SageIE: Contract System Administration

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Sage-IEContract System Administration

• Andrew Barnes
• http//www.ramsesit.co.uk
• andrewbarnes_at_ramsesit.co.uk

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Introduction

• About Me
• Andrew Barnes andrewbarnes_at_ramsesit.co.uk
• Who have I worked for?
• Various companies small, large private,
  public
• What positions have I held?
• System Administrator
• IT Security
• Application Specialist
• Other gt
• Permanent Contractor

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The Good, The Bad The Ugly

• Many benefits to both contracting and permanent
  employment
• Contracting is not for everyone
• Contracting is not always an available choice
• Company Policies on employment
• Economic Factors (eg. 9/11)
• Have to guage your audience (customers)

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The Good

• Flexibility
• Working Hours
• Location
• Holidays
• Challenge
• Job Satisfaction
• Removed a level from local office politics
• Can work as your own boss
• Tax Benefits
• Pay ?

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The Bad 1

• Having to manage your own finances
• Tax
• Superannuation (Pension)
• Increased expenses
• To assist in managing taxes (eg. Accountant
  Costs)
• Personal Liability Insurance
• Paying and managing your own Superannuation
  (Pension)
• Must manage (and fund) your own professional
  training
• Increased risk
• NB Liability! Dont stuff up gt

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The Bad 2

• No holiday pay
• unless you save for it
• No sick leave, or other benefits
• Higher level of responsibility
• depending on role
• Other financial considerations
• Hourly rate versus daily rate
• Always On Duty
• On Call
• Peer Relationships

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What is expected of a contractor?

• Know what youre doing!
• No-one will thank you if you make a (big) mistake
• It could cost you your job (or more!)
• Do the job right, the first time
• Mentor permanent staff if/when appropriate
• Document
• Handover
• Be honest
• Be reliable
• Be professional
• Able to communicate on multiple levels

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Things to look out for

• Problems that exist that you havent been told
  about
• Before working on a system, ensure that there are
  no hidden problems
• Contractophobes
• People who dislike contractors, perhaps are
  jealous
• This is especially noticeable with people who may
  have been working on a problem for a while (and
  you solve it gt)

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Things Ive noticed 1

• Employees are depreciated, while a contractors
  word is gospel
• We all know that this is NOT (always gt) the case
  but it is amazing how often this has happened
• Can lead to clashes between existing staff and
  contractors
• Management do not necessarily mean it, but have
  found that management tend to trust/believe
  contract specialists over own staff
• But it can highlight existing management issues
  between management and existing employees

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Things Ive noticed 2

• Communication
• Communication skills are VERY important
• The person youre having to report to may not
  necessarily be a technical person this makes
  it difficult to explain why a particular solution
  is the most appropriate
• Unless you really know your audience dont
  exaggerate (too much gt)
• Skills
• The phrase of the day would be breadth of
  experience
• There is a fine line between specialising, while
  not specialising yourself out of other work

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Code of Ethics

• What are they?
• Why should you have them?
• Where can I find an example?
• http//www.sage-au.org.au/ethics.html
• Why do I use this list as an example?

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Personal Liability

• As an employee of a company, your employer covers
  you for a number of scenarios
• Accidents to yourself
• Accidents to others when they are on your
  premises
• Liability/indemnity insurance in the event it is
  required
• Others
• As a contractor, you have to ensure that you not
  only have the above insurance(s), but also to
  ensure that you have appropriate levels of cover
  for the work being done
• Some companies require proof of this insurance
  before employing

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Hints for choosing a solution

• Believe in your solution
• People can tell when you truly believe in a
  solution, rather than just knowing it should work
• Know the solution yourself
• To start with, you may be the only person who
  knows how to support it!
• Ensure the solution is within your customers
  ability to support the solution once you leave

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Documentation

• Every heard of the guy who got hit by the
  proverbial bus?
• Dont just think of it as saving the companys
  arse
• The art of good documentation is one thats
  learnt by trial and error
• As a contractor Ive found that employers put
  great stock in the quality of documentation you
  provide

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Handover

• Dont be afraid to handover an environment
• One difference between a contractor and a permy
  is that chances are you will be gone well before
  the permy
• You will get better recognition after a
  successful implementation if the permanent staff
  are able to fully support the environment from
  day one.

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Best Practices

• Usual SysAdmin best practices apply
• Document as you go
• Handover ASAP
• Communicate
• With your team
• With your employer

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The Decision

• The decision to become a contractor is a personal
  one only YOU can decide

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Questions?

• Speak now, or forever hold your peace gt

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References

• Sage-AU SAGE Australia
• URL http//www.sage-au.org.au
• Code of Ethics - http//www.sage-au.org.au/ethics.
  html
• Referenced with permission of Sage-AU Exec
  02/01/2003