tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25922407.post1848019982727338254..comments2024-03-25T22:12:49.064-07:00Comments on Gerald Weinberg's Secrets of Writing and Consulting: Who is Right, and What is to Be Done About It? (2)Gerald M. Weinberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05902673055244863609noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25922407.post-61299997366949111672011-11-25T20:19:26.537-08:002011-11-25T20:19:26.537-08:00Jeff wrote:
"it's a shame when an IT pers...Jeff wrote:<br />"it's a shame when an IT person acts that way because it reinforces a negative stereotype..."<br /><br />We need to be reminded that it's much easier to destroy an image of a profession than it is to build it in a positive way. We're not acting just for ourselves, but sadly, some folks just don't seem to care, or appreciate the many years of work that have been done to support them even before they were born.Gerald M. Weinberghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05902673055244863609noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25922407.post-51220037775574468152011-11-25T14:05:14.553-08:002011-11-25T14:05:14.553-08:00Interesting Post..
I'm in the process of buil...Interesting Post..<br /><br />I'm in the process of building a "Lean IT" consulting practice after many years of managing IT teams in the corporate world.<br /><br />As a manager, I had smart technical folks telling me everyday that we "should be" doing things this way or that way. Often, but not always, they had a good point and it made sense for me to remain open to hearing what they had to say. I learned a lot from them and I hope they learned a few things from me.<br /><br />In the end, though, I made it clear that it was not their decision (and perhaps not even mine) as to how we would proceed. I would try to explain why things were going to be done a certain way, which may not have (technically) been the "best way." Sometimes I felt that the tradeoff was justified and sometimes not (one of my reasons for eventually leaving). <br /><br />For this to work, there has to be mutual respect between both parties. In this case, I feel that the developer was out of line. If I paid someone to code x, I don't want to get y without having them come to me first and explain what they were doing. If he did come to me first, I'd thank him for his insight and then explain why it was essential to code x to fulfill the engagement. <br /><br />I don't know all the details of this case, but it's a shame when an IT person acts that way because it reinforces a negative stereotype (held by management) many of us have spent years to overcome.Jeff Bienkowskihttp://oxzigen.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25922407.post-25013493208763252522011-11-25T09:54:45.300-08:002011-11-25T09:54:45.300-08:00The programmer might've had a valid point, but...The programmer might've had a valid point, but I question how he would have been sure that his own formula was correct in the context of the situation. The reason I have my doubts is because it seems like he didn't have any direct communication with the customer, thus his comment about his own solution being correct sounds like hubris to me.<br /><br />As for the consultant, I think he took the right approach - attempt to provide clarity and get buy-in from the programmer, but ultimately resolve to cut him loose if he doesn't co-operate.Matt_Middletonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04374451732214738955noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25922407.post-43424349135431694512011-11-25T00:14:06.575-08:002011-11-25T00:14:06.575-08:00Joanne,
Your comments rather nicely summarize the ...Joanne,<br />Your comments rather nicely summarize the issues. I particularly like your statement:<br /><br />"Blindly changing something to your own flawed process is as bad as blindly following another’s."<br /><br />I'm going to tweet that, giving you credit, of course.Gerald M. Weinberghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05902673055244863609noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25922407.post-41607152610184183672011-11-24T22:56:25.388-08:002011-11-24T22:56:25.388-08:00These were very useful posts, thanks Gerry. I was ...These were very useful posts, thanks Gerry. I was a bit late to comment on the first post but my feelings were as follows. <br />Part of the original scope was an evaluation of the French procedure. The consultant wanted to do a comparison on the French procedure. To do the comparison you need to use the same formula or the comparison is moot. <br />I would need the answers to a few questions before I could decide the best way of going forward. My first step would be to set about getting the answers to these questions. <br />1. Why does the developer believe that the French formula is incorrect? <br />2. Why did the developer choose to keep that pertinent knowledge to himself and change the formula without informing anyone, especially the consultant?<br />3. What is the difference between the 2 formulas in terms of the procedure and the results? <br />I also really wanted to know the ins and outs of the inventory process in as much detail as could be gathered, or rather as much as would be pertinent to my understanding of the results. <br />I agree that to question is almost always a better way forward than to blindly follow, but questioning should be accompanied by discussion and understanding of why it is done that way to begin with. Blindly changing something to your own flawed process is as bad as blindly following another’s.Joanne Peroldnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25922407.post-90249844799533025182011-11-24T21:34:19.679-08:002011-11-24T21:34:19.679-08:00I agree with Jason. I'm very much in favor of ...I agree with Jason. I'm very much in favor of brains, yet this example shows how the mouth can undo what the brain solves.Gerald M. Weinberghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05902673055244863609noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25922407.post-71912457043471509712011-11-24T17:31:33.345-08:002011-11-24T17:31:33.345-08:00I don't necessarily consider what the programm...I don't necessarily consider what the programmer did to be a mistake. Perhaps he could have been more diplomatic, however I'd much rather work with a programmer who used his brain instead of simply following instructions. <br /><br />I thought these two posts were great though, very interesting to see different perspectives and how the scenario actually played out.Jason Littlehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13506611334869513940noreply@blogger.com