-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
The BorD files, episode 5:

I have to express outrage.  A job position in our network staff recently became
available.  We have some NT servers, some Novell servers, along with other
assorted boxen of various and sundry flavors and colors.  A virtual cornucopia
of sensory delights for the computer nerdily inclined.  The IS staff is split
between systems people and network people, and the natural progression until now
has been to promote Help Desk and Operations people into these positions as they
became available.

There was a big merger recently, and right after, a big CEO corporate suit type
stood before us and declared that it was his policy to promote from within.
This is all well and good, information that the troops like to hear from their
fearless leader (tm).

Of course, reality is never the same as the rosy picture that is presented by
the suits.  What happened?  We had three internal candidates for the position,
with Bachelors Degrees, Certified Novell Engineer (CNE) status, and plenty of
experience between them in networking, hardware, and computers in general.  Any
one of them would have been a fine choice for the job.  They were all 
interviewed, and told that they would have a decision by Friday.

Friday came and went.  Then a week.  Then another week.  Until the decision was
made.  None of these qualified candidates had enough NT experience.  

That is all fine and good.  Except the job description and the job posting said
nothing about needing a Senior NT Micro$oft loving wonk.  The person that is
being replaced certainly was not an NT expert.  All the job description asked
for was someone who "provides software and hardware support and testing for
end-users and IS staff utilizing PC and LAN based applications.  Qualifications:
Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or equivalent plus a minimum of one full
year experience working with and/or supporting LANs.  CNE and/or MCSE
certifications or equivalent knowledge and experience."  The title of this
position?  Network Analyst.  This job was not called Senior NT nerd.

Have you ever heard of psychological contracts?  I quote, "recruiters,
supervisors, and top management all contribute to the perceptions that employees
have regarding the organization they work for.  Other contributers to a
psychological contract are peers, friends, relatives, and former organizations
that an employee has worked for.  An organization can control the psychological
contract by making HR decisions, or it can emerge hodge podge from a series of
decisions that are made.  There must be fairness and organizational justice.
Organizations have a concern regarding productivity, and they can minimize
perceived broken contracts by implementing a good HR strategy, maintaining open
communication, and ensuring fairness in the organization."  

In this case, the psychological contracts between the employees and the employer
were broken. Employees were led to believe that there was a possibility 
of promotion from within.  Then, none of the employees were promoted.  This
behavior by management broke the spirit of the employees that were in the
running for the job, and it broke the spirit of other employees that were
watching the outcome of this situation.

If a CNE and a Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering is not enough of a
foundation to take this job, then I do not know what is.  The necessary training
to bring the newly promoted employee up to speed on NT is trivial.  The damage
done by this move is not.

You now have people that believe that they cannot get promoted from within, so
they will be actively looking elsewhere to continue their careers.  It is MUCH
less expensive to retain and train an employee than it is to recruit and train a
new employee.

Managers wring their hands, and ask, "How can we retain our employees?"

It is simple.  Provide training.  Take an interest in the employee's career.
Provide promotions from within.  See the employee's potential.  Do not look at a
potential promotion and say, they lack the experience.  Look at the potential
promotion and say, they have the ability to achieve, and with a little
training, will do great.

In the meantime, the overlooked will be looking elsewhere for fairness and
organizational justice.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-