I wrote a blog post in late spring 2006, titled Workin’ In A Coal Mine, about the NY Small Business Development Center’s move from 41 State Street in downtown Albany to Corporate (frickin’) Woods. But I never seemed to have published it, as it was still in the draft folder. The next paragraph is the wording of one of those damn self-evaluation forms we were supposed to have filled out in the midst of this chaos.
JOB-RELATED FACTORS: Outline factors affecting the employee’s performance, such as technical and human relations skills, problem-solving and decision-making skills, work commitment, and time management, which need to be strengthened during this performance period.
Early in May 2006, (library dDarrin Conroy and I stood in front of a group of SBDC advisors at the annual conference and told them how much better we at the Research Network would be at responding to their needs. The vacancy caused by Mary Beth Bobish’s departure would be filled by Amelia Birdsall. We were going to send information electronically.
Then we moved to 22 Corporate Woods Blvd.
The whole first week we were without e-mail, largely without phone. I wish I had kept track of the different messages we’ve sent to the advisors. Send requests by RN e-mail. No, we can’t access our own RN e-mail. Oh, now we can. Call our personal numbers. Oh, finally our RN number is working. Voice mail messages with requests sent on May 19 were accessible three or four weeks later. I hope we don’t lose some of our advisors who use our services amid this flurry of constantly changing directions.
Ugh
The technology in other aspects, from LAN access to the availability of copiers and printers, was also suspect. The promise of “white noise” to block conversation was laughable; while it tended to put me to sleep in the afternoon – thus the NEED for music and the headphones – I hear LOTS of talk not directed to me.
So, I’m in this soulless, boring venue. Isolated, too – you’d think so if you walked home, as I did on day two. The techno-foibles were just an added bonus.
I’m hoping our new location will not negatively affect our ability to get interns from SUNY here. And I hope the constant snafus they’ve had to endure do not translate into bad word of mouth.
On the other hand, I thought the survey we put out was useful not only for ascertaining the direction of the Research Network, but also for providing the advisors with a sense that their needs are being considered.
Working In The Coal Mine – Lee Dorsey
