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Beyond the Code: Embracing a “Care Ethic” to Tame IT Chaos 💖
Hey tech enthusiasts! Ever feel like the world of IT integration is a constant battle against chaos? You’re not alone! Julie Clémençon, a seasoned IT pro with 20 years of experience, is here to tell us that the persistent struggles we face in integration aren’t just about complex code or buggy systems. She argues that the real root of the problem lies in something far more human: our approach. And guess what? A little bit of feminist thinking might just be the secret sauce we’ve been missing! 💡
The Human Heart of IT Chaos: A CRM Story 💔
Julie, who proudly admits she’s more of a passionate advocate than a deep technical expert, shared a story that perfectly illustrates her point. Imagine this: a critical monthly ritual involving business unit managers needing to reconcile their work-in-progress data for bonus calculations. This process was tied to a monolithic CRM product with incredibly intricate data flows, making P1 incidents a regular, stress-inducing event. The ensuing panic and frantic troubleshooting weren’t just about technical glitches; they highlighted the immense organizational hurdles in getting anything fixed – from chasing down approvals to finding the right engineer at 3 AM! 😱
The Power of Connection: Ankit and the “Care Ethic” ✨
It was during these high-pressure “fix windows” that Julie stumbled upon a profound realization. A simple 20-minute job run turned into an opportunity to connect with Ankit, a production engineer located all the way in India. They didn’t just discuss the business criticality of the task; they shared cultural insights, navigated time zone differences, and, crucially, acknowledged the human element of working late into the night. This shared moment of genuinely caring for each other and collaboratively finding a solution became the foundation of Julie’s “care ethic.” This core feminist value, she believes, is absolutely essential for integration professionals.
Integration: More Than Just a “Mailman” ✉️➡️💌
Julie strongly refutes the common “mailman” analogy for integration professionals, where their sole job is to simply transport data. She argues that integration pros are the invisible glue of an organization, possessing unique and deep insights. They understand the intricate data flows, the complex business rules, and the critical security protocols, often better than specialized teams. Instead of just delivering data, Julie advocates for “opening the letters” – delving deeper into the data to truly understand the organization. This profound knowledge, she asserts, grants integration professionals significant soft power. It allows them to act as diplomats, bridging gaps between disparate teams and helping them speak a common, unified language. 🗣️🌐
Embracing Chaos with Radical Acceptance and Governance 🧘♀️🛠️
This newfound power, however, comes with a significant responsibility. Julie encourages integration professionals to embrace radical acceptance of chaos. This means letting go of the relentless pursuit of absolute control. Instead, the focus should shift to organizing this chaos through robust governance, meticulous documentation, and the design of “canonicals” – standardized data formats. This approach fosters reusability, defines clear boundaries, and, crucially, is deeply inclusive and inherently feminist. It empowers integration professionals to move beyond their predefined job descriptions and truly shape the direction of the organization. 🚀
A Manifesto for Integration Professionals: Dare to Care! 💖👨💻
Julie concluded with a powerful and inspiring manifesto for all integration professionals:
- Embrace Who You Are: Stand tall and champion modern, beautiful values. Your unique perspective is your strength! 💪
- Break Down Barriers: Continuously learn and grow. Protect those who are vulnerable within the system, and most importantly, dare to care. 🌱
- Share Your Vision: Don’t be afraid to speak up and share your insights. Set healthy boundaries, and always remember to be grateful and proud of the vital work you do. ✨
By adopting this “care ethic” and fully embracing their inherent power and responsibility, integration professionals can transform seemingly chaotic systems into harmonious, peace-filled environments. This approach demonstrates the profound and transformative impact that feminist ideology can have, right at the heart of IT. Who knew a little bit of care could be so powerful? 🦾