Re: Timeless Classics of Software Engineering
From: Nick Landsberg <SPAMhukolauTRAP_at_SPAMworldnetTRAP.att.net>
Date: Sun, 01 Aug 2004 03:33:20 GMT
Message-ID: <4wZOc.363590$Gx4.77588_at_bgtnsc04-news.ops.worldnet.att.net>
>
>
> I think this is because one can easily understand the high-level,
> abstract description (or executive summary) of what has to be done.
> If one makes the mistake of thinking that that is all there is to the
> work, one gets the above effect. The same mistake is not made in an
> area that one is proficient in, because one knows about the
> difficulties.
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Gene Wirchenko
>
Date: Sun, 01 Aug 2004 03:33:20 GMT
Message-ID: <4wZOc.363590$Gx4.77588_at_bgtnsc04-news.ops.worldnet.att.net>
Gene Wirchenko wrote:
> Nick Landsberg <SPAMhukolauTRAP_at_SPAMworldnetTRAP.att.net> wrote:
>
> [snip]
>
>
>>It seems there's a normal human attitude that >>"the other guy's job is easier," so we tend to >>underestimate the effort involved in those >>areas where we don't have expertise. Or, more >>precisely, we underestimate the level of experience needed >>to be reasonably adroit with a certain >>"thing" (database/compiler/linker, to use your >>examples).
>
>
> I think this is because one can easily understand the high-level,
> abstract description (or executive summary) of what has to be done.
> If one makes the mistake of thinking that that is all there is to the
> work, one gets the above effect. The same mistake is not made in an
> area that one is proficient in, because one knows about the
> difficulties.
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Gene Wirchenko
>
Good point, Gene.
The corollary to your observation would be that since management only ever reads executive summaries, they presume all tasks are relatively trivial and can be outsourced.
(But that's a subject for a different thread and which has been rehashed many times over in various newsgroups.)
NPL
-- "It is impossible to make anything foolproof because fools are so ingenious" - A. BlochReceived on Sun Aug 01 2004 - 05:33:20 CEST