Re: On the bright side...
"With the dysfunctional management in typical higher education, there will be alot of meetings about it, some strongly worded emails and then a very watered down plan which doesn't really prevent anything, and probably introduces more issues."
Some of this is down to management, some of this is down to the way purchasing in HE, and public sector in general works. Because you're spending public money you have to prove that you are getting value for money, generally by going through a tender process using an approved framework for the tender format and then sending it to a list of University group consortium approved suppliers.
The problem with this process is, despite what the people in charge may say, is that 9 times out of 10 it results in you purchasing the cheapest possible solution.
This happens because the qualitative differences between the suppliers and their tender responses are often not well reflected in the paperwork, and there for management will rule options out based on them appearing to be the some as other solutions but for a greater cost.
Ruling out a supplier, or a particular solution, because of your personal experience from another workplace or their reputation among people you've spoken to is not allowed/frowned upon.
Between how the tender process rules are supposed to work, and over zealous attempts by management to adhere to them in order to avoid future problems with audits, the tender process rarely results in the best value purchases.
AC, because I work in HE.
Biting the hand that feeds IT
