r/firefighter • u/human_1st • 6d ago

Who usually calls the shots on new software in your dept?

You know that classic story… someone goes to a conference, comes back all fired up about "the next big system" and suddenly the crews are the ones wrestling with it.

Sometimes it actually helps... Other times it’s just more clicks and more headaches.

Who in your department usually makes those calls? Chiefs? Admin? City hall? and when it lands on your desk like what’s the part that makes you roll your eyes the most?

4 Upvotes

84% Upvoted

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2

u/Xlivic 6d ago

The shot caller

Captain over training division

2

u/ProspectedOnce 6d ago

Never the ones who actually use it. The fire service is screwed up like this. Training for upper management lacks self awareness.

1

u/human_1st 6d ago

what do you mean by that?

1

u/knobcheez 6d ago

Board of Commissioners and District Admin

1

u/human_1st 6d ago edited 6d ago

that’s way higher up than I thought tbh... I always pictured decisions happening inside the station, not at the board level.

Do they even use the software themselves or is it like good luck and you all just deal with it?

3

u/TheAntsAreBack 6d ago

I don't know of a world where software decisions are made at station level.

1

u/The_Road_is_Calling 6d ago

It all comes down to the money. Whoever holds the purse strings decides how much to spend (and hence what to buy).

1

u/knobcheez 5d ago

Spending tax payer money goes pretty high up the chain of command.