SNIP

>>So I have chosen to sit back and say, "Fine" and then I'll watch productivity drop.
>
>Kev

As I mentioned in another message in this thread, I worked for the government also (although it was the U.S. govt) for many years. This is where really good documentation including 'Memorandums for Record' are important. Hate to say it, but there were many times those documents helped to fund the next VFP version when the 'powers that be' conveniently chose to 'forget' the developers' (not just myself, but the other VFP developers too) recommendations and went down another road, only to have it backfire 6-12 months later. I can only say that we did our best to present a solid argument during the decision making process (which really was not a process at all as the decision was made and we were only going through the motions). When the time to make a decision to change again comes around, it is very easy to forget numerous conversations in meetings, but memorandums from previous decision points work very well and holdup. It is hard to sit back while productivity lags during these 'management decision' periods and watch your customers suffer, but I received some pretty good training due to it. When the next manager came around and we returned to VFP, we got the next VFP version (as well as new tools to go with it) and more training. Eventially our customers were more productive too and management reaped the benefits (of course) for making good business decisions (they always forget about the previous blunders). It seems to run in cycles and it is easier to 'ride out the storm' sometimes.