(UPDATED on August 1, 2007 to clarify a few things that didn't strike me as exactly what I wanted to say and how)

Meatpieandtatters says the article was "very nice." I agree -- in minor principle. I disagree in major ways.

It's nice to see Deke Kassabian featured in yet another Network World article, I think the article would have been much better and much stronger had the actual leaders in the project been involved, not the big cheese overseeing all or part of the project.

Having worked in institutions of higher education -- not in Philadelphia -- the one thing most have in common is that the big wigs get to be the talking heads all the time.

Sometimes, especially on projects, it is more impressive hearing from the people actually doing the work -- project leaders, possibly a senior engineer, and maybe some of the telecom people (if there are any left and if they, in some form, are even involved) -- and hear the story from their perspective.

I've been iving in the Philadelphia area now for more than five years and have a great interest in VoIP, SIP, and other technologies, I follow these types of stories, especially when one of the major local players is involved, such as UPenn. It would be really nice if someone involved with the actually project, you know, those doing the actual day to day work -- were the ones who spoke about the current, on-going, and developing projects.

As many other businesses and corporations have learned over the past few years, senior management has to let go of the bridle a little and let others do some talking. Look at the successful corporate blogs.

Perhaps, though, the institutions of higher education want only one spokesperson so other "competitors", such as competitors in the field, including manufacturers, other local and regional companies, or, if the employees network, a company half-a-country away -- or further! Higher ed has tried over the past decade to come more inline with "competitive wages," but sadly, most institutions haven't managed to accomplish that feat. The worker bees, if given the chance -- and trust -- may actually get an added benefit by being allowed to speak about the projects.

Another benefit to the various institutions is that it would show there are actually more people running the department than just one person.

Signed --
Me ... a former higher ed person