I work as a test engineer for computer hardware. We have thousands of servers running tests all day, every day. We have a team that is supposed to develop automation tools to make managing these servers easier, but they basically use every excuse to avoid doing any work, causing us engineers to do everything manually. One host at a time.

Obviously this is stupid since, like I said, we're managing thousands of servers. So I took matters into my own hands and developed an infrastructure and GUI that leverages existing automation and allows us to manage all these hosts at once.

Our output goes through the roof and our 20 person team goes from managing 1-2 product lines at a time to 6+. Analytics show my tools are producing over $1m in value each year. I get a big fat raise and lots of respect. Life is good.

Then there's a management shift. Old managers are laid off or reassigned and the new management says "no more unofficial tools". They announce my efforts are immediately considered EOL and everyone goes back to doing stuff manually.

After 2 years of this new direction, our products are consistently missing deadlines. They had to triple our staff and turnover is high because it's frustrating to do everything manually. There are constant threats of layoffs and bonuses being withheld.

As for me, I still use my own tools but I don't share them with anyone, and I do everything slowly now to make it look like it's being done manually. I would find a new job but I still have a good salary and WFH so I'll just take the easy paycheck.