Does Merck Need Technologists?

[Anonymous]

Clark commented on the need for IT to understand technology - "putting the T back in IT." He was wondering why everybody seems to be afraid to admit that they understand technology.

I looked a few seats to his left at Jim Swanson, who I recall at an MRL IT Town Hall making the comment, "Does Merck need technologists? Probably. Does Merck need as many technologists as it has today? Probably not."

Hmm, can't understand why people might be shy from investing in the technology side of their careers. Those who chose to focus elsewhere certainly benefited over the last few years.

I wonder how many people have witnessed somebody struggling with a technical problem, knowing that they knew how to solve it, but chose not to speak up because doing so would require taking ownership of the problem and being held responsible for solving it, while not getting any credit for having done so.

 

[Anonymous]

It's all cyclical. The focus for a while seems to have been forcing everyone to become a BA. The result: the greatest percentage of our "IT" population isn't technical. So with no meaningful emphasis placed on training- beyond that 40 hour sham, the focus is now apparently back to technology. Then at some point someone will decide that we're too technology-focused and we need to be more "customer-centric." Then we'll find the emphasis once again being placed on business analysis.

 

[Anonymous]

Haven't worked there in years and they apparently didn't need them now, would be amazed if the ivory tower felt they were needed now. They were always most effective at overpaying outsourcers and never taking responsibility for anything all the while keeping users in the dark ages from a technological standpoint trying to shave costs and services to the bone.

 

[Anonymous]

This is a happiest moment for me. I heard Jim Swanson is leaving. I hope he is going to burry himself somewhere where IT is not needed. He never understood the way the work is done. They were bunch of characters playing some political game. Meanwhile they made a lot of money as well as they play with people's lives.

 

[Anonymous]

"Swanny" did a horrible job as head of Research IT, and later of Human Health IT. He was defensive, thin-skinned, and immune to the germ of an idea. He will not be missed.