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  3. "Every time a marketer is forced to wait for a developer to launch a campaign, a kitten dies"

"Every time a marketer is forced to wait for a developer to launch a campaign, a kitten dies"

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  • P PIEBALDconsult

    His specific compaints are better directed at management, not the developers.

    A Offline
    A Offline
    Alaric_
    wrote on last edited by
    #8

    In my experience, most marketers think that managers do everything; there are no developers. Marketer gives requirements to a manager, that manager goes off and "makes it happen", and the details just aren't important enough for them to care.

    "I need build Skynet. Plz send code"

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    • A Alaric_

      In my experience, most marketers think that managers do everything; there are no developers. Marketer gives requirements to a manager, that manager goes off and "makes it happen", and the details just aren't important enough for them to care.

      "I need build Skynet. Plz send code"

      P Offline
      P Offline
      PIEBALDconsult
      wrote on last edited by
      #9

      Unless management passes the blame on to the developers.

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      • K Kevin Priddle

        Ever been told to "get out of the way" by your marketing dept? Thought you all might get a good chuckle from this... Power To The Marketer[^] :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

        V Offline
        V Offline
        Vark111
        wrote on last edited by
        #10

        His underlying point is valid, but he's pointing his finger at the wrong party. If your company's CMS requires development efforts to do something new, but Wordpress doesn't, then that's the company's fault for trying to roll something that an off the shelf solution already has. What does this guy think is going to happen if he needs a feature that doesn't exist in Worpress? He's going to have to wait for developers. In this case, Wordpress developers. Companies expect world-class software from devs paid at third-world rates. Not gonna happen.

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        • V Vark111

          His underlying point is valid, but he's pointing his finger at the wrong party. If your company's CMS requires development efforts to do something new, but Wordpress doesn't, then that's the company's fault for trying to roll something that an off the shelf solution already has. What does this guy think is going to happen if he needs a feature that doesn't exist in Worpress? He's going to have to wait for developers. In this case, Wordpress developers. Companies expect world-class software from devs paid at third-world rates. Not gonna happen.

          P Offline
          P Offline
          PIEBALDconsult
          wrote on last edited by
          #11

          Exactly. Or the off-the-shelf product won't integrate with the new application. "Sure, we can install that CMS, but it'll be empty unless you tell us how to feed data into it." It's likely that marketers and salesmen only listen to other marketers and salesmen -- who all say that their product can do everything "right out of the box".

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          • K Kevin Priddle

            Ever been told to "get out of the way" by your marketing dept? Thought you all might get a good chuckle from this... Power To The Marketer[^] :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

            Mike HankeyM Offline
            Mike HankeyM Offline
            Mike Hankey
            wrote on last edited by
            #12

            All those poor dead kitties...that's all I'll say, it wouldn't be KSS.

            Have you ever just looked at someone and knew the wheel was turning but the hamster was dead? Trying to understand the behavior of some people is like trying to smell the color 9.

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            • K Kevin Priddle

              Ever been told to "get out of the way" by your marketing dept? Thought you all might get a good chuckle from this... Power To The Marketer[^] :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

              D Offline
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              Duncan Edwards Jones
              wrote on last edited by
              #13

              I have bought a kitten and am going to make it wait for me...there's no reason why this should work in reciprocal, but it's worth a try.

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              • D Duncan Edwards Jones

                I have bought a kitten and am going to make it wait for me...there's no reason why this should work in reciprocal, but it's worth a try.

