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Ask HN: Why can't programmers get along with business type people?
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Re: Ask HN: Why can't programmers get along with business type people?
#2Maybe because business people request "non-sense" stuff, by non-sense I actually mean, non-logical, not fitting the system.
Re: Ask HN: Why can't programmers get along with business type people?
#3Maybe because business people request "non-sense" stuff, by non-sense I actually mean, non-logical, not fitting the system.
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Re: Ask HN: Why can't programmers get along with business type people?
#4Bit of a generalisation...
Re: Ask HN: Why can't programmers get along with business type people?
#5They do - frequently and often. If you see a deep and non-personality based conflict it means there is a political disjoint within the company - the incentives for either side are misaligned - either because one or both sides have lost contact with customers and that having to clearly and logically spell out the disjoint is raising up a political problem the hierarchy is unwilling to deal with.
In short, if we don't address the difference in strategy represented by the Sales Director and the Operations Director then when the two different strategies and priorities are given to a programmer to implement - we can blame their kvetching on "IT guys"'instead of the two directors.
As for a solution: I would abandon Agile in such cases (!) and ask the board of directors onto a two day coached off site where we will address the issue. And suggest everyone polish their CVs in case.
Re: Ask HN: Why can't programmers get along with business type people?
#6They can; where they don't, it's usually due to a dysfunctional organization that means their incentives are misaligned.
Re: Ask HN: Why can't programmers get along with business type people?
#7They do - frequently and often. If you see a deep and non-personality based conflict it means there is a political disjoint within the company - the incentives for either side are misaligned - either because one or both sides have lost contact with customers and that having to clearly and logically spell out the disjoint is raising up a political problem the hierarchy is unwilling to deal with. In short, if we don't…
Really interesting way to look at it, I think theirs a generalisation amongst businesses to think that the programmer is just a function rather than an opinion/craft i.e. putting a paper inside a printer, thats it just code.
Re: Ask HN: Why can't programmers get along with business type people?
#8They can, and they do. Sometimes they are even the same people. Where are you getting your premises?
If what you really meant to ask is "Why do two groups of people who operate differently sometimes operate differently?" then I think the answer is obvious.
Re: Ask HN: Why can't programmers get along with business type people?
#9They can; where they don't, it's usually due to a dysfunctional organization that means their incentives are misaligned.
It seems to be a philosophy endemic to embedded IT: "us" vs "the business".
Re: Ask HN: Why can't programmers get along with business type people?
#10They can, and they do. Sometimes they are even the same people. Where are you getting your premises? If what you really meant to ask is "Why do two groups of people who operate differently sometimes operate differently?" then I think the answer is obvious.
>Where are you getting your premises
years and years of Dilbert, for one.