Job Worries over Automation

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Job Worries over Automation

Steve Jones - SSC Editor

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September 17, 2013 at 8:47 pm

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Comments posted to this topic are about the item Job Worries over Automation

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bspring Grasshopper Points: 18 More actions · Answer 1

I think the 90% reduction is in the number of people who have SysAdmin access. Not in the number of actual workers. I'm sure there are people there who have the SysAdmin access that probably don't need it and shouldn't have it. I would expect an org. like the NSA to do periodic checks of users "need to know" and amend permissions accordingly.

I work in IT at an USAF airbase and we are NOT allowed to connect anything to the USB ports except specific pieces of government HD's and floppies. Yes floppy drives. I heard in a new report on NPR that the NSA had no such restriction. But now they are considering it.

Robert.Sterbal SSCrazy Points: 2855 More actions · Answer 2

I think this story will give context to the cut back in SysAdmins: http://www.npr.org/2013/09/18/223523622/officials-edward-snowdens-leaks-were-masked-by-job-duties

Eric M Russell SSC Guru Points: 125562 More actions · Answer 3

In the wake of Edward Snowden, the NSA is obviously going to shake up things internally. I'm surpised they would outsource administrative positions to contractors. Quite frankly, that was a stupid decision for an agency responsible for sage guarding the nation's security intelligence. In terms of historic screw ups, I'd rank the NSA leak right up there with the Navy's decision back in 1941 to park their entire Pacific fleet in Peal Harbor. Outsource your web developers and janitors, but keep the system administrator teams small, well compensated, and on a short leash.

But the federal government is a different IT universe. What happens there doesn't necessarily indicate what's trending in corporate America or even local government IT departments.

"Do not seek to follow in the footsteps of the wise. Instead, seek what they sought." - Matsuo Basho

rjkendall Grasshopper Points: 17 More actions · Answer 4

The point of automation is not to remove employees, but to free up employees to do other work and earn more revenue for the company. In the case of a governmental organization that would translate to having more employees available to do other tasks that can't be automated or require a human to make decisions and control. The term I learned while studying robotics was 'displacement' of workers and it really is true to what I have seen during my 20+ year career in IT. There is always ebb and flow but ultimately more workers are always needed because more tasks are always waiting for a human to perform.

Grant Fritchey SSC Guru Points: 398909 More actions · Answer 5

And SQL Server 7.0 is self-tuning and eliminates the need for a DBA...

Been there. Done that. Got the t-shirt, the tattoo, the brand, the piercing, the secret handshake and the decoder ring.

"The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood"
- Theodore Roosevelt

Author of:
SQL Server Execution Plans
SQL Server Query Performance Tuning

Eric M Russell SSC Guru Points: 125562 More actions · Answer 6

Some news reports describe that Edward Snowden as a SharePoint administrator whose job was to post classified documents and move them around into protected folders. That is something that could be automated with less hands-on human involvement.

Also, there are encryption options that allow admins to manage documents and databases while still not having access to encryption key and reading the data.

"Do not seek to follow in the footsteps of the wise. Instead, seek what they sought." - Matsuo Basho

robert.bingham SSC Enthusiast Points: 121 More actions · Answer 7

@Grant - reminds me of company management that still sings the song "If we just buy this off the shelf product, we won't need a development staff." Uh, yeah right. Never mind all of the customizations that management also wants.

OCTom SSChampion Points: 11785 More actions · Answer 8

I was told 25 years ago to go into another line of work because changes in technology would make programmers obsolete.

:hehe:

huckleseed SSC Rookie Points: 44 More actions · Answer 9

bspring (9/18/2013)
I think the 90% reduction is in the number of people who have SysAdmin access. Not in the number of actual workers. I'm sure there are people there who have the SysAdmin access that probably don't need it and shouldn't have it. I would expect an org. like the NSA to do periodic checks of users "need to know" and amend permissions accordingly.
I work in IT at an USAF airbase and we are NOT allowed to connect anything to the USB ports except specific pieces of government HD's and floppies. Yes floppy drives. I heard in a new report on NPR that the NSA had no such restriction. But now they are considering it.

That was my first take on it as well.

Kumar Arumugam SSCommitted Points: 1758 More actions · Answer 10

Automation will not replace people.

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Will_automation_increase_unemployment

"No. Automation does not increase unemployment. Automation actually increases the quantity and quality of employment."

'Frederick Winslow Taylor answered this question in 1911 in his book The Principles of Scientific Management.'

Ross McMicken SSCarpal Tunnel Points: 4438 More actions · Answer 11

bspring (9/18/2013)
I work in IT at an USAF airbase and we are NOT allowed to connect anything to the USB ports except specific pieces of government HD's and floppies. Yes floppy drives. I heard in a new report on NPR that the NSA had no such restriction. But now they are considering it.

Is that enforced with a group policy, or just instructions to users? If it's not enforced with group policy, there's still a gaping hole and only the appearance of control. My organization has a group policy on all machines, with a few controlled exceptions, that disallow installation of any USB mass storage device, and disable the internal DVD drive.

I think that's part of the future of system administration - how do you minimize the risks and still allow the access that's needed for someone to do their job.

gregg_dn SSCommitted Points: 1598 More actions · Answer 12

Minor historical nit: It wasn't the Navy's decision to move the Pacific fleet to Pearl Harbor; it was Roosevelt's. In fact, the CIC at the time Adm. Richardson protested the move vigorously.

OCTom SSChampion Points: 11785 More actions · Answer 13

Kumar Arumugam (9/18/2013)
Automation will not replace people.
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Will_automation_increase_unemployment
"No. Automation does not increase unemployment. Automation actually increases the quantity and quality of employment."
'Frederick Winslow Taylor answered this question in 1911 in his book The Principles of Scientific Management.'

I don't know about this. Although I can offer only my perspective, from what I have seen in my 30 years in I.T., there may be a net decrease in jobs from automation. If not, why would a company ever automate? One reason they do is to save money on salaries and beneifts. I have been involved in automation projects that caused thousands of people their jobs.

I would like to see statistics that show an increase in jobs from automation. A quote from a 1911 source does not give me any confidence.

Gary Varga SSC Guru Points: 82166 More actions · Answer 14

In my experience automation causes one of three things:

a) enabler for outsourcing

b) release of staff to higher value tasks

c) increased workload managed by unchanged level of existing workforce.

Gaz

-- Stop your grinnin' and drop your linen...they're everywhere!!!