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Ex-Navy & programmer here: It feels like I am pointing out the obvious, but FAANGs have big problems, way bigger than a startup, and I'm not referring to only t

Ex-Navy & programmer here: It feels like I am pointing out the obvious, but FAANGs have big problems, way bigger than a startup, and I'm not referring to only the technology. They have big organizational problems, like managing an aircraft carrier. They need to hire the smartest people and pay them a lot of money to manage those problems. Not every problem is sexy and many people are needed in the engine room to keep the fresh water distillery running and the ship sewage system from clogging. The U.S.'s $13 Billion Aircraft Carrier Has a Toilet Problem https://www.popularmechanics.com/military/navy-ships/a31929628/uss-ford-toilet/ https://www.popularmechanics.com/military/navy-ships/a319296...

RichardCA 5y ago
I had a manager once who was ex-Navy (electronics specialist, not an officer). He approached management with a hard-nosed Type A mentality. He definitely went after people who he saw as coasting, and in some cases that was undoubtedly justified. He got results but there was also a lot of churn. He also made the mistake of taking too much on himself because he saw that as easier than the hard work of understanding and motivating people. After a while the atmosphere fell into bad faith, cynicism, and lack of trust. After some span of time he was moved to a position that kept his rank but removed his reports. The churn got so bad that upper mgmt had to deal with it, and HR also got involved. I think he's working at Amazon now.
- deleted 5y ago
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- fortuna86 5y ago
  > I think he's working at Amazon now. Sounds about right.
beeboop 5y ago
Considering it's budgeted to run at a cost of $1.5 billion a year and it actually runs at $2.5 billion a year, a toilet flushing problem that costs a couple million a year doesn't really seem notable beyond "lol poop". I hate how our government spends and manages money so poorly.

RichardCA 5y ago

I had a manager once who was ex-Navy (electronics specialist, not an officer). He approached management with a hard-nosed Type A mentality. He definitely went after people who he saw as coasting, and in some cases that was undoubtedly justified. He got results but there was also a lot of churn. He also made the mistake of taking too much on himself because he saw that as easier than the hard work of understanding and motivating people. After a while the atmosphere fell into bad faith, cynicism, and lack of trust. After some span of time he was moved to a position that kept his rank but removed his reports. The churn got so bad that upper mgmt had to deal with it, and HR also got involved. I think he's working at Amazon now.

deleted 5y ago
[deleted]
fortuna86 5y ago
> I think he's working at Amazon now. Sounds about right.

beeboop 5y ago

Considering it's budgeted to run at a cost of $1.5 billion a year and it actually runs at $2.5 billion a year, a toilet flushing problem that costs a couple million a year doesn't really seem notable beyond "lol poop". I hate how our government spends and manages money so poorly.