Question about IT staff at your workplace

[I Grok NSX]

Hi all,

If you don't have more than 100 people working at your workplace, then don't bother reading any further (unless you are curious :wink: ).

1. I'm interested in knowing how many people there are working at your workplace using computers. I don't want to know where you work.

2. I'd like to know how many computers you have at work that the IT staff maintain. Vendor maintained computers don't count.

3. How many printer are maintained by the IT staff?

4. Are all computers in one building? If so, are they all on one floor?

5. Lastly, I'd like to know the number of IT staff that maintain the computer equipment. I'm talking about maintenance:
-Install new computers, move data from old computer to new computer
-Setup printers to include installing drivers
-Add users, reset passwords, setup email accounts, etc.
-Run a help desk.
-Show users how to do routine computer things such as format a disk, add a shortcut to the desktop, etc.
****No programming duties****



If you are wondering why I'm asking for this data......I work at a place where there are about 600 computers, 450 printers, 1200 users, and all of this is spread over 250 acres (read lots of different buildings). And only about 225 computers are networked.

Currently, we have 2 (TWO) people trying to maintain everything, including several sub systems not mentioned. The administration seems to think TWO people are enough. Me and my co-worker are SWAMMMMMPED with work. Do you think we are just not working hard enough as the Administration would have us believe?

Thanks for your input.

That's crazy. Hope they are paying you big bucks.

Under $6K a month

 

[tosugrad]

Ive been in IT for 15 years and while I would say you are understaffed by about 50-100% I would say its probably pretty normal.

Ask for raise or seek employment elsewhere would be my suggestion!

 

[Malibu Rapper]

1. I'm interested in knowing how many people there are working at your workplace using computers. I don't want to know where you work.

About 12,000

2. I'd like to know how many computers you have at work that the IT staff maintain. Vendor maintained computers don't count.

Way too many.

3. How many printer are maintained by the IT staff?

About 2000 at the world headquarters, more in branch offices.

4. Are all computers in one building? If so, are they all on one floor?

we have a campus

5. Lastly, I'd like to know the number of IT staff that maintain the computer equipment. I'm talking about maintenance:
-Install new computers, move data from old computer to new computer
-Setup printers to include installing drivers
-Add users, reset passwords, setup email accounts, etc.
-Run a help desk.
-Show users how to do routine computer things such as format a disk, add a shortcut to the desktop, etc.
****No programming duties****

I'd guess about 60 admins. 100 or so in deskside. Helpdesk is outsourced and out of state. Resetting passwords is web based now. E-mail is part of the 60 or so admins. Adding users is also scripted during the new hire process, kicked off by workorder.

Currently, we have 2 (TWO) people trying to maintain everything, including several sub systems not mentioned. The administration seems to think TWO people are enough. Me and my co-worker are SWAMMMMMPED with work. Do you think we are just not working hard enough as the Administration would have us believe?

That's crazy. Hope they are paying you big bucks.

 

[sahtt]

1. ~150
2. ~150
3. ~5-8
4. Yes. Yes.
5. ~1-2 primairly but all of the 8-10 IT staff do programming to some extent.

Depends on the environment. Sounds like you deal with a lot of non-tech savvy workers. Everyone except HR at my work place has multiple moniters etc. and are fairly experienced with general maintenance but our problems must be fixed in minutes not days so our staff is larger than normal I'd assume.

I'd say if you do mostly basic tasks I'd assume at least 1 person per 100 actively used computers is about right. However, I'd say your printer ratio is very high per person. My guess is on a given day you have several printers down on average which is a good indication you are understaffed.

From your numbers it looks if a printer has issues 2 days a year [fantasy land x10] you'd spend all your time dealing with that.

 

[jond]

For 180 people(everyone has a computer), ~25 servers, 4 locations we have:

2 guys in helpdesk(build computers, install programs, fix user issues)
2 guys in networking
1 IT manager

 

[Mirroredshades]

If you are wondering why I'm asking for this data......I work at a place where there are about 600 computers, 450 printers, 1200 users, and all of this is spread over 250 acres (read lots of different buildings). And only about 225 computers are networked.