                P Offline
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                PIEBALDconsult
                wrote on last edited by
                #14

                :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

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                • A Alaric_

                  [Marketers] must run experiments, tag, and track new events all the time. They can’t afford to wait for a developer to tweak a graph in the dashboard. [Marketers] need data, and they need it now.

                  so...yeah. That's killer logic right there. "We need data! Data! Data! Data! And we don't have time to wait for anyone to make it available for us!!!" In general, marketers need to get over themselves that they may be the ones that determine the criteria for information (in the hierarchy of signals: noise->data->information->knowledge->wisdom) but "give me all the things and give them to me now" is not a reasonable request from marketing. I can dump a log and I can spool every message that has passed through the queue pretty easily and you can spend 3 months looking for a needle in a haystack that will mean nothing to you by the time you find it. OR, you can know your place, leave the data analysis and software development to professionals, provide me requirements, and then I will deliver your information to you. It's kind of cliché, but you don't see business passengers interfering with aerospace engineers trying to modify their designs of an airplane "I need to get to my destination faster and I need the plane built quicker. Chop chop chop!" The paradox of our profession is that we're supposed to make it look easy for someone like a marketer to procure the things they need to perform in their role. There is no physical product being delivered; no planes to fall from the sky, no buildings to topple over, "just" software. So its importance and complexity gets trivialized by neophytes that think they know better. Bad Marketer. Bad.

                  "I need build Skynet. Plz send code"

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                  J Offline
                  JimmyRopes
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #15

                  Alaric_ wrote:

                  "We need data! Data! Data! Data! And we don't have time to wait for anyone to make it available for us!!!" ... "give me all the things and give them to me now"

                  Alaric_ wrote:

                  I can dump a log and I can spool every message that has passed through the queue pretty easily

                  I don't see the problem here. Dump the log and say here is all the data. I'll have more for you as it comes in. :-D

                  **_Once you lose your pride the rest is easy.

                  I would agree with you but then we both would be wrong._**
                  The report of my death was an exaggeration - Mark Twain Simply Elegant Designs JimmyRopes Designs
                  I'm on-line therefore I am. JimmyRopes

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                  • P PIEBALDconsult

                    Exactly. Or the off-the-shelf product won't integrate with the new application. "Sure, we can install that CMS, but it'll be empty unless you tell us how to feed data into it." It's likely that marketers and salesmen only listen to other marketers and salesmen -- who all say that their product can do everything "right out of the box".

                    J Offline
                    J Offline
                    JimmyRopes
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #16

                    PIEBALDconsult wrote:

                    Exactly. Or the off-the-shelf product won't integrate with the new application. "Sure, we can install that CMS, but it'll be empty unless you tell us how to feed data into it."

                    Let the marketers feed new information into it. When they realize that the off the shelf application doesn't let them customize the product they will either have to live with it or request (pay for) an in house solution. :doh:

                    **_Once you lose your pride the rest is easy.

                    I would agree with you but then we both would be wrong._**
                    The report of my death was an exaggeration - Mark Twain Simply Elegant Designs JimmyRopes Designs
                    I'm on-line therefore I am. JimmyRopes

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                    • P PIEBALDconsult

                      Exactly. Or the off-the-shelf product won't integrate with the new application. "Sure, we can install that CMS, but it'll be empty unless you tell us how to feed data into it." It's likely that marketers and salesmen only listen to other marketers and salesmen -- who all say that their product can do everything "right out of the box".

                      J Offline
                      J Offline
                      JimmyRopes
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #17

                      PIEBALDconsult wrote:

                      Or the off-the-shelf product won't integrate with the new application. "Sure, we can install that CMS, but it'll be empty unless you tell us how to feed data into it."

                      Let the marketers feed new information into it. When they realize that the off the shelf application doesn't let them customize the product they will either have to live with it or request (pay for) an in house solution. :doh:

                      **_Once you lose your pride the rest is easy.

                      I would agree with you but then we both would be wrong._**
                      The report of my death was an exaggeration - Mark Twain Simply Elegant Designs JimmyRopes Designs
                      I'm on-line therefore I am. JimmyRopes

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                      • K Kevin Priddle

                        Ever been told to "get out of the way" by your marketing dept? Thought you all might get a good chuckle from this... Power To The Marketer[^] :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

                        S Offline
                        S Offline
                        Super Lloyd
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #18

                        Not quite sure what he means... But I agree wholeheartedly, marketing department should not be stopped by pesky things, such as reality checks! ;P

                        My programming get away... The Blog... DirectX for WinRT/C# since 2013! Taking over the world since 1371!

