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East vs. West: Culture and Distributed Development
CowboyRobot writes "ACM's Queue has an article entitled, Culture Surprises in Remote Software Development Teams
that reviews differences in cultures and explores the impact they have on distributed software development teams. From the article: "In Western societies, decisions are made on the basis of input from those involved. In cultures with greater hierarchies, group members assume an authority will decide and they are only to enact the decision." Some stereotypes and some common sense, but I recognized myself in the descriptions of the 'typical American'."
Hasn't the tragedy of Tupac and Biggie taught the world anything? Eastside vs. Westside accomplishes nothing, homies!
Peace out!
Word...
- c -
$7.95/mo, 200 GB disk, 2TBxfer, MySQL, PHP, RoR.
Who cares, the point is that the guy is American so he is talking about the country he is from. Why is it every time someone mentions 'the west' and America every European jumps up and say you see, American are so self centered thinking they are the west. Seems to me Europeans have a confidence problem. Also last time I checked you're on the same fricken land mass 'the east' is on.
Half of Europe has. It's called alternatively 'old Europe', 'France', or 'having a different opinion'.
and i can say that the single biggest barrier to communication is... the accents. imagine a conference call with ali g. and boss hogg. that's what my day is like...
2 1337 4 u!
It might mean people are reading the article before posting.
--- Ban humanity.
In Western societies, decisions are made on the basis of input from those involved.
Wait...that sounds like a GOOD thing? GASP! You mean there's a tech article that points out a GOOD aspect of american society?! Excuse me while I wait for the end of the world to come in 5...4...3...2...1...
Yes.
and if so what is it?
Scientists are still trying to determine that.
But fear not. NASA will be landing a rover ouside of Toulouse this fall.
--- Ban humanity.
When I first started reading the article, I figured they were talking about New York versus California.
Never a truer word spoken about cultural differences.
"The first thing to do when you find yourself in a hole is stop digging."
hmmm....true, but I've never worked on a project with a Dutchman who bought the first round of drinks...
>You will find the organized Greek, the warm German, the shy Italian, the Brazilian who does not like soccer and the American who knows world geography...
Also found: the brave Frenchman, the Irish master chef, the lazy Japanese man, the Slashdotting mack daddy...
Comedy gold.
If your bitterest enemies are people who hack the heads off civilians, then I would say you're doing something right.
Stereotypes do apply, but anti-stereotypes are plenty, as well. You will find the organized Greek, the warm German, the shy Italian, the Brazilian who does not like soccer and the American who knows world geography.
:-p
Although not in the Whitehouse
Table-ized A.I.
1) In the US, sons and daughters are expected to leave the house as soon as possible.
No, they want to leave the house as soon as possible. We don't need to be babied by our mommies.
2) is seen as "ass kissing" by some.
It is ass kissing. You're there to earn money, not kiss ass.
3) have a very difficult time with "personal space" issues
Get the fuck away from me! I'm feeling clausterphobic.
4) German supervisor spent his after-hours time at the pool WITHOUT A SHIRT!
Yeah because he was probably a big hairy dude with man-tits. If it was a hot babe, take it all off!
6) American males tend to look at themselves in the mirror very often.
No shit! We wanna get laid!
8) Sports, fights, tough talking.
Umm, might have something to do with us being animals. What are you, a robot?
Yes. There are also silos where they put the corn.
Computers are useless. They can only give you answers.
-- Pablo Picasso
there's an old joke about the "perfect European" being a Belgian...
Or the old heaven/hell joke:
Heaven:
Mechanics - German
Chefs - French
Lovers - Italian
Police - English
and the Swiss organize everything
Hell
Mechanics - French
Chefs - English
Lovers - Swiss
Police - German
and the Italians organize everyting
It is not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change.
Countries that emphasize the collective rather than the individual tend to value time for personal relations, family, and so forth, over material gain. For them the goal is to preserve social equilibrium, not to "rock the boat." And, for them the greatest punishment is ostracism.
In Geek Culture, ostracism is a REWARD! Punishment is being forced to work on a boring project.
Table-ized A.I.
Sounds like a new take on the old chestnut; I'm certain someone will make it fit - have a deadline and whatnot.
Heaven is a place where:
-- The lovers are Italian
-- The cooks are French
-- The mechanics are German
-- The police are English
-- The government is run by the Swiss
Hell is a place where:
-- The lovers are Swiss
-- The cooks are English
-- The mechanics are French
-- The police are German
-- The government is run by the Italians
R: That voice. Where have I heard that voice before? B: In about 365 other episodes. But I don't know who it is either.
This is the way I heard it:
Heaven is a place where:
-- The lovers are Italian
-- The cooks are French
-- The mechanics are German
-- The police are English
-- The government is run by the Swiss
-- The tourists are American.
Hell is a place where:
-- The lovers are Swiss
-- The cooks are English
-- The mechanics are French
-- The police are German
-- The government is run by the Italians
-- The tourists are American.
Proverbs 21:19