Reader Feedback Day

Let me solicit a little reader feedback.  Suppose you and your supervisor produce a fairly unique product for an organization.  The product doesn't make a ton of money, and doesn't ever really lose money; it has tended to break even for quite some time, but adds a certain amount of stature to any consulting firm because of the reputation of its creator, for the most part, and the reputation his assistant is building.  You've planned a number of enhancements to the product.  Your computer equipment is quite old -- too old really fully to implement your planned enhancements -- and you've put in a request to the "powers who decide" such things for newer equipment.  The "powers who decide" such things tell your supervisor that the office overall needs some revenue flow before he (and youI, by implication) can have equipment that works.  The "powers who decide" of course have recently indulged in a laptop buying orgy for themselves, and one of those persons works part-time, doesn't travel, and needed a laptop because it "fits on her desk better."  Then you find out that the "powers who decide" have more recently put in an order for 3 more laptops for other people in the organization.

Questions:  Would you think the organization is planning on keeping you around, or letting you go without warning one day soon?  Would you be very motivated to do any real work in such a situation?  Would it be a good idea instead to update your resume and work on your dissertation instead on company time, so when they finally follow through on what would seem to be implied by their behavior, you're not caught by surprise?

I'm curious what people think.  

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