How Would You Handle a $1,000,000 Coding Error?

theodp writes "The Chicago Tribune's efforts to upgrade its computer system over the weekend turned into a fiasco when the system crashed, halting all printing operations and leaving about half of the Trib's subscribers without papers. The software contained 'a coding error,' according to a spokesman who estimated the cost to resolve the problem at 'under $1 million.' Any advice for the poor schmuck who's going to get the blame?"

Comments

Just one

[kalidasa]

Check out this link. Sorry, dude. Any of us could have done it.

Re:Just one

[kegwell]

Ehh..hopefully he lives on the side of town that the paper will get delivered on because he will definitely need the classifieds to look for a new job.

Dogbert Strategy

[mfh]

> How Would You Handle a $1,000,000 Coding Error?

I would have to follow Dogbert's Top Secret Management Handbook, and take full responsibility for the bungle. That way when the next job comes up two or three rungs above me, I'll be at the top of the list of people with actual experience with massive projects, and it won't matter that it was a colossal screw-up because I will have jumped two or three pay-grades. Corporate fall-guys, if they take it right, always end up better off than quiet behind the scenes types.

So my advice is that you should take full responsiblity and sharpen that resume, but be sure to make it known that you have learned from your mistakes and you worked hard to correct them. Nobody gets anywhere without making big blunders along the way. Be a good sport and you'll jump at least two pay grades for this blunder.

Re:Dogbert Strategy

[MrDelSarto]

Reminds me of that often quoted story about Thomas Watson, head of IBM, when some executive made a bad decision that ended up costing $10 million. The guy comes in and says "I suppose you'll want my resignation now" and Watson replies something like "Are you crazy! I just spent $10 million educating you!"

Do as any knee-jerk slashdotter would...

[Jad LaFields]

... and blame it on Microsoft.

Only one thing to do now...

[C60]

Change your name, and switch to a "skills" based resume rather than an experience based one...

advice to hapless code monkey

[Jayfar]

Any advice for the poor schmuck who's going to get the blame?

Down, not across. (motto of alt.sysadmin.recovery referring to best method of slashing one's wrists).

Or South Florida

[LoztInSpace]

Or The journalists that work at the outfit the link went to. Did you notice it took 3 of them to write that article? Talk about overstaffed.

Very carefully!

[YouHaveSnail]

How Would You Handle a $1,000,000 Coding Error?

Frankly, I can't believe anyone would pay $1M for a coding error. Hell, the guys I work with make coding errors all the time, and practically for free!

(That's free, as in beer.)

You Slashdotted Illinois

[0x0d0a]

You insufferable ass -- you just slashdotted Illinois.

I don't worry about it

[pyrrhonist]

How Would You Handle a $1,000,000 Coding Error?

As long as I keep checking in my code as someone else, I won't have to.

Re:1 Million? That's nothing!

[ebob9]

Answer Key:

X = Will accept any date 1975-Present.
Z = *.*
Y = Will accept any product made in the history of Microsoft. The Fabric of Space-Time is also an acceptable answer.

Re:My advice.

[sTavvy]

Anyone else notice that there is a little footer with teh "recycled" symbol and the phrase "printed on recycled paper" ? it's a PDF. what happens if i print it out on non recycled paper?

Bad News, Good News.....

[raehl]

Bad news: We missed printing half of our papers.

Good news: Rainforest saved.

Re:McDonald's

[yiantsbro]

Sure, but what happens when you screw up placing the lid on a cup of coffee?

Re:You forgot...

[fataugie]

I'm sure I'm forgetting some.

I bet I know why....