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The tone you use here helps make my point: just because "nerds" are experts in everything tech does NOT equate to good decision making / good management for the

The tone you use here helps make my point: just because "nerds" are experts in everything tech does NOT equate to good decision making / good management for the company as a whole. Sometimes it does. Often times it does not. Things aren't usually that black and white; "I built it, so I should run it." Just had this convo with a coworker the other day. He was telling me about all the complaints from the dev team and how we should let them drive the bus. I had to remind him of all the good-tech-but-bad-business ideas several of them have offered in the past. In my experience, the rare "nerd" who also intimately understands the nuances of every day business (relationships, the board, profit margins, brand experiences, etc.) is hard to beat.

devonkim 9y ago
I agree with the argument but not the evidence - I have seen a lot of good tech managed directly into the ground by management teams that have clear track records of non-success. Bad products being sold and kept alive through clever / kleptocratic / crony business practices is what the market for enterprise anything has become because all the purchasers and sellers are one and the same - people that are never the users of said products or even the services and that can skillfully resolve themselves of blame while taking credit for "success" and somehow justifying it all as "positive thinking."
quadcore 9y ago
just because "nerds" are experts in everything tech does NOT equate to good decision making / good management for the company as a whole. You think a programmer's job and abilities stops where they don't. Programmers do understand what the customer want. They ship to customers. I'm not saying programmers don't need help though.
- forthelove 9y ago
  False. I was directly reacting to what the OP said (below), which said nothing of a relationship w/ customers. Personally, I'm a proponent of having devs closely involved in every step of the product, including messaging and marketing. But that's not what this post was about. > We are the technology, we did it in the first place. > By default, we know better than them (because we are the one who do the tech)
UK-AL 9y ago
On contrary i have also seen management make bad decisions as well. As evidenced by the results. I often feel evidence is used selectively. Statement - Programmers are bad business decisions Evidence - Often use single example point that out. Statement Managers are good at business decisions - Tons of bad decisions over the years - Apparently still good at business decisions?

devonkim 9y ago

I agree with the argument but not the evidence - I have seen a lot of good tech managed directly into the ground by management teams that have clear track records of non-success. Bad products being sold and kept alive through clever / kleptocratic / crony business practices is what the market for enterprise anything has become because all the purchasers and sellers are one and the same - people that are never the users of said products or even the services and that can skillfully resolve themselves of blame while taking credit for "success" and somehow justifying it all as "positive thinking."

quadcore 9y ago

just because "nerds" are experts in everything tech does NOT equate to good decision making / good management for the company as a whole. You think a programmer's job and abilities stops where they don't. Programmers do understand what the customer want. They ship to customers. I'm not saying programmers don't need help though.

forthelove 9y ago
False. I was directly reacting to what the OP said (below), which said nothing of a relationship w/ customers. Personally, I'm a proponent of having devs closely involved in every step of the product, including messaging and marketing. But that's not what this post was about. > We are the technology, we did it in the first place. > By default, we know better than them (because we are the one who do the tech)

UK-AL 9y ago

On contrary i have also seen management make bad decisions as well. As evidenced by the results. I often feel evidence is used selectively. Statement - Programmers are bad business decisions Evidence - Often use single example point that out. Statement Managers are good at business decisions - Tons of bad decisions over the years - Apparently still good at business decisions?