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You'll forgive my hyperbole, but I was trying to make a point. What I'm trying to get at is the reason the people in charge of most companies are "clueless abo

You'll forgive my hyperbole, but I was trying to make a point. What I'm trying to get at is the reason the people in charge of most companies are "clueless about technology" is that some technical people aren't capable of speaking to them in their language. The people in charge are going to be more concerned with how these issues affect their bottom line, if you can't communicate in those terms you'll rarely be effective. Zed goes on forever about how his solution was technically better in every manner possible, but he was unable to convince the powers that be that he was right. This is a communication issue likely brought about by his "I'm a genius, and you aren't smart enough to understand" attitude. This isn't because business people are arrogant, pig headed assholes (though some certainly are). No, they don't get the tech, but I for one am willing to take the time to help them understand why these things matter and why they should give a shit. Yes, it sucks, but I feel that not doing so would be doing my employer a disservice. What I dislike about that talk is that Zed basically abdicates responsibility for having to communicate with non-technical people because they'll never be smart enough to understand, when it's really his failing that they don't understand in the first place. Further, Zed's attitude towards others is beyond condescending. He may pay lip service to the people in charge and say "they're just clueless about technology", but it's so abundantly clear how little he values them, and the jobs they provide. "Working hard and doing a good job", but doing something that you know is both wrong and dumb is phoning it in. It's doing what you're supposed to because you couldn't give a shit about the company, or what becomes of it. It just rubs me the wrong way.

randallsquared 17y ago
the reason the people in charge of most companies are "clueless about technology" is that some technical people aren't capable of speaking to them in their language. The reason I'm clueless about marketing is not that marketing people aren't capable of speaking to me in my language. It's that, fundamentally, I don't care about marketing. It seems likely to me that the people in charge of most companies really don't care about technology (nor should they except in cases it's critical for the company; I'm not criticizing).
GHFigs 17y ago
but he was unable to convince the powers that be that he was right Yes he was. That was the point of him giving advice on the subject. It wouldn't make much sense to suggest a bunch of things that didn't work at all, would it? Zed basically abdicates responsibility for having to communicate with non-technical people He presents a six-point strategy for doing exactly that. I suggest watching the talk again, as you seem to have missed out on most of it.

randallsquared 17y ago

the reason the people in charge of most companies are "clueless about technology" is that some technical people aren't capable of speaking to them in their language. The reason I'm clueless about marketing is not that marketing people aren't capable of speaking to me in my language. It's that, fundamentally, I don't care about marketing. It seems likely to me that the people in charge of most companies really don't care about technology (nor should they except in cases it's critical for the company; I'm not criticizing).

GHFigs 17y ago

but he was unable to convince the powers that be that he was right Yes he was. That was the point of him giving advice on the subject. It wouldn't make much sense to suggest a bunch of things that didn't work at all, would it? Zed basically abdicates responsibility for having to communicate with non-technical people He presents a six-point strategy for doing exactly that. I suggest watching the talk again, as you seem to have missed out on most of it.