5 ms·

It sounds like you've worked at some very inefficient companies.

wazoox 16y ago
Most big companies are incredibly inefficient bureaucracies. Contrary to popular belief, big companies aren't any better than government agencies from an efficiency point of view (probably worse, actually).
- pasbesoin 16y ago
  I have to say this matches my personal experience, at a number of companies. A few highly productive people, and a fair number basically growing their arses (literally, or, I suddenly realize, figuratively). I worry about coming across as excessively bitter (and so useless, myself). But I've done some of the "productivity enhancing work" myself, including in Perl (lack of budget turned out, in this instance, to be a fortuitous gift in disguise). At one point, I basically replaced a five person department with myself, in the face of attrition both voluntary and forced. (This was before I learned to be one of the first rats off the sinking ship.) Throughout all of this, my biggest hindrance has been non- and especially counter- productive coworkers. Even management's asinine budget restrictions and decisions were nothing compared to the disruption causes by the more self-serving, ignorant buffoons. Too bitter, again. On the other hand, I had some great coworkers with whom I really enjoyed working, a great deal. It didn't matter what department or division you were in. As you met these people, there tended to be mutual recognition and understanding. In the future, you could pick up the phone or send and email, and get what you needed, no matter how many layers of management above might be opposed to the idea (whether on some sort of "principle", e.g. the latest management guru book they read; or due to ambition and empire building; due to personal animosity; blah blah blah). In several roles, I've set precedent as a result of this cooperation. People learned I didn't fuck things up, and I made their lives easier. In turn, I could e.g. bounce the server, despite not being in Ops. It was a lot more efficient. Gradually, they realized they could let some other people do that, as well -- often after I trained them. It's not arrogance, either. One of my replacements had some trouble with some concepts, but actually stuck in the job with a really good will to master it and do the best she could. So, when my lazy management wanted to can her and try the fourth friggin' hire in a year -- because she wasn't "quick enough" -- I told them where to get off. And she kept her job. It's not just about being the biggest brain. It's about trying and doing your best. A lot of people in corporate America only do enough to stay in the seat. And often, they get in the way of the people actually trying to get stuff done. (As to why I stayed long enough to accumulate this experience? It's complicated, in my case. I hope that, in sharing it, some others may recognize it a bit sooner in their own lives. And realize that some of these same obstructions are the ones who are self-serving enough to jump ship early and often, frequently ironically ending up better off and sparing themselves some of the misery of a downturn in the company. That is, if the economy is doing well enough and if their BS is good enough.)
  - pasbesoin 16y ago
    Upon reflection, I realize / recall that I worked with a lot more good eggs than bad. Some people I grew quite fond of. But the bad ones could really stink things up, and their self-promotion often sabotaged others' efforts.
  - cynoclast 16y ago
    What you're talking about is having "flipped the bozo bit" on everyone that sucks. Didn't know if you were familiar with the concept, but you should be. :)
    - pasbesoin 16y ago
      I seem to recall the term, and I understand the perspective, I think. Although I've learned to be cautious, as along will come a situation where I find I have to "unflip" it, at least for the current context. So, I'll usually at least listen to the initial pitch. And even when there's nothing to it, sometimes it's easier to listen and then ignore, than to get into a debate. It's difficult and often useless to debate someone unwilling or unable to change their perspective. The hard part with the bozo bit, though, is recognizing when you have to flip it for yourself. And a chronically stressful situation seems to bring that on, sooner or later. ;-)

Most big companies are incredibly inefficient bureaucracies. Contrary to popular belief, big companies aren't any better than government agencies from an efficiency point of view (probably worse, actually).

pasbesoin 16y ago
I have to say this matches my personal experience, at a number of companies. A few highly productive people, and a fair number basically growing their arses (literally, or, I suddenly realize, figuratively). I worry about coming across as excessively bitter (and so useless, myself). But I've done some of the "productivity enhancing work" myself, including in Perl (lack of budget turned out, in this instance, to be a fortuitous gift in disguise). At one point, I basically replaced a five person department with myself, in the face of attrition both voluntary and forced. (This was before I learned to be one of the first rats off the sinking ship.) Throughout all of this, my biggest hindrance has been non- and especially counter- productive coworkers. Even management's asinine budget restrictions and decisions were nothing compared to the disruption causes by the more self-serving, ignorant buffoons. Too bitter, again. On the other hand, I had some great coworkers with whom I really enjoyed working, a great deal. It didn't matter what department or division you were in. As you met these people, there tended to be mutual recognition and understanding. In the future, you could pick up the phone or send and email, and get what you needed, no matter how many layers of management above might be opposed to the idea (whether on some sort of "principle", e.g. the latest management guru book they read; or due to ambition and empire building; due to personal animosity; blah blah blah). In several roles, I've set precedent as a result of this cooperation. People learned I didn't fuck things up, and I made their lives easier. In turn, I could e.g. bounce the server, despite not being in Ops. It was a lot more efficient. Gradually, they realized they could let some other people do that, as well -- often after I trained them. It's not arrogance, either. One of my replacements had some trouble with some concepts, but actually stuck in the job with a really good will to master it and do the best she could. So, when my lazy management wanted to can her and try the fourth friggin' hire in a year -- because she wasn't "quick enough" -- I told them where to get off. And she kept her job. It's not just about being the biggest brain. It's about trying and doing your best. A lot of people in corporate America only do enough to stay in the seat. And often, they get in the way of the people actually trying to get stuff done. (As to why I stayed long enough to accumulate this experience? It's complicated, in my case. I hope that, in sharing it, some others may recognize it a bit sooner in their own lives. And realize that some of these same obstructions are the ones who are self-serving enough to jump ship early and often, frequently ironically ending up better off and sparing themselves some of the misery of a downturn in the company. That is, if the economy is doing well enough and if their BS is good enough.)
- pasbesoin 16y ago
  Upon reflection, I realize / recall that I worked with a lot more good eggs than bad. Some people I grew quite fond of. But the bad ones could really stink things up, and their self-promotion often sabotaged others' efforts.
- cynoclast 16y ago
  What you're talking about is having "flipped the bozo bit" on everyone that sucks. Didn't know if you were familiar with the concept, but you should be. :)
  - pasbesoin 16y ago
    I seem to recall the term, and I understand the perspective, I think. Although I've learned to be cautious, as along will come a situation where I find I have to "unflip" it, at least for the current context. So, I'll usually at least listen to the initial pitch. And even when there's nothing to it, sometimes it's easier to listen and then ignore, than to get into a debate. It's difficult and often useless to debate someone unwilling or unable to change their perspective. The hard part with the bozo bit, though, is recognizing when you have to flip it for yourself. And a chronically stressful situation seems to bring that on, sooner or later. ;-)