Less technical people working above you?

anything I don't mind · 16 May 2011 at 15:10

Does anyone else that works in IT have people working in positions that are technically more superior than themselves but the person in the job is technically inferior to yourself.

For example, you are working a second line job and the person in the third line job is less knowledgeable about computers than yourself.

If you do, how do you handle the situation, when the guy asks you questions do you answer them, where do you draw the line between teaching him and helping each other out?

I also want to see how common it is within the IT field to have people working for the same company earning more money etc that know less than people earning less money.

platypus · 16 May 2011 at 15:14

Yes I think thats the case in a lot of companies that have management who are good at managing but not particularly technical.

anything I don't mind · 16 May 2011 at 15:16

No the question did not mentioned management, I was specifically referring to technical roles where individuals in higher technical roles know less than the people in lower technical roles.

clade · 16 May 2011 at 15:17

i would say get him to email the questions to you, save them and present them as a reason to get a promotion

But aslong as the person is not passing work onto my self I do not have any problems answering questions as Im sure id have questions to ask him one day. Hard to know everything about computers and sometimes the quickest solution is to ask rather than do loads of research while the customer is on hold!

Sometimes people have other skills they bring to the table than the ones that are obvious to you

fez · 16 May 2011 at 15:18

Its massively common I would have thought. There seems very little link between most peoples competence and their salary or position.

Especially in IT I have seen a large number of managers of IT teams with no understanding of the topic. It doesn't seem to matter though as they are talking to other people who have less knowledge than themselves. Its usually the people lower down that pick up the slack for this.

J.B · 16 May 2011 at 15:19

Very common. Support is an odd sector like that. Often its not technical knowledge that makes you stand out on first line but your ability to talk to people and provide a good service. Support has this odd pecking order depending on what 'line' you're on. You have to ask yourself why they got promoted over you? They must have done something to shine. Maybe they are a good project manager.

We are all going in for an accreditation this week which is an exam that my manager is not confident about. With good reason, he has not done the nitty gritty in a couple of years and got promoted because he is good with people and can sell us to clients. I know this is different to support work but my point is there might be a reason, its not all about how quickly you can set up AD or <insert generic IT term>

kiteloopy · 16 May 2011 at 15:19

Define technical???

I could explain quite well transmission and submarine networks, yet im clueless at MS / desktop problems.

Edit: everyone has a skill, maybe not on the same one as yours which is why they work in the job that they have.

Liquiduk · 16 May 2011 at 15:19

platypus said:
Yes I think thats the case in a lot of companies that have management who are good at managing but not particularly technical.

The things that platypus was refering to are in a lot of cases the reasons why these people are in higher technical roles is there ability to speak there mind (****). Not to mention in companies I have seen some individuals lower down the line have twice the work ethnic that some a lot higher up, sad really :/.

cyber69 · 16 May 2011 at 15:21

This happens all the time in I.T. What makes me more mad is seeing Rolex wearing so called I.T projects people strolling around making decisions which affect the company then go off to center parcs for a week leaving the front line I.T staff picking up the pieces. :mad:

anything I don't mind · 16 May 2011 at 15:21

Asking him to email questions to me is a great idea and I think I will do that whenever practical. thanks.

I have started just saying that i do not know the answer to questions, even though i do.

Randomface74 · 16 May 2011 at 15:22

tell your boss - not us - you might get promoted.

fez · 16 May 2011 at 15:23

groen said:
Asking him to email questions to me is a great idea and I think I will do that whenever practical. thanks.

I have started just saying that i do not know the answer to questions, even though i do.

To be fair, I would be surprised if he would remember the answers you give him anyway. Its a great strategy to hire people smarter than yourself however that comes with the proviso that you are at least good at your job.

anything I don't mind · 16 May 2011 at 15:24

Nah i don't think so, I would prefer to just have someone in the position that new more than me, that way i can learn from him. At the moment there is no one above me that i can actually learn anything from. Not because i am some It genius but because the technical people above me are incompetent.

Admiral Huddy · 16 May 2011 at 15:24

Most IT managers have been hands on at some point but the technology moves at such a pace that it's difficult to maintain the level of experience. It's a big factor when considering management.

Dunks · 16 May 2011 at 15:24

cyber69 said:
This happens all the time in I.T. What makes me more mad is seeing Rolex wearing so called I.T projects people strolling around making decisions which affect the company then go off to center parcs for a week leaving the front line I.T staff picking up the pieces.

Suck it up, that's life. There's always going to be people above you making decisions that affect you at work.

They've obviously done something that you haven't to be in that position.

Trifid · 16 May 2011 at 15:25

platypus said:
Yes I think thats the case in a lot of companies that have management who are good at managing but not particularly technical.

Management need to have a good general knowledge but there is no need for them to be highly technical knowing the ins and outs of setting something up.

edscdk · 16 May 2011 at 15:26

Working with the technically inferior to yourself in IT is very common, though jsut because you know more in X Y or Z does not mean you are better overall,

groen said:
when the guy asks you questions do you answer them, where do you draw the line between teaching him and helping each other out .

- there is no line as long as it does not interfeer with the job you are paid to do there is no issue at all, help all you can, feel good that you know the answeres and can help

groen said:
I also want to see how common it is within the IT field to have people working for the same company earning more money etc that know less than people earning less money.

this is very common

HOWEVER do NOT confuse technically good with the best person / candidate for a job, sometimes you are better off having a popular, friendly, willing to ask people and take advice person than someone technically better who is not a team player, does not ask for help.

cHk4 · 16 May 2011 at 15:32

I get it all the time.

platypus · 16 May 2011 at 15:33

groen said:
No the question did not mentioned management, I was specifically referring to technical roles where individuals in higher technical roles know less than the people in lower technical roles.

Well ok if you're not including management then yes it happens and I have experienced it.

Trifid said:
Management need to have a good general knowledge but there is no need for them to be highly technical knowing the ins and outs of setting something up.

That would depend entirely on what they are managing.

teaboy5 · 16 May 2011 at 15:34

What type of things is he asking?