I’m Stefan Pauleweit. I work in enterprise IT, think in systems, and write things down.
My background is unusual. I started in research — modelling biological systems, running simulations, writing papers. Then I moved into IT operations and stayed. The two worlds aren’t as different as they sound: both involve understanding complex systems, knowing when to intervene, and accepting that most failures have human causes.
What I Do
I work as a business analyst, which in practice means sitting between the people who need something and the people who build it — and trying to make sure both sides understand each other. That involves a lot of listening, a lot of writing, and occasionally telling people things they don’t want to hear.
Over the years I’ve worked on database platforms, disaster recovery, software migrations, and various change programmes. The technologies shift; the underlying problems tend not to.
How I Think
I’m cautious about hype. Not dismissive — I’ve genuinely adopted new approaches when they solved real problems. But every technology choice carries a cost in complexity and maintenance, and I try to account for that honestly.
I learn by doing, which means I’ve made most of the mistakes I now try to help others avoid.
Why EBKAC
The site’s name comes from an old IT in-joke: “Error Between Keyboard And Chair.” Most system failures aren’t technical at root — they’re the product of misunderstanding, rushing, or ignoring warning signs. I find that observation both humbling and useful.
The domain itself has history: EBKAC.ORG was running over a decade ago, then went quiet for ten years. This is its second incarnation — a bit like the systems I work on, where nothing is ever truly new, just rebuilt with better judgment.
This is my long-form space. If something is too nuanced for a quick post elsewhere, it ends up here.
If you want to read more, head to the blog.