Why senior engineers let bad projects fail
1–10 of 168 posts
Re: Why senior engineers let bad projects fail
#2I disagree, and I think this advice can be actively harmful. You shouldn’t ignore a problem when you’re in a position to help. At the same time, you also shouldn’t take on the emotional burden of other people’s projects.
If I see something heading toward failure, I let people know they may want to consider a different approach. That’s it. There’s no need to be harsh or belabor the point but it’s better to speak up than to quietly watch a train wreck unfold.
Re: Why senior engineers let bad projects fail
#3Not your company not your problem. This article misses the point that your senior engineers often do not have the political power to push back on bad ideas at most med-large orgs.
Re: Why senior engineers let bad projects fail
#4Letting it die is the self-serving, career-optimizing, amoral take. But it's more ethical to stand up for what's right even at personal cost. A bunch of people wasting years of their life, not to mention all the resources, is a tragedy worth avoiding.
Of course, the wisdom of taking the person risk is a continuum. In some cases it is and in some it isn't. But.. To omit the ethical angle entirely seems like a bad take.
Re: Why senior engineers let bad projects fail
#5Letting it die is the self-serving, career-optimizing, amoral take. But it's more ethical to stand up for what's right even at personal cost. A bunch of people wasting years of their life, not to mention all the resources, is a tragedy worth avoiding. Of course, the wisdom of taking the person risk is a continuum. In some cases it is and in some it isn't. But.. To omit the ethical angle entirely seems like a bad take…
Honestly, I don’t even know that letting it die is self serving except at big companies which can suffer repeated failures.
Depending on scale, a couple large train wrecks may take the company out and leave you unemployed.
Re: Why senior engineers let bad projects fail
#6> In large companies, speaking up about what you see as a “bad project” is a good thing. But only in moderation. Sometimes the mark of seniority is realizing that arguing with people who won’t listen isn’t worth it; it’s better to save your counsel.
Re: Why senior engineers let bad projects fail
#7This article is very wise and applies equally to marketing and other endeavors within the corporation.
Re: Why senior engineers let bad projects fail
#8Letting it die is the self-serving, career-optimizing, amoral take. But it's more ethical to stand up for what's right even at personal cost. A bunch of people wasting years of their life, not to mention all the resources, is a tragedy worth avoiding. Of course, the wisdom of taking the person risk is a continuum. In some cases it is and in some it isn't. But.. To omit the ethical angle entirely seems like a bad take…
> it's more ethical to stand up for what's right even at personal cost.
Employment is a business transaction not a transaction based on ethics viewpoints
Re: Why senior engineers let bad projects fail
#9Reminds me of one of my managers who said, “Sometimes, you have to let people fail.” It does take a lot of energy to keep some people afloat. My hope has always been they learn to swim as it were, but sometimes it’s just effort better spent elsewhere.
I know one project did not have my involvement and couldn’t have succeeded without my knowledge. They were so bad they would work in questions casually to their actual work.
I started avoiding all of them when I found out management had been dumping on my team and praising theirs. It’s just such a slap in the face because they could not have done well and their implementation was horrible.
Re: Why senior engineers let bad projects fail
#10Not your company not your problem. This article misses the point that your senior engineers often do not have the political power to push back on bad ideas at most med-large orgs.
> Not your company not your problem.
Simple as that. You can offer people your opinion on the matter but that's it. Some people invest way too much on what is essentially someone else's business. You are a replaceable cog, never forget that.