Also - suppose Nintendo wants to increase production - this would happen only by setting up new manufacturing / assembly plants (the cost involved - even if this is outsourced, would not be insignificant). If they do setup plants and manage to meet the demand - what happens if the demand falls (which it will, after the holiday season)?
Having a shortage, in this sense, is good from a perspective of
a.) free marketing by virtue of the coverage b.) Keeping the supply demand curve in check till the next version is planned.
I guess there is an HBR case study in here somewhere...
Re:What were they thinking?
on
Inside MySpace.com
·
· Score: 3, Interesting
Finally a comment on the architecture of the whole thing (which, if anyone would have bothered to RTFA - wait am on Slashdot...). What is conspicuous by its absence is the lack of consideration of other Web Server technologies. I'm sure other technologies would have been considered - any Web Server architect worth his/her salt would surely have looked at alternate Apache/Linux or Apache/FreeBSD and other database technologies.
The comments on Slashdot definitely are going downhill.... Would have expected to see more on the analysis of the movement from ColdFusion to ASP.NET...
Is this correct - AFAIK - Skype traffic from an Enterprise goes over https (at least the initial connection) - that, combined with seemingly random IP addresses makes it difficult to block Skype traffic. Am I missing something here?
Why don't you apply to an Indian IT Services Company? Work in India for sometime to get the critical experience you need. You obviously bring in much needed soft-skills (in addition to IT skills). Whatever said and done - India is a happening place - and it might do you good to check the scene out there...
Every situation is different. There are reasons why priorities need to be changed and then again there are reasons why they should not be.
Agile allows you to deal with this on a more structured note. If you have really good people and really good project managers - you will get your work done - but if you don't - you need methodologies, - you need structure and you need to follow a certain set of rules/guidelines. If you don't - you rely on people being heroes and pulling stuff off (as in miracles).
Whether you need to be interrupted just so much depends on the scenario (as in there is an earthquake and you need to stop programming now Vs "can you get this photocopied, bound and at my desk in two hours").
I took over this project (maintenance kind of work) that was considered to be in the doldrums. The real reason - priority shifts happening all the time. There were bugs coming in every day, product managers asking for features to be tried out in patch releases, builds getting broken because someone somewhere tried something new.. and so on. I just had to apply some basic common sense - focus the team in one direction and handle the priority shifts- learning when to say no and when to change direction....
What happens when the data is stolen from a country and sent to another country?
How do you contain that? Whom do you go after to get that data back?
Theft Happens! As long as there is some motive somewhere to do this - it will be done! Let's face it - companies outsourcing to India have obviously taken a look at the legal implications (in terms of jurisdiction and a "if things go wrong scenario") - and these companies have not become big and successful by doing the wrong things! (Well one or two or ten maybe - but hundreds - I don't think so).
All this gets more coverage then it probably deserves because of obvious reasons! The world is becoming a more global place and people have to accept that. Indians have to accept that as well - and this is causing an amazing amount of contrast on an immediate basis (maybe things will get better as the overall economy improves).
Look at it at a Karmic level - and it just might make sense (that and a visit to India will help as well).
Ultimately it comes to down to open systems vs closed systems. Traditional telco vendors (carrier and enterprise) all had "closed" systems - propreitery hardware and operating systems and usually propreitery protocols. *ALL* of them are moving (or have moved) towards open systems (read Linux) - supporting standard protocols that other vendors/end users can (in theory) work with. If you look at any product or system - it ultimately has to move to towards an "open" system.
Would Skype be as successful if it had been based on SIP? Skype was a disruptive product and most disruptive products *have* been "closed" systems to begin with. This has to happen sooner or later - and Skype cannot shy away from that. Take a look at http://skypejournal.com/ this has an interesting comment on this.
I don't think this is evil and has anything to do with breaking or cracking something. (Is DVD John bad?) I think this is a good thing - systems have to be eventually open and good systems win on the merit of the quality, user experience and, of course, cost...
Agree - mod parent up. Switch your mousing hand - takes a week to get used to it (it helps if you don't reassign the click buttons) and gives some exercise to your less used hand!
The problems you mention (as regarding formal code reviews) would tend to get compounded in pair programming - the main factor being - does the pair get along well enough to be able to work as an excellent team. Even if they can - you are really putting two resources where one (and some more) can get the basic job done. Pair programming is effectively replaced with a combination of good old fashioned mentoring and code reviews!
As the article claims - it does see a drop in employee attrition. There are some important points here (I work for an Indian IT company)
- There is a huge demand for s/w engineers out here in India - The average experience would be around 2-3 years - and the management effort needed to manage these relatively inexperienced folks is big. That's one of the challenges that all Indian IT companies are facing and that's the reason that they have to try new ways of motivating people to stay, motivating them to work harder, and listening to them (much needed). - These companies don't really have any assets (nor do they have any products) and people are their biggest assets! Because of all these reasons - these companies have to continuously innovate on the people management side of things.
An oh - did I mention - they have to keep attracting people - so there is a level of PR in this - no doubt!
Dell does research - but that is research that goes into improving a process (process innovation, if you will). You have to think of new things, new ways of doing things if you want to keep cutting costs - and that's what Dell does so well. So they are making products faster, better and cheaper!
Slashdot Mirror
Here's the link
http://mail.google.com/mail/help/customtime/index.html
I agree. Internet access has become a utility and should be treated as such.
Ideally it has to go the Electricity or Water way - pay for as much as you use...
Agree with you.
