SoylentNews is people
SoylentNews
from the it's-easier-to-deal-with-computers-than-with-people dept.
The Do's and Don't's of Managing Programmers:
Why are some programmers such jerks?
Too many managers believe the problem lies with [the disgruntled programmer]. If he was a better employee, dedicated worker, or at least cared more, then this wouldn't happen. Right?
Unfortunately, no.
The first suggestions matter a lot
How you handle ideas from new programmers sends an important signal. Good or bad, it sets the stage for what they expect. This determines if they share more ideas in the future... or keep their mouth shut.Sure, some ideas might not be feasible in your environment. Some might get put on the back burner to be discussed "when we're not busy". Some ideas seem great, but they run against unspoken cultural norms.
No matter what the reason, dismissing or devaluing your programmer's ideas — especially in the first few months — is a bad move.
Damaged by all the naysaying, he'll try a few more times to present his ideas differently, aiming for a successful outcome. If he continues to feel punished, though, he'll realize that the only way to win is not to play.
Which is exactly what you don't want your programmers learning.
He will stop presenting ideas, asking to meet customers, and genuinely trying to understand the business.
Ultimately, it's a lose lose.
If you want programmers to become mere code monkeys, treat them like code monkeys.
(Score: 5, Interesting) by DannyB on Monday December 04 2017, @05:49PM
Programmers join organizations, but leave managers.
Sometimes programmers don't see the bigger picture. Some concerns are not purely technical. Try to resolve conflicts pro-actively. Everyone at work probably has the same goal: to maximize their bonus. That involves all the pesky details like keeping customers happy, releasing upgrades, fixing bugs, etc. In a conflict, two people often are talking past each other. Each with a different, legitimate concern. Once each sees the other's view, the result is generally a solution better than what either person was originally proposing. That said, sometimes the programmer is simply right and the other point of view is unrealistic or infeasible.
Sometimes programmers ARE jerks. No people skills but great machine skills. Hopefully those jerks can learn just enough social skills to be functional within a team and work toward common goals. If you find yourself in a conflict, it could be that you are looking at too small a part of the problem that you are focused on.
Again, sometimes concerns are not purely technical. For example. If I can use a high level language and beat my competitor to market by six months and only need 64 GB of memory, my boss's boss's boss will say it's cheap at the price. You can't buy back that kind of advantage. We're not trying to optimize for bytes and cpu cycles. We're trying to optimize for dollars. Programmers sometimes don't see that. Maybe you should write in a higher level language than C. Unless your work is device drivers, operating systems, microcontrollers, etc. Not using garbage collection in higher level software is trying to optimize for the wrong thing.
Programmers should and can earn the trust of management. Understand the business you are in. What is it that your company does? How do you make it better?
Why are programmers treated like crap while ignorant sales droids are treated like kings? Because of MBAs. MBAs see sales as the thing that brings in the money. A "profit center". Everything else is just a cost. Rent, desks, chairs, lighting are costs. Financial accounting is a cost. It doesn't bring in the money. Programming is a cost. MBAs look to cut costs. Programmers are in what is called a "cost center" where sales droids, no matter how dumb, are in a "profit center".
About Managers. Some managers are just bad. And shouldn't be managers and shouldn't be your manager. There are some good and some great managers. A good manager will shield developers from distractions. To some extent from things like budgets and schedules. A good manager will help you grow. I generally forego training for books instead.
Manager: how many unknown bugs are there, and how long will they take to fix?
The anti vax hysteria didn't stop, it just died down.