4 ms·

Within the context of software development, for best results get rid of the managerial barrier between engineers and the business; the original intent of Agile.

kcplate 4y ago
Except “agile” has evolved to adding 3-4 layers between the engineers and the business because the engineers tend to build products that are great for them, but lousy for the business. Whatever the intent was, the effect sucks. I am sure I will get downvoted here and don’t care. Three decades of experience watching unfettered software engineers get it completely wrong overrides your derision.
- 0x445442 4y ago
  Haven’t you just contradicted yourself by acknowledging the 3-4 layers of added management but then laying blame elsewhere?
  - kcplate 4y ago
    Not at all, the reason businesses feel compelled to add that buffer between software engineers and the business is because software engineers tend to make lousy decisions in terms of understanding the actual product requirements…at least in my experience.
    - 0x445442 4y ago
      Ahh, your assertion is that things have improved with the extra layers. I’ve been developing software professionally for 27 years. I respectfully disagree with your assertion. I’ve seen a steady decline in the quality and efficiency of software development since these extra layers have been introduced.
      - kcplate 4y ago
        I’m guess what I am saying is that businesses feel they need the extra layers because software engineers today are generally terrible at translating the businesses requirements into a viable product. But, I think it speaks to the general quality of the software engineers produced today more than in the past. 20+ years ago, I think software engineers were more talented and perhaps more capable of directly interfacing to the business without the middle men. So it’s kind of what came first, the chicken or the egg. In the 80s and 90s, I recall 9/10 pro devs were exceptional. Today, by my generous estimate, I’d say 2/10 would measure up to those folks I worked with back then. Again, thats just my experience, but I am an old man nearing the end of my career who yells at those damn kids who keep playing on my lawn nowadays, so take it with a grain of salt.

kcplate 4y ago

Except “agile” has evolved to adding 3-4 layers between the engineers and the business because the engineers tend to build products that are great for them, but lousy for the business. Whatever the intent was, the effect sucks. I am sure I will get downvoted here and don’t care. Three decades of experience watching unfettered software engineers get it completely wrong overrides your derision.

0x445442 4y ago
Haven’t you just contradicted yourself by acknowledging the 3-4 layers of added management but then laying blame elsewhere?
- kcplate 4y ago
  Not at all, the reason businesses feel compelled to add that buffer between software engineers and the business is because software engineers tend to make lousy decisions in terms of understanding the actual product requirements…at least in my experience.
  - 0x445442 4y ago
    Ahh, your assertion is that things have improved with the extra layers. I’ve been developing software professionally for 27 years. I respectfully disagree with your assertion. I’ve seen a steady decline in the quality and efficiency of software development since these extra layers have been introduced.
    - kcplate 4y ago
      I’m guess what I am saying is that businesses feel they need the extra layers because software engineers today are generally terrible at translating the businesses requirements into a viable product. But, I think it speaks to the general quality of the software engineers produced today more than in the past. 20+ years ago, I think software engineers were more talented and perhaps more capable of directly interfacing to the business without the middle men. So it’s kind of what came first, the chicken or the egg. In the 80s and 90s, I recall 9/10 pro devs were exceptional. Today, by my generous estimate, I’d say 2/10 would measure up to those folks I worked with back then. Again, thats just my experience, but I am an old man nearing the end of my career who yells at those damn kids who keep playing on my lawn nowadays, so take it with a grain of salt.