recognize those who are great managers and maybe if they have helped you, and you can learn to help them too.  And if you choose at some point a management path, well get some of those skills solidly under your belt.   Heck, get them under your belt even if you DON'T follow a management career.  They can help you no matter what.  Learning to "Manage Up" is always a useful skill no matter what org you are in.

Cheers, 

--Richard Vireday 

References

• "Rehabilitation" - https://www.thelayoff.com/t/NZoSFt7 - An anonymous FLM's view of his situation in June 2017.

Idiot Government - Revisited

Several weeks ago I reported on this web site about the bizarre behavior of Oregon State government, regarding the use of  the title "engineer" in public communication and the arcane way in which the state is serving the entrenched interests of professional guilds (see: Idiot Government Oregon State Idea of Engineering Is Not Keeping Up With The Times).

I am happy to report that Mats Järlström's case apparently received national attention, mostly due to the ludicrous and disproportionate reaction of the State of Oregon and now, it is being looked at in Federal Court, as a First Amendment issue.

While the legal proceedings are taking place, the court decided that Mats is entitled to call himself an "engineer", until the court resolves the issue and produces a judgment. Here is a quote from the court order:

Plaintiff Järlström may study, communicate publicly about, and communicate privately his theories relating to traffic lights throughout the pendency of this litigation as long as [his] communications occur outside the context of a paid employment or contractual relationship," Anna Brown, a federal district court judge for the district of Oregon, ordered. He "may describe himself publicly and privately using the word 'engineer' throughout the pendency of this litigation.

You can read about the pending legal process on the Motherboard web site at this link:
Oregon Man Fined for Writing 'I Am an Engineer' Temporarily Wins the Right to Call Himself an 'Engineer'

All the best.

--Dr. Flywheel

Idiot GovernmentOregon State Idea of Engineering Is Not Keeping Up With The Times

It is a well known phenomenon that groups of professionals and specialized trade workers create a guild, with the intention of limiting competition and serving their own financial interest. Guilds do their best to retain the status quo and deliberately mount obstacles in the way of newcomers trying to enter a specific field of employment. This phenomenon existed for the last few centuries and served to enrich guild members very well, many times by recruiting governments to their aid. However, it is not clear if society at large is a beneficiary of this protectionist and restrictive concept and if restricting competition is a worthy cause for maintaining a viable economy in this day and age.

I was amazed to read an article in Motherboard entitled:
Man Fined $500 for Crime of Writing 'I Am An Engineer' in an Email to the Government.

I suggest for all of you to read the original article (see link below) and draw your own conclusions.

In summary, Mats Järlström, a private citizen with electrical engineering education, has written a well formed letter to his State Government. The letter specified facts about the shortcomings of traffic lights operations, providing important actionable information. Instead of responding to the good intentioned letter and fixing the problem, the State of Oregon, chose to pick on this Good Samaritan and nail him with a $500 fine for an obscure law violation. The State of Oregon claimed that Mats violated the law by declaring that he is an engineer, while he is not registered with the State.

Clearly, the State of Oregon is protecting the special interest of the old guilds through its actions and you can bet on entrenched interests doing their best to keep this situation forever. In these times, when innovation and science are open for all and new disciplines of engineering are opening up, the State of Oregon, in its official policy, is doing its best to keep us tied to the horse and buggy days and perhaps to the revival of the fur trapping and timber logging economy. Ancient regulations that do not keep up with the times, do not advance the interests of Oregon economy and will not create new jobs.

There is a good reason for the multi-billion budget deficit that the State of Oregon is facing for the next bi-annual budget, in spite of the high personal tax rates that the state treasury is collecting. The reason is the high cost of government. Part of this cost is apparently being spent on protecting the entrenched guilds constituency and the out of date policies of the pre-industrial revolution. For all of you who declare yourselves as "software engineer", or "electronics engineer", or "biochemical engineer", beware! The State of Oregon is coming to get you.

Read the original Motherboard article at: https://motherboard.vice.com/en_us/article/man-fined-dollar500-for-crime-of-writing-i-am-an-engineer-in-an-email-to-the-government

All the best.

--Dr. Flywheel

Upcoming Meetups - April and May 2017

CANCELLED - APRIL 26

Due to a schedule conflict, this meeting has been cancelled.  It will be rescheduled later in May. 

A general meetup, catch up with old friends and help the new class of 2017.

Hillsboro, Oregon -  Brookwood Library - Board Room

• Room Open @ 5:00pm
• Main Presentation 6-6:40 (what's a meeting without slides!)
• Group Discussions 7-9pm

Show up when you can, and catch up with old friends.  Help new members work through their layoff.  Plenty of time for 1:1 discussions.

MAY 2

Closer to downtown PDX for those in that area.    Host Anne Meixner is setting something up, and we will post that information.

Intel 2017 cuts have started while recruiting continues

Several of the Intel Eliminati have heard from their colleagues and friends that the 2017 cuts started this past week of April 3.  This coincides with the annual performance reviews, known internally as "Focal Review".

At the same time, many of the Eliminati continue to receive recruiting requests for both full-time and contract positions within the company.   In more than a few cases, the position is with the same team they were on or even the actual position they had left!

We do not yet know the extent of 2017's firings, if it can yet be called a "layoff".  We do know it is worldwide again, and that in some cases whole teams of 10-20 people have been affected.  And like in 2016, by June there will be an increased effort for Voluntary Separations and Early Retirements.

This comes at the same time as other recent news from Intel about finances and compensations, including America's ongoing discussions about H1-B visas,

Our last survey of ex-Intel and Eliminati members found that the median time to get a new job ranged about 8 to 9 months.   Some were faster, some from 2015 even are still looking!  Despite demand in some hot areas like software, it can still take quite some time to get a new position.

--Richard Vireday
Spokesperson for PDX-TIE.org, the Intel Eliminati