Nigel Latta's new series

[James Deuce]

Why the fuck wouldn't they? If a prospective tenant asked me if he could dig a garden in the back yard I'd pay for seeds, and I'd say he'd be all the more likely to be there in a couple of years time.

Never pass up an opportunity to encourage good productive enterprise.

It's a question of power, and like teachers, landlords are mostly in it for the "financial investment" closely followed by holding a large measure of power over how their tenants experience life.

I haven't experienced a single landlord in the last 4 years that would let us do that, despite offering to leave behind raised garden beds and an irrigation system.

[Voltaire]

I'm a shit gardener too, enjoyable activity but a walk to the supermarket makes more sense time and money wise.
So how many landlords out there (cause the poverty stricken generally aren't home owners) would let tenants dig up the backyard for a vege garden???? not many I suspect...

Are you serious? My experience with tenants is that they can't even mow a lawn let alone use a spade.

[Ocean1]

It's a question of power, and like teachers, landlords are mostly in it for the "financial investment" closely followed by holding a large measure of power over how their tenants experience life.

I haven't experienced a single landlord in the last 4 years that would let us do that, despite offering to leave behind raised garden beds and an irrigation system.

It's been a long time since I rented, and if my landlord then had told me I couldn't plant a garden I'd have understood perfectly, I would have likely left the place worse off than when I arrived. I don't see that as a demonstration of power, simply not wanting yet another tenant to cause more work when they leave.

Now, from the other side of the deal I can afford to indulge my libertarian fantasies: If they want to make their lives better on the back of their own efforts then who am I to say no? No vegie gardens, but one of my tenants built a damned fine fence in lieu of a couple of weeks rent. I like to think of it as tax avoidance, pure and simple.

Don't suppose you're interested in a bit of freelance gardening?

[James Deuce]

At the risk of looking like I have an excuse, two disabled kids and commuting from Greytown doesn't leave me any time to scratch my arse.

[Ocean1]

At the risk of looking like I have an excuse, two disabled kids and commuting from Greytown doesn't leave me any time to scratch my arse.

In that case can I interest you in half a dozen slightly ragged, protein enhanced lettuces and a dozen eggs?

[pritch]

Latta at one point made comments criticising the way companies are sometimes run for short term gain, that management become remote from the staff. Regarding the latter part of that comment and since you may not all read the Moto GP thread, here's an example published today that's relevant to motorcycling.

http://www.motorsportmagazine.com/ra...lem-at-ducati/

[mashman]

Latta at one point made comments criticising the way companies are sometimes run for short term gain, that management become remote from the staff. Regarding the latter part of that comment and since you may not all read the Moto GP thread, here's an example published today that's relevant to motorcycling.

http://www.motorsportmagazine.com/ra...lem-at-ducati/

Sounds about right given too many of my workplace experiences. Being one of them thar folk that would go to a person's desk in order to gather requirements before converting them into tech speak I can remember way too many occasions where the user explains how to make things easier, primarily because they understand their business area, but the changes required don't fit the strategy of the business. Even chortled my way through a company policy meeting once where they outlined the company practices and you could see the stunned faces on those on the shop floor . World's fucked man... good read though.

[swarfie]

http://www.motorsportmagazine.com/ra...lem-at-ducati/

A good read. Mat's a bloody good journo and that article explains a lot about why Ducati haven't been there for quite some time. I feel sorry for Crutchlow....trying to push runny poos into a tigers mouth in a dark den I would say. Explains why he appears to be going backwards after leaving his Yamaha ride. And the same management attitude is endemic in a lot of companies IMO.

[Ocean1]

Latta at one point made comments criticising the way companies are sometimes run for short term gain, that management become remote from the staff. Regarding the latter part of that comment and since you may not all read the Moto GP thread, here's an example published today that's relevant to motorcycling.

http://www.motorsportmagazine.com/ra...lem-at-ducati/

You don't reduce mass by reducing fastener size, you hollow the wee fuckers out.

What makes Nigel think that set of behaviours represents running a company for short term gain? I can't see any gain in such behaviour at all, short or long, it's the definition of a management that doesn't know what they're selling: the skill and efforts of their staff. In a free market attempting to sell anything else is always fatal, your clients are free to simply go somewhere that does it right.

[Banditbandit]

Don't suppose you're interested in a bit of freelance gardening?

Come October I'm sure there are a few plants that Axkle will want you to look after ..

[Banditbandit]

You don't reduce mass by reducing fastener size, you hollow the wee fuckers out.

What makes Nigel think that set of behaviours represents running a company for short term gain? I can't see any gain in such behaviour at all, short or long, it's the definition of a management that doesn't know what they're selling: the skill and efforts of their staff. In a free market attempting to sell anything else is always fatal, your clients are free to simply go somewhere that does it right.

Yeah .. but my experience of many companies is that they do exactly that - go for short term gain .. so stupid - but hey, that's the world we live in.

[Voltaire]

Too many companies are run by people who know nothing about the industry (technically speaking) they are in charge of. They all have a "she'll be right attitude" when their way of doing things is questioned.

I was working for a Multinational in Ireland during the boom years... I was doing sales, the Manager told me " all that matters is the numbers"

I looked him up on Linkdin ( work Facebook) the other day and hes now UK National Manager so he must have been right

[swbarnett]

What makes Nigel think that set of behaviours represents running a company for short term gain?

This illustrates a disrespect for front line employees. That leads lower salaries and poorer conditions. Less money being spent on employees leads to higher profits - in the short term.

[mada]

I was working for a Multinational in Ireland during the boom years... I was doing sales, the Manager told me " all that matters is the numbers"

I looked him up on Linkdin ( work Facebook) the other day and hes now UK National Manager so he must have been right

That management style is common too in the civil service.

Short term gains, quick cash, and "good stats" lead to pricks like Krim Dot Con and others getting into this country.

[mashman]

Too many companies are run by people who know nothing about the industry (technically speaking) they are in charge of. They all have a "she'll be right attitude" when their way of doing things is questioned.

Aye... it seems to be a common misnomer that because you know the industry you understand how any given business in that industry works i.e. policy, practice, culture etc... Tis a massive oversight that the shop floor are overlooked when it comes to searching for ideas in regards to productivity.