Post by nilam on Apr 9, 2013 20:06:52 GMT
So this has become something of a "thing" in the shoutbox: What would the dojo disciplines translate to in an office setting? I would set them up this way:
Marketable Magic: The Human Resources department and Administrative Assistants
Nobody really likes working with the HR department unless they're IN the HR department. Seminars, lots of talk about feelings and telling others how to do their job, problems with paperwork getting lost/misfiled/re-filled, it's generally a pain if you need to work with HR.
And yet, they're necessary. They keep things running, albeit not always as smoothly as one might hope. People need pay-cheques, and they allow for expansion and development of the workforce. You could probably file "Administrative Assistants" under this category, too, although they are usually classed with the department they are an assistant for. I could see Cla(i)re sitting behind a computer in the Engineering department with a bunch of Japanese rosin toys all arranged on her desk, or Sophie watching people in Sales come and (especially) go throughout the day.
Indiscriminate Whacking: Information Technology department
The difference between a Computer Scientist and an IT worker is roughly the difference between a Mechanical Engineer and an auto mechanic: One is a highly-trained, skilled worker who handles complex problems, and the other is a moderately-trained individual with a specialized skill set, necessary for day-to-day operations. IW seems to have the latter designation. It's a specialized tool set with some emphasis on creative solutions in the field rather than heavy emphasis on design and moonspeak up-front. That and I like the idea that indiscriminately whacking servers might just make them start working again. :3
As we've seen with Lars, it's quite possible to get complete jerks in the IT department. It's also an unreasonably male-dominated field, but when you get a woman in the ranks, she tends to be almost TOO good at her job. Some even feel the need to dress as men to gain acceptance from the less open-minded individuals, although usually the lengths to which An went are considered extreme.
Useless Mecha: Engineering or Research and Development department
Engineers are commonly shown as academics playing with cool toys and creating neat things that people would like, and honestly, that's the good parts. Getting your hands on the newest technology and integrating it with your everyday life also has a tendency to make you forget how to behave around those who are NOT on the cutting edge of your field. The Useless Mecha have exactly this setup. There's been an increasing tendency for women in Engineering over the last couple decades, and although still largely male-dominated, there are more and more women in Engineering, much to its credit. Mecha also cause most of the accidents in the dojo, with Coffee coming in a close second. The engineering departments can also be the most dangerous places, with heavy machinery and moving parts and cutting implements strewn about.
Kung Shoe: The sales department
Practicality and shoes make up the core of Kung Shoe, just like many sales departments. A woman-dominated discipline which is looked down upon by many of the other disciplines, the Kung Shoe department is still the most visible professional group. We've seen KS graduates in IBYKS working as security for HRM Cabbage (Hope I got that title right, she's usually referred to as just Cabbage or "Mom"), while none of the other disciplines were seen at ALL before the dojo's introduction in FL. The practical dress choices also fit well with a sales department, and their specialized training would probably be more persuading men than castrating them, but is still necessary for a truly successful sales-force.
I like this layout partly because it has some really deep implications, but also partly because it follows with the overall "Feel" of each discipline: Marketable Magic is outlandish and excruciating, IW is the brute-force solution to most problems, UM is aloof and incomprehensible, but still has its place, and KS has a role which allows it to be both central and separate, and above all, practical.
Marketable Magic: The Human Resources department and Administrative Assistants
Nobody really likes working with the HR department unless they're IN the HR department. Seminars, lots of talk about feelings and telling others how to do their job, problems with paperwork getting lost/misfiled/re-filled, it's generally a pain if you need to work with HR.
And yet, they're necessary. They keep things running, albeit not always as smoothly as one might hope. People need pay-cheques, and they allow for expansion and development of the workforce. You could probably file "Administrative Assistants" under this category, too, although they are usually classed with the department they are an assistant for. I could see Cla(i)re sitting behind a computer in the Engineering department with a bunch of Japanese rosin toys all arranged on her desk, or Sophie watching people in Sales come and (especially) go throughout the day.
Indiscriminate Whacking: Information Technology department
The difference between a Computer Scientist and an IT worker is roughly the difference between a Mechanical Engineer and an auto mechanic: One is a highly-trained, skilled worker who handles complex problems, and the other is a moderately-trained individual with a specialized skill set, necessary for day-to-day operations. IW seems to have the latter designation. It's a specialized tool set with some emphasis on creative solutions in the field rather than heavy emphasis on design and moonspeak up-front. That and I like the idea that indiscriminately whacking servers might just make them start working again. :3
As we've seen with Lars, it's quite possible to get complete jerks in the IT department. It's also an unreasonably male-dominated field, but when you get a woman in the ranks, she tends to be almost TOO good at her job. Some even feel the need to dress as men to gain acceptance from the less open-minded individuals, although usually the lengths to which An went are considered extreme.
Useless Mecha: Engineering or Research and Development department
Engineers are commonly shown as academics playing with cool toys and creating neat things that people would like, and honestly, that's the good parts. Getting your hands on the newest technology and integrating it with your everyday life also has a tendency to make you forget how to behave around those who are NOT on the cutting edge of your field. The Useless Mecha have exactly this setup. There's been an increasing tendency for women in Engineering over the last couple decades, and although still largely male-dominated, there are more and more women in Engineering, much to its credit. Mecha also cause most of the accidents in the dojo, with Coffee coming in a close second. The engineering departments can also be the most dangerous places, with heavy machinery and moving parts and cutting implements strewn about.
Kung Shoe: The sales department
Practicality and shoes make up the core of Kung Shoe, just like many sales departments. A woman-dominated discipline which is looked down upon by many of the other disciplines, the Kung Shoe department is still the most visible professional group. We've seen KS graduates in IBYKS working as security for HRM Cabbage (Hope I got that title right, she's usually referred to as just Cabbage or "Mom"), while none of the other disciplines were seen at ALL before the dojo's introduction in FL. The practical dress choices also fit well with a sales department, and their specialized training would probably be more persuading men than castrating them, but is still necessary for a truly successful sales-force.
I like this layout partly because it has some really deep implications, but also partly because it follows with the overall "Feel" of each discipline: Marketable Magic is outlandish and excruciating, IW is the brute-force solution to most problems, UM is aloof and incomprehensible, but still has its place, and KS has a role which allows it to be both central and separate, and above all, practical.