Comments on: Programmers and Managers http://www.subbu.org/blog/2005/03/programmers-and-managers HTTP, REST and some Cycling Wed, 25 Aug 2010 12:09:31 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: smoothoperator http://www.subbu.org/blog/2005/03/programmers-and-managers/comment-page-1#comment-43 smoothoperator Mon, 15 Aug 2005 23:39:53 +0000 http://wp.subbu.org/2005/03/programmers-and-managers/#comment-43 Managers are good at managing people (ideally). They are typically leaders. In the eyes of management, programmers are merely foot soldiers - some are good, some are bad, and some average. What is important is that a manager positions his programmers for success. Once there is trust, good things happen. Managers are good at managing people (ideally). They are typically leaders. In the eyes of management, programmers are merely foot soldiers – some are good, some are bad, and some average. What is important is that a manager positions his programmers for success. Once there is trust, good things happen.

]]> By: Michael Slattery http://www.subbu.org/blog/2005/03/programmers-and-managers/comment-page-1#comment-42 Michael Slattery Fri, 01 Apr 2005 10:52:38 +0000 http://wp.subbu.org/2005/03/programmers-and-managers/#comment-42 I agree with this blog. For a long time I had a prejudice against managers. That was largely because some past managers did not communicate well with me and I did not communicate well with them. Usually this is some form of arrogance and/or ignorance on either side. My outlook changed dramactially due to how my current boss deals with me. He has taught me humility and demonstrated that managers aren't necessarily pinheads. <br /><br /> Managers don't want to hear about the technical details. Programmers want to talk technical. It's important to discuss *timelines* and the customer *impact* of any given issue. It's hard for programmers to think at this level of abstraction and often programmers only think about programming itself instead of who's paying the bills (i.e. the customer). <br /><br /> Who is the most knowledgeable about softare? It's the programmer. Management knows about business. Customers know their workflow. Programmers know about creating software. So many programmers expect the others to understand software development and get frustrated when bad decisions are made. Programmers need to speak at the right level of detail, understand the needs of the customer, understand the needs of management, and educate (but not over-educate) everyone about software development. I agree with this blog.
For a long time I had a prejudice against managers. That was largely because some past managers did not communicate well with me and I did not communicate well with them. Usually this is some form of arrogance and/or ignorance on either side. My outlook changed dramactially due to how my current boss deals with me. He has taught me humility and demonstrated that managers aren’t necessarily pinheads.

Managers don’t want to hear about the technical details. Programmers want to talk technical. It’s important to discuss *timelines* and the customer *impact* of any given issue. It’s hard for programmers to think at this level of abstraction and often programmers only think about programming itself instead of who’s paying the bills (i.e. the customer).

Who is the most knowledgeable about softare? It’s the programmer. Management knows about business. Customers know their workflow. Programmers know about creating software. So many programmers expect the others to understand software development and get frustrated when bad decisions are made. Programmers need to speak at the right level of detail, understand the needs of the customer, understand the needs of management, and educate (but not over-educate) everyone about software development.

]]> By: adam connor http://www.subbu.org/blog/2005/03/programmers-and-managers/comment-page-1#comment-41 adam connor Thu, 31 Mar 2005 13:51:28 +0000 http://wp.subbu.org/2005/03/programmers-and-managers/#comment-41 Depends where you work whether it is happening today. There <strong>are</strong> enlightened managers and organizations. Depends where you work whether it is happening today. There are enlightened managers and organizations.

]]> By: asdf http://www.subbu.org/blog/2005/03/programmers-and-managers/comment-page-1#comment-40 asdf Thu, 31 Mar 2005 12:50:35 +0000 http://wp.subbu.org/2005/03/programmers-and-managers/#comment-40 <i>rogrammers are generally broad-picture thinkers who solve largely complicated problems that regular folks can't possibly wrap their heads around.</i> I guess programmers don't comment on slashdot because all slashdot readers care about is open source everywhere and ogg. Businesses be damned. rogrammers are generally broad-picture thinkers who solve largely complicated problems that regular folks can’t possibly wrap their heads around.

I guess programmers don’t comment on slashdot because all slashdot readers care about is open source everywhere and ogg. Businesses be damned.

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