Also - suppose Nintendo wants to increase production - this would happen only by setting up new manufacturing / assembly plants (the cost involved - even if this is outsourced, would not be insignificant). If they do setup plants and manage to meet the demand - what happens if the demand falls (which it will, after the holiday season)?
Having a shortage, in this sense, is good from a perspective of
a.) free marketing by virtue of the coverage
b.) Keeping the supply demand curve in check till the next version is planned.
I guess there is an HBR case study in here somewhere...
No, seriously.
--
Finally a comment on the architecture of the whole thing (which, if anyone would have bothered to RTFA - wait am on Slashdot...). What is conspicuous by its absence is the lack of consideration of other Web Server technologies. I'm sure other technologies would have been considered - any Web Server architect worth his/her salt would surely have looked at alternate Apache/Linux or Apache/FreeBSD and other database technologies.
The comments on Slashdot definitely are going downhill.... Would have expected to see more on the analysis of the movement from ColdFusion to ASP.NET...
Why?
mp3 player - iPod - worth $250
Cell Phone with push email - worth $250
User Interface - priceless
Is this correct - AFAIK - Skype traffic from an Enterprise goes over https (at least the initial connection) - that, combined with seemingly random IP addresses makes it difficult to block Skype traffic. Am I missing something here?
Why don't you apply to an Indian IT Services Company? Work in India for sometime to get the critical experience you need. You obviously bring in much needed soft-skills (in addition to IT skills). Whatever said and done - India is a happening place - and it might do you good to check the scene out there...
Good point. Hypothetical question - Would you pay for mod points?
Every situation is different. There are reasons why priorities need to be changed and then again there are reasons why they should not be.
Agile allows you to deal with this on a more structured note. If you have really good people and really good project managers - you will get your work done - but if you don't - you need methodologies, - you need structure and you need to follow a certain set of rules/guidelines. If you don't - you rely on people being heroes and pulling stuff off (as in miracles).
Whether you need to be interrupted just so much depends on the scenario (as in there is an earthquake and you need to stop programming now Vs "can you get this photocopied, bound and at my desk in two hours").
I took over this project (maintenance kind of work) that was considered to be in the doldrums. The real reason - priority shifts happening all the time. There were bugs coming in every day, product managers asking for features to be tried out in patch releases, builds getting broken because someone somewhere tried something new.. and so on. I just had to apply some basic common sense - focus the team in one direction and handle the priority shifts- learning when to say no and when to change direction....
It all comes down to what you want to do for the next 5 years or so. What does your gut/intuition tell you (listen to it)!
The way I see it - your prime driving factor should be (all other things equal) - what is the experience you want to derive out of your job!
Having said that - I would say go to Google - they are at a point where you would gain the maximum amount of learning (read experience)...
What happens when the data is stolen from a country and sent to another country?
How do you contain that? Whom do you go after to get that data back?
Theft Happens! As long as there is some motive somewhere to do this - it will be done!
Let's face it - companies outsourcing to India have obviously taken a look at the legal implications (in terms of jurisdiction and a "if things go wrong scenario") - and these companies have not become big and successful by doing the wrong things! (Well one or two or ten maybe - but hundreds - I don't think so).
All this gets more coverage then it probably deserves because of obvious reasons! The world is becoming a more global place and people have to accept that. Indians have to accept that as well - and this is causing an amazing amount of contrast on an immediate basis (maybe things will get better as the overall economy improves).
Look at it at a Karmic level - and it just might make sense (that and a visit to India will help as well).
--
No Sig is Good Sig.
Ultimately it comes to down to open systems vs closed systems. Traditional telco vendors (carrier and enterprise) all had "closed" systems - propreitery hardware and operating systems and usually propreitery protocols. *ALL* of them are moving (or have moved) towards open systems (read Linux) - supporting standard protocols that other vendors/end users can (in theory) work with. If you look at any product or system - it ultimately has to move to towards an "open" system.
Would Skype be as successful if it had been based on SIP? Skype was a disruptive product and most disruptive products *have* been "closed" systems to begin with. This has to happen sooner or later - and Skype cannot shy away from that. Take a look at http://skypejournal.com/ this has an interesting comment on this.
I don't think this is evil and has anything to do with breaking or cracking something. (Is DVD John bad?) I think this is a good thing - systems have to be eventually open and good systems win on the merit of the quality, user experience and, of course, cost...
---
Sig fault and hence dumped
Agree - mod parent up. Switch your mousing hand - takes a week to get used to it (it helps if you don't reassign the click buttons) and gives some exercise to your less used hand!
The problems you mention (as regarding formal code reviews) would tend to get compounded in pair programming - the main factor being - does the pair get along well enough to be able to work as an excellent team. Even if they can - you are really putting two resources where one (and some more) can get the basic job done. Pair programming is effectively replaced with a combination of good old fashioned mentoring and code reviews!
--------------
As the article claims - it does see a drop in employee attrition. There are some important points here (I work for an Indian IT company)
- There is a huge demand for s/w engineers out here in India
- The average experience would be around 2-3 years - and the management effort needed to manage these relatively inexperienced folks is big. That's one of the challenges that all Indian IT companies are facing and that's the reason that they have to try new ways of motivating people to stay, motivating them to work harder, and listening to them (much needed).
- These companies don't really have any assets (nor do they have any products) and people are their biggest assets!
Because of all these reasons - these companies have to continuously innovate on the people management side of things.
An oh - did I mention - they have to keep attracting people - so there is a level of PR in this - no doubt!
Dell does research - but that is research that goes into improving a process (process innovation, if you will). You have to think of new things, new ways of doing things if you want to keep cutting costs - and that's what Dell does so well. So they are making products faster, better and cheaper!