BOFH: Smells like team spirit
A failing basement computer that monitors a wastewater system becomes a test of the company’s habit of passing responsibility up the chain. When the fault threatens to cause an overflow, two supposedly dated troubleshooters arrive and identify a simpler way to control the pumps.
Frank and Brian explain that the old PC only reads water levels and switches the pumps on; a standard controller with variable-frequency drives and alarms could replace it. As work begins, they keep the Boss in the basement with the sump, turning his dislike of paperwork and accountability into the article’s punchline.
- A failed basement PC puts the wastewater system at risk.
- Two troubleshooters propose replacing it with a pump controller.
- The Boss ends up overseeing the risky basement job.
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A company relies on an old basement computer to manage its wastewater pumps. The device simply monitors water levels and switches the pumps on when needed. However, the organisation has a habit of pushing problems and responsibility up through management rather than solving them straightaway.
The company has experienced troubleshooters including Frank and Brian, though their traditional expertise is sometimes overlooked. Modern alternatives exist that could replace this ageing system with better controls and alarms. The company's boss dislikes paperwork and avoids accountability.