Dont open this door

[Saber99]

At my work, the tech room has been moved to beside the Accounts dept storage area; This unfortunately means that accounts users will think that they can just walk in when they have a problem instead of logging a call with the support desk. Can anybody come up with a list that I can put on the door along the lines of "20 reasons not to open this door" ??

Thanks in advance

Saber

[Who Me]

I'd love some answers to this one, we have the bean counters next to us and they just walk in

We tried "NO ENTRY" but that didn't work

[Chipzilla]

Start reading BOFH... You could electrify the door handle or remove a floor tile. Or you could stand up to them and tell them this is not the way things are done. I dunno, say they have to go through the helpdesk cos your department is collecting stats on problem types. A beancounter should understand the need to collect numbers... Or you could say: "I've got ten people with manners who went to the trouble of logging calls. Why should I forget about them and give you my undivided attention? Clean the fluff out of your mouse yourself..." Or, if you're working for an onsite support company like I do:"My company is paid for resolving cases reported through the helpdesk. If there is no call number I can't help you. Will you do my accounts for free?"

[Wayward Clam]

How about something like, "Support our company's Charity Drive! Talk to us about where you can volunteer your time and money."

That oughta reduce your traffic somewhat.

[Cygnus]

How about a locked door. The handles that remain locked on one side are pretty cheap. You simply give all the techs and the head honchos a key so they can access the room. Then you can sit back and listen to the disapointed users knocking on the door and discussing why noone has shown up yet in the tech dept today.

This may not work with the rules at your company but I know people that use this idea to great success. The only way to keep a nosy, demanding user out, is to lock him out.

[thirdfey]

[quote]Originally posted by Cygnus:
<strong>How about a locked door. The handles that remain locked on one side are pretty cheap. You simply give all the techs and the head honchos a key so they can access the room. Then you can sit back and listen to the disapointed users knocking on the door and discussing why noone has shown up yet in the tech dept today.

This may not work with the rules at your company but I know people that use this idea to great success. The only way to keep a nosy, demanding user out, is to lock him out.</strong><hr></blockquote>

Yeah, thats what I want, some accountant standing at the door when I come back from my coffee break banging on the door demanding to get help. Now I'm trapped out to.

Its called management people, stay out or permanently stay out, unauthorized individuals will be considered a security threat if found trying to gain access to this area and will be dealt with accordingly. Keep the environment safe, recycle the cardboard box you used to carry your personal possessions off the property.

Tony

[ephmynus]

THERE IS A TRAP DOOR BENEATH YOU. IF THE DOOR IS OPENED WITHOUT AUTHORIZATION THAT'S THE DOOR YOU'LL BE GOING THROUGH!!!

[Stalemate]

We have had no other option but to install a magnetic lock on our department door.

Users, suppliers, heads of other depts would just waltz in unannounced and unexpected, wreaking havoc in our work schedule and adding stress to an alerady overworked (and understaffed) team.

Warnings, official policy, memos all failed to get the point across. If anyone is waiting at the door when we come back from lunch or break it'd better be an emergency.

Otherwise they get the standard monotone "Please call our helpdesk number so your request can be handled according to its priority."

[Cleetus]

We had a simialr situation at my last job, until we got permission from the CIO to tell anyone who came to our door to get lost. All work got handled through work orders only, unless we really liked you or you had a C and an O in your job title or bribed us. Worked out pretty good, we were able to put in our own network, and with the doors closed play Quake or AOE2 all day. I really miss that.

[Daemon]

go here and buy some stickers

<a href="http://www.thinkgeek.com/stuff/fun-stuff/stickers-emblems.shtml" target="_blank">http://www.thinkgeek.com/stuff/fun-stuff/stickers-emblems.shtml</a>

they have some great stickers for what you may want

[WebHead]

I have bad news. From my experience, I've come to realize that most users and employee's don't know how to read. So if you're going to put up a sign, it must be some kind of picture that they can understand. Remember, you're dealing with people who have the intellect of a 5 year old.

As far as locking the door goes, that won't work either. Users and employee's don't seem to understand, that a closed door implies that techs behind the door would like a little quiet and privacy so that we can browse porn and play games in peace and quiet. So you might as well just leave the door open, cause the constant knocking on the door will only drive you to suicide after awhile.

One of the best methods I've discovered, is to find an empty cubicle in a remote location of the building, bring a laptop and a network cable, and enjoy the rest of the day because nobody will know where to find you. Be sure to turn off any pagers or cell phones you might have on you. If somebody does find you, then your excuse is that you were testing out network connectivity issues of that particular cubicle.

[Fubarian]

when someone comes up -- best thing I've found to say is -- oh did you call the helpdesk?...you didn't? well, you know theres other people that are needing help too right? --

sometimes you have to be VERY VERY blunt with people.

[opiate]

I write code 8 hours a day sitting by marketing and sales people.

[Renée]

[quote]Originally posted by Fubarian:
<strong>...sometimes you have to be VERY VERY blunt with people.</strong><hr></blockquote>

So very true. And even if their feelings get a little stung, they won't die. Really, they won't, and they'll be over it rather quickly nine times out of ten.

It's awful you're put in a situation that leaves you so accessible...inaccessibility being the best protection against interruption in your work flow. But since the people closest to you geographically think the rules do not and should not apply to them, you have no choice whatsoever except to be VERY blunt with them.

If bluntly telling them what needs to happen still doesn't work, you have to go the "punishment" route and come up with a simple way to make the intrusions result in even slower service for the intruding people. Tell them that the rules have changed...if they don't use the proper channels for help, their assigned priority code will be lower than if they called.

It's hateful to have to use childish measures, but some people will not respond any other way. Same reason the bank will charge you $30 for writing a bad check, even though it only costs them about $3 to process it.

[thirdfey]

Paintball guns, quite effective. Have your best quake player's work area closest to the door. I recommend semi-auto and keep it below the kneck and above the waste.

Pitbull sitting out in front of the door chewing on a calculator.

Put a Ladies room sign on the door, behind that have a second door with a Men's room sign on it.

Poop flinging primate guarding the door, this can also be your best quake player......

Not much longer till tax time, maybe you would like to get started earlier along with the other techs, have fun with the math.