Dear Dr. G.: I love my job 90 percent of the time, but just when the department seems to be running smoothly, some new problem or emergency project pops up, and I must scramble to get everything back on an even keel. For example, last week for no apparent reason a major international provider of Internet services began to reject all of our corporate e-mail. It took a few days of activity to resolve the problem. Do you have any suggestions on how to avoid emergency situations?

–Harried in Hartford

Dear Harried: You have stumbled across one of the great dilemmas in our chosen field. This dilemma divides the players from the plodders. And you, my friend, are a plodder. And therein lies the dilemma. From a corporate perspective, an IT department that runs smoothly–perhaps even invisibly–is a great IT department. From a professional point of view, watching a smoothly running IT ship is about as exciting as watching NASCAR on television. Actually, watching any sport puzzles Dr. G. Surely it is more satisfying to participate oneself. No?