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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: 2) by Runaway1956 on Monday December 04 2017, @06:44PM (3 children)
I guess this is the most appropriate place to observe, none of the above is exclusive to code monkeys. All of the same things happen to grease monkeys, turd monkeys, and all the other monkeys who get disgusted, and decide to just put in their time, and cash their paycheck at the end of the week.
You've got an idea. You're backed by industry standards, as well as the law. The idea MUST be implemented, or the company is in violation of the law. (more specifically, OSHA regulations) For years, you fight with your boss to have the idea implemented. One more opportunity to comply with the law presents itself, and the boss tells you, "We've got to save money!" So, you finally go over the boss's head, make your presentation to his superiors. The next day, your boss says, "I've got an idea!" and gives your presentation right back at you - almost verbatim.
You think I give that cocksucker any more ideas, hints, information, or anything else? No idea can be a good idea unless it's HIS idea. Egotistical cocksuckers don't even have any idea how much they are despised. If you work for someone like that, just go over his head, and report him whenever he's fucking up. Yeah, you feel like a snitch, but the dumbass created the situation.
Abortion is the number one killed of children in the United States.
(Score: 2) by etherscythe on Monday December 04 2017, @07:06PM (2 children)
And this assumes the, sometimes erroneous, idea that your boss knows what the hell it is that you do. When he thinks of you as just another cog in the machine, it's much easier to play along and just turn the wheels, even if you are capable of much more.
I feel that this is one of the biggest actual innovations of Elon Musk's various companies: he is known to be a "nanomanager", as in, taking micromanagement to the next level - he knows ridiculously low-level details, and your ass is in the hot seat if you screw something up, but he will also acknowledge you for your skills if he likes what you are doing, no matter where you are on the org chart. I wish more companies were like that - so much information is lost in translation upwards, and so many good ideas are mired in bureaucratic mediocrity.
"Fake News: anything reported outside of my own personally chosen echo chamber"
(Score: 2) by Thexalon on Monday December 04 2017, @07:36PM (1 child)
Bill Gates apparently was like that too: Because he was a developer, he regularly reviewed application feature designs, thoroughly, and would pepper whoever came up with them with detailed questions until he'd stumped them. He might have been better off using his coding chops for quality assurance, though, amirite?
The only thing that stops a bad guy with a compiler is a good guy with a compiler.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday December 04 2017, @08:44PM
When the bugs are actually a secret feature there is no point in wasting QA time.