New to NonStop

Is it time to bite into the shrimp cocktails and to pass the chardonnay? Or, perhaps vol-au-vents accompanied by a cocktail? On the other hand, there was a time when it was all about Diet Mountain Dew and packs of Doritos? Churritos? Back in my time with ITUG when the annual ITUG Summit was being held in San Jose, it was mandatory to have on hand not only Diet Mountain Dew and snacks of all kinds, but to ensure that the right brands were available.

Those much younger and new to NonStop had different tastes than those who had gone before them.

Times have changed. Or, more accurately, times are continuing to change. For the NonStop community, whether it’s a Regional User Group (RUG) event or the formation of a Special Interest Group (SIG), it seems there always need to be opportunities to network. Whether the choice of snacks and beverages remains constant, what is more recognizable is the initial enthusiasm for whatever the topic happens to be. After all, there’s nothing more likely to attract a crowd than a crowd that has already assembled.

More recently, the times continuing to change and I have to say that I am finding with each change an ever-present niggling feeling that I have seen this all before. Not that this is a bad feeling, rather recognition that with each generation, something new is needed to create that initial crowd.

The emergence of the “New to NonStop” SIG – a reinvention of the former Under 40 SIG following interactions among NonStop community members looking to broaden its focus. As such, this latest SIG is a completely fresh approach to meeting the needs of the growing presence among the community of those seeking to know more about NonStop. Furthermore, it is evidence that among the current passionate community members, there is no lack of enthusiasm to share the news of NonStop. If as yet the emergence of this New to NonStop community is news to you, then perhaps a place to start to find out more is by going to LinkedIn and joining the group, New to NonStop.

The initial effort by HPE NonStop Sales Specialists, Shauna Evans who, together with Shanice Abigail, are to be applauded as success of any focused interest group or collective can always be traced back to an individual with the energy to kick things off, Doritos, Churritos, vol-au-vents, whichever is present or not, anything that can get the next group of NonStop advocates up from their basement laptops and out into the real world is admirable by my books.

This development was greeted positively within the NonStop community. “From our perspective, here at TCM, I was very excited to hear about this new undertaking for the younger generation,” said TCM’s Andy Vasey. “At TCM we have always championed and encouraged the inclusion of the younger generation. We need to encourage their inclusion at events. The younger generation brings a breath of fresh air, new ideas, new markets, new adventures. When next you attend an event and see an individual wondering around, possibly bewildered, go and talk to them. True friendships are formed on the real world, not the virtual.”

However, two things strike me given the emergence of New to NonStop.

The first is whether it is indeed aimed at Gen Z as they enter the work force. Shauna Evans explained: “Our target audience is anyone new to the NonStop platform, regardless of age. Our aim is to connect the new users to one another to build a community that we already see in the wider NonStop community, to connect them with experienced users to provide guidance and to share resources for learning and development.”

As for the second, it is imperative that what is communicated is not solely aimed at the current monopoly of products the NonStop sales team promotes, blinkers firmly in place.

It is this second item that can be addressed easily. Perhaps New to NonStop becomes the go-to place where we see the expressed desires of HPE NonStop VP, Casey Taylor, to showcase the wider participation of NonStop partners rather than limiting it to, just a select few. Disenfranchising the majority of NonStop partners does not serve the long-term interests of anyone. Ensure the products and practices of vendors highlighted on recent PowerPoint slides used by Casey should be displayed at every gathering of New to NonStop.

Shocking news! Times are changing; they are moving at a much faster pace – keeping up takes effort!

Returning to the topic of Gen Z, recent press statements about the work practices of this group have me rethinking my own attitude to working. Am I a member of the group that left that 40-year milestone firmly in the mirror and yet, find itself embracing much of what differentiates Gen Z workers from those further along the demographic divide?

In an April 4 edition of the Sydney Morning Herald, Bosses are firing more Gen Z workers. But are they just misunderstood? Reporter, Emily Chantiri made some interesting observations concerning what Gen Zs understood as work:

A recent study from US firm Intelligent found 75 per cent of American companies weren’t happy with their recent Gen Z hires, those born between 1997 and 2012.

The best way to get the most productivity when working with them is not by micromanagement, performative office culture, or “just because” rules.

“They’ve grown up with unlimited information at their fingertips. Give them trust, clear goals and purpose, flexibility, and they’ll exceed expectations.”

“There’s an acceptance of neurodivergence within this generation, which influences their approach to work. They don’t necessarily believe in sitting at a desk for eight hours if it can be completed in four,” she says.

They respond very well to mentorship and career development opportunities, preferring personalized coaching over traditional top-down management.

“Leveraging their digital fluency and innovative thinking can be a major asset, particularly in areas like social media strategy, creative problem-solving and process improvement.”

As someone who spends hours hunched over their keyboards (but not necessarily in a basement), I have empathy for how Gen Z employees approach work. Not for me is a fixed schedule of 8 hours of work, particularly as in most cases, I can get it all done before lunch. What is for me is clear goals and objectives – a must have. Articulate and let me have at it, I say! And no, forget micromanagement! Don’t just call me and want to chat for an hour or two – I have been there, done that and moved on.

More importantly and yes, cutting to the chase: Mentoring. I think we all respond very well to mentorship and career development whenever it arises. Throughout the many decades I have been working, I have had the benefit of being mentored by some high profile and indeed extraordinary managers.

Names now lost in the past like Charlie Lecht, Dieter Monch, John Fox – he, who suggested I count what’s in the cash draw at the beginning of the day and if there was more in the draw at the end of the day, then it had been a successful day’s work!

Point is, we are never too old to learn. More important still, there is an accumulation of knowledge as we age with the industry that sharing can benefit those who are new to the industry. As New to NonStop launched, I signed up as a mentor. Being older means the information flows both ways as we can all take something away from any exchange on technology.

Ask me anything about the history of IT, the arrival of databases, the importance of fault tolerance, and more and I wont even ask for Diet Mountain Dew or Doritos – wondering around an event exhibitor’s hall if you come across me then don’t hesitate to simply ask me questions.

There is a certain natural force at play when it comes to RUGs and SIGs. They emerge, flourish and oftentimes, are supplemented by something new. More relevant. More entertaining. However, what is important for the NonStop community to recognize is that after half a century, more is still good!

Again, congratulations to what Shauna Evans and Shanice Abigail have started and let’s all ensure there is mentoring firmly on hand and that what is new for NonStop is exactly that. A refreshing look into what really makes mission critical transaction processing the pinnacle of computing that it remains today.  And yes, perhaps it is time to pass the Doritos!