Currently, we have 2 (TWO) people trying to maintain everything, including several sub systems not mentioned. The administration seems to think TWO people are enough. Me and my co-worker are SWAMMMMMPED with work. Do you think we are just not working hard enough as the Administration would have us believe?

Thanks for your input.

Ha Ha. When I was in support, I was responsible for 2400 PCs at 39 physical locations spread over about 50 sq miles.



But, I wasn't the helpdesk, network, installer or printer bitch either. :wink:

I read somewhere (Gartner I think) that you should have no more than 250 PCs per FTE. So you should probably have at least one, and maybe two more people. Find that article, it will give you some good firepower.

 

[cojones]

Hi all,

If you don't have more than 100 people working at your workplace, then don't bother reading any further (unless you are curious :wink: ).

1. I'm interested in knowing how many people there are working at your workplace using computers. I don't want to know where you work.

2. I'd like to know how many computers you have at work that the IT staff maintain. Vendor maintained computers don't count.

3. How many printer are maintained by the IT staff?

4. Are all computers in one building? If so, are they all on one floor?

5. Lastly, I'd like to know the number of IT staff that maintain the computer equipment. I'm talking about maintenance:
-Install new computers, move data from old computer to new computer
-Setup printers to include installing drivers
-Add users, reset passwords, setup email accounts, etc.
-Run a help desk.
-Show users how to do routine computer things such as format a disk, add a shortcut to the desktop, etc.
****No programming duties****



If you are wondering why I'm asking for this data......I work at a place where there are about 600 computers, 450 printers, 1200 users, and all of this is spread over 250 acres (read lots of different buildings). And only about 225 computers are networked.

Currently, we have 2 (TWO) people trying to maintain everything, including several sub systems not mentioned. The administration seems to think TWO people are enough. Me and my co-worker are SWAMMMMMPED with work. Do you think we are just not working hard enough as the Administration would have us believe?

Thanks for your input.

I used to setup/deal and sometimes sell/deliver IT services sourcing contracts like these, typically for bigger firms.

One of the simplistic approaches used is to ballpark typical "call volumes"
1) 1200 users x 1.2 incidents/mo = 1440 user calls/tickets

2) re: servers, depends on what they are for:
- apps & databases that run mission-critical operational and management systems (e.g., customer order to cash, purchasing, supply chain, finances & controls, reports, etc)
- file/print/comms servers
- based on function and criticality and desired service levels (availability, fixit response, peformance, etc), you can sort out a profile of your service reqts (SLA/OLA)
- other devices - printers, terminals, mobile/handheld, factory/warehouse gear, etc

3) apply some adjustment factors:
- inflators include: un-networked devices, geographic spread, need for end-user deskside support, low degree of standardization (e.g., numerous versions of OS, database, office, apps, etc), mobile workforce (e.g, high-maintenance salesforce or execs, etc), tools for remote monitoring, etc
- reducers include: ability to do remote control fix, simplified onsite service model, high standardization + special needs (e.g., RF in the warehouse)

IOW - you are understaffed; how much can be ballparked; what is "tolerable" is a balance management has to make - nothing is free. Reasonable levels of environment reliability and user satisfaction at a price they can live with.

Answering these questions typically involve $$$ advice :biggrin: - the type that helps us afford NSXs...

 

[mdb]

1.) I'd say about 3000 (we have a few hundred locations nationwide)

2.) IT staff maintains all of them from corporate

3.) 450 or so

4.) Corporate has three floors, then the others are spread out in about 300 locations.

5.) Two network folks, six help desk techs, four application support specialists, two dba's and some project managers.

You're way understaffed, and not having things network makes it 10x harder and more time consuming to fix things. I run the network here and it was similiar to your situation when I started (not networked, and these are thousands of miles away!). Huge PITA!

Things running MUCH better now. Everything on the domain, networked, SMS managed, remote desktop, and citrix - thin clients starting to take over as well. Its all centrally managed now, and a change that involved phone calls to hundred of locations and hand holding of non-techy end users can now be done with a few clicks by me and propogated to any and all machines and users.

The time savings are staggering compared to when things were setup "wrong".