Old Man Morgan

… how my company can make any money in some of the countries we operate. As those of you who read my blog regularly know, I am working on an emergency plan for our company in Indonesia. We (the company) are woefully behind in completing the plan. My work activities have been completely redirected so that I can help another department bring this activity to closure. I have 3 people directly “helping” me, plus some 22 different functions feeding me data. Its been a struggle … and the for the “core team” of 4 … I am doing 80% of the work. I could go into a gazillion details about how frustrating this is. But here is just one simple example.

Next Thursday (21-June) we are going to have a Table Top Exercise. Basically, its a worst case scenario simulation were we exam the issues, identify solutions, and develop action plans to mitigate potential future (unknown and unknowable) events. Anyway, in addition to trying to get the 2nd draft of the emergency plan completed, I am having to write the TTE. On the other hand … the other 3 team members are responsible for the room set up, food, and the meeting invitations – and making copies of the 2nd draft (after I complete it).

I told the team that the “required invitees” to the TTE are the MANAGERS of each of the 22 functions …. and that staff were only “optional invitees” and would be observers. 3 hours later the meeting invitation goes out – I don’t know what distribution list they used … but basically, they made the staff the “required invitees” and the Managers “optional invitees” – but it was some sort of mixed bag. Thankfully, I had given them a note to attach to the invitation that explained the expectation … but even so … their distribution list is quite confusing.

So, I asked them to resend the email with the RIGHT INVITEES in the RIGHT CATEGORIES …. all they did was swap the lists (which are not correct in either case) …. and then they put in some type of incomprehensible comment like “we traded the to’s with cc’s we like to have more managers involved in exercise.” Argh, must I do everything …..

…. at least the food will be good …. they do that part well.

Is it any wonder I’m a basket case right now? In the meantime, the efficiency and effectiveness of my normal workgroup has ground to a halt …. and I don’t have time to fix that problem … and when I am gone on vacation in July virtually nothing will get done ….

With that “positive note” … I think I will close.

ciao ciao