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What Kind of PHB Do You Want?
the_radix asks: "I'm not a great coder, but I love computers and especially programming. Those professional programmers that I know often complain of their managers not understanding the coding process and having unrealistic expectations of programmers. As such, I am considering a new career path: management. Since middle management is all about balancing, I'm looking for pointers before I start looking for positions. What do you, as coders and programmers, want from your immediate manager? If there are any geeks out there in upper management, what do you want from your lower-level managers who keep the techs in line? I'm not asking for the basic 'stand-up-for-your-subordinates' advice, but rather requests from a coder's standpoint. Geeks have special needs, and accommodating those needs (and 'odd' behaviors) is a good idea all around, for both employee morale and department output." I think many of us would rather like one who listened or who would at least take advice from the technical staff to heart. Many times managers will not consult their coders when they make plans, they'll make the plans first and tell their coding staff later, and this causes all kinds of problems. Generally, a superior with less "pointy hair" is something we'd all appreciate, but I'm sure the rest of you can expand what I'm trying to say here, or even say it better than I can.
A manager that reads Slashdot!
Encourage hourly pr0n breaks. Tell your management you're billing it as "administrative stress-management" time.
That's Mr. Eradicator to you.
trance-port
but I understand the 3rd edition Players Handbook is nice also.
A beautiful deaf, blind, mute nymphomaniac who owns a liquor store.
'Nuff said!
you shouldnt be a manager. Since you admittedly know little about software development or management, I suggest you stay out of both and go into the custodial arts.
The sad truth is that the PHB has an even Pointier-headed boss and so on up until we reach the Splendid Majesty of Satan who Owns The Souls Of The Workers.
As a manager of geeks you will come under ugly, ugly pressure from the next layer of idiots forcing you to make choices against your inclination, your will, it will be like an old 1950s horror film where your right hand is moving without your volition while the Demonic Forces Of Management snicker.
I forecast it will be under three months before you find yourself saying to the Unwashed Geeks in your charge that your Agree with their Point Of View and if it was In Your Power you would Do this Thing, But....
First and foremost, she must be between the age of 18 and 25 and be strikingly beautiful. It is also absolutely imperative that she understand the benefits of having beer on top at the office. This is key. How can one expect to code anything without their trusty pitcher of Guinness by their side?
Oh, and I guess it's nice when they listen to you too...
was my manager's resignation.
:-/
unfortunately he made me redundant before i had the chance to see it
That man tried to kill mah Daddy
As a parent of a two-year old and a newborn, telecommuting is not an option. I come to work to get away from my family. Work is so serene and peaceful, even when we have a code freeze tomorrow.
In my case telecommuting is not really an option because I do work that ends up on some big-ass equipment that I just cannot take home. I am usually in our lab for a couple hours a day doing testing. But the option to stay at home once and a while and do documentation or paperwork would be nice.
Our company also has a computer purchase program where you can buy older computers that are being rotated out. They are typically nothing special, but make good little experiment boxes or charity donations.
Also, encouraging side projects while at work can provide a well needed diversion while letting the employee explore something new. The company may find that a linux-controlled squirrel-navigated dune buggy has some useful code snippets.
Remember, You are unique...just like everyone else.
I'm sitting here reading these suggestions and thinking to myself "WOW! I have a boss just like that!" Then it kinda fills me with pride to know that he trusts me enough to leave me alone and feels I can work deligently without him behind my back constantly.
:-/
Of course what am I doing now?
Reading slashdot at work.
I'll add to that:
XML - Everytime I've ever heard a manager utter these three letters, they have NO clue what it actually is and why it isn't necessary for the current project. I've seen projects waste countless man-hours rewriting perfectly good functions just to impliment XML in something, *anything*; because the PHB read it in some executive-ear-tickling magazine.
Umbrellas are good. I've had both.
Stupid job ads, weird spam, occasional insight at
I'd rather have a dumb boss, one that's easy to manipulate. Their brain should be about the consistency of play-doh. Not as soft as, say, rice pudding, and not as hard as stone, but somewhere inbetween. Nice and malleable, that's the perfect boss.
You don't want a smart boss, they may figure you out too quickly.
Slashdot. News for Zealots, Stuff that matters (if you're a linux zealot!)
Love many, trust a few, do harm to none.
Well, speaking not as a programmer, I hang around longer because I'm an hourly employee with not much social life; an extra ten hours a week means my pay goes up by almost forty percent.