Why can't people do their job?

[jmiller_2308]

Re: Why can't people do there job?

How is it that they have not been fired?
Even the union shops I've been in would have fired people with that kind of attendance record.

Because you don't understand the nature of the work. And a coworker who does not pal around with these people have no idea of what they are doing.
The computer field is not like a factory worker who can only work in the shop. Not like a construction job where you have to be there, but can be a bit more efficient than the next guy.
Even managers. I had one that if it was a beautiful, quiet day, would take off to play golf while the grunts had their work to do, and bitching was their biggest task if you heard them complain. Finally I told them that he had worked 16 hrs over the beautiful weekend when they were out enjoying themselves and not working. And him taking 4 hours wasn't much compensation. And how did I know that? Because I also had worked, just not as long. They still bitched.

Actually I think Diesel Dan has the right attitude and that the real issue in the computer industry is that people are salaried instead of hourly which makes the managers job a bit more difficult. That said, managers should know what their people are doing and they themselves should be held accountable when projects aren't brought in on time. They aren't, nobody gets fired, and like Diesel Dan I don't get it.

Volleyball, I think what you are saying was true when I got in this industry but for at least the last 10 years things have changed. There are still pockets of innovation and true invention but in reality most software development really is more like a manufacturing line than art. I blame the internet, GUI tools, and game manufactures for the dearth of worthless worker bees that if you didn't hold their hands probably couldn't do anything other than send a text on their phone.

As for the working weekends and long hours, that too is something that I see only happening by a few heros. For example, we have a product where it was "code complete" in November and it is just now at a point where it can mostly pass testing and is headed for release. There were a dozen or so must fix issues that the top management asked people to fix and to put in time over the weekend if necessary. Guess what, nobody came in, nobody got fired, product is probably going to get delayed for at least another week.

This is not unique to the computer industry as comments in this thread show it clearly exists in the trades as well. I would venture to say that it is an issue prevalent in today's society. Perhaps our society is just in the stages of ancient rome as it crumbled into oblivion.

 

[volleyball]

Top management didn't have a problem or somebody head would have rolled. But didn't. Most likely it was the same must meet deadline that those reality shows all have.
Not real.
You may have a terrible shop. I cannot say. I am just going by what I see in general. What I wonder is if you are that more productive than all your coworkers, one of two things happen. You either get paid substantially more or you find a substantially better paying job elsewhere. If you have project management skills, maybe your boss could create a new better paying position if he is not able to manage current code so they are *********** him, it would be in his best interest.

 

[Jinks]

Re: Why can't people do there job?

I wrote and addendum to the contract that included a "performance clause".

If it is not in writing, it hasn't been said !

Did this 30 years ago in a contract to replace windows in a house I owned. The two week start date changed to six weeks by the time they agreed to the addendum. Six weeks later I took a day off work for them to do the install. They showed up at noon with an excuse, half my windows, & my deposit. I took the deposit & ran 'em off. For the next four years I'd see 'em at the local Home & Garden Show. I'd wait till they had a crowd listenin' to their spiel, then go up & ask what they did with the windows they never put in my house. The crowd would disappear, & they'd close the booth till I left. I really enjoyed those shows!......

 

[toyoguy81]

you know a contractor is a con with a tractor

lololol

 

[Blue]

Re: Why can't people do there job?

In my experience as a commercial construction manager, there are four classifications of contractor that the majority of contracting businesses will fit into.

Beer Money Contractors: (Surprisingly Common) Generally independent contractors who show up long enough to earn beer money then disappear. A lot of these guys seem to own a piece of machinery enabling them to earn a decent wage but once they hit the threshold they are gone for the rest of the month.

Professional Independent Contractors: (Fairly Rare) Independents who show up and do a good job. A few of these will remain as independents, either because they are poor managers or simply don't want to have to take on employees. Most, to support their success, will form small companies. Those who stay independent will remain busy supporting a small number of regular customers. They aren't generally looking for work.

Small Residential Contractors: (Fairly Common) These are the successful and / or ambitious Independent Contractors who have taken on employees and grown. They have figured out how to buy insurance and all the other parts that make a company official. Some will be successful managers, many will not. Success as an independent contractor is by no means a guarantee of success as a Small Residential Contractor. Employees, as mentioned above, are a big variable. Again, the guys who do it well will typically be kept fairly busy by a handful of customers.

Commercial Contractors: (Common) Turns out residential (private) customers are kind of difficult to work for and will frequently select the lowest bid without any thought to what they are buying. For the successful Small Residential Contractors who have figured out insurance and management, the jump to commercial contractor is often a no-brainer; fewer headaches and less competition from smaller contractors who seem to have no idea how to price a job. If work gets slow, they can always take on a job for a private customer but it will often be a customer they already have some connection to. Commercial insurance is more expensive so it pretty well takes them out of competition in the residential market.

Unfortunately what that means for the majority of us, who are opening up the yellow pages to find a contractor for a one time project, is we are pretty much out of luck. You have to do your homework. The good guys who are interested in our work and will do a good job, are far outnumbered by the guys who are only interested in a check.

Great list, and very true, in my experience.

Honestly, if you're a homeowner who wants work done, I've found you really gotta work at finding the right people. Word of mouth always seemed to work the best. The dudes who can get the job done right, on time, and on budget are busy enough that they don't need to advertise, and they can pick and choose which jobs to take.