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                        • S Super Lloyd

                          Not quite sure what he means... But I agree wholeheartedly, marketing department should not be stopped by pesky things, such as reality checks! ;P

                          My programming get away... The Blog... DirectX for WinRT/C# since 2013! Taking over the world since 1371!

                          S Offline
                          S Offline
                          Simon ORiordan from UK
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #19

                          The really dangerous marketers are the ones that know the way to R&D and talk to us; if you're foolish enough to tell them about your latest blue sky project, they want, want, want, and pretty soon it's on the list of future features before you even get past feasibility. :doh:

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                          • S Simon ORiordan from UK

                            The really dangerous marketers are the ones that know the way to R&D and talk to us; if you're foolish enough to tell them about your latest blue sky project, they want, want, want, and pretty soon it's on the list of future features before you even get past feasibility. :doh:

                            S Offline
                            S Offline
                            Super Lloyd
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #20

                            it's already sold to 10 customers for 1 million each! :laugh:

                            My programming get away... The Blog... DirectX for WinRT/C# since 2013! Taking over the world since 1371!

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                            • J JimmyRopes

                              PIEBALDconsult wrote:

                              Or the off-the-shelf product won't integrate with the new application. "Sure, we can install that CMS, but it'll be empty unless you tell us how to feed data into it."

                              Let the marketers feed new information into it. When they realize that the off the shelf application doesn't let them customize the product they will either have to live with it or request (pay for) an in house solution. :doh:

                              **_Once you lose your pride the rest is easy.

                              I would agree with you but then we both would be wrong._**
                              The report of my death was an exaggeration - Mark Twain Simply Elegant Designs JimmyRopes Designs
                              I'm on-line therefore I am. JimmyRopes

                              H Offline
                              H Offline
                              Herbie Mountjoy
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #21

                              As one client told me, "it's only rules. All you have to do is change the rules." Oops! There goes another kitty.

                              I may not last forever but the mess I leave behind certainly will.

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                              • K Kevin Priddle

                                Ever been told to "get out of the way" by your marketing dept? Thought you all might get a good chuckle from this... Power To The Marketer[^] :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

                                G Offline
                                G Offline
                                Gary Wheeler
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #22

                                Too bad it's not "every time a kitten is forced to wait for a developer to feed it, a marketer dies."

                                Software Zen: delete this;

                                S 1 Reply Last reply
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                                • A Andy Brummer

                                  The kitten thing might be hyperbole, but I've got to agree with everything else in that article. Plus, who wants to be the guy stuck with maintaining some lame thrown together in house CMS system.

                                  Curvature of the Mind now with 3D

                                  L Offline
                                  L Offline
                                  loctrice
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #23

                                  I would agree as well. However, it's not that way working in smaller companies. What tends to happen is they read about something that sounds great, then you have to show them how to use it. When they can't figure something out, you have to learn that feature. Then, when something either is missing or happens to not "work correctly" you are expected to "patch" the third party program they've adopted. Also, I find it difficult to get management to buy tools. Especially if they believe it's cheaper just to "write something real quick" instead of pay the fees for third party stuff. Overall though, I agree with what the guy is saying. I think if people spent more time using things that are already available it would be good for everyone. Not only would we not have to write stuff that already exists, but I think users would become more accustom to software as a whole... which would help us/me in the long run.

                                  Elephant elephant elephant, sunshine sunshine sunshine

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                                  • K Kevin Priddle

                                    Ever been told to "get out of the way" by your marketing dept? Thought you all might get a good chuckle from this... Power To The Marketer[^] :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

                                    T Offline
                                    T Offline
                                    Tomz_KV
                                    wrote on last edited by
                                    #24

                                    Not only marketers, everyone waits for a developer. The director of an internet publishing dept told me that his dept was in fact the corporate communication center. He had to participate in almost every meeting in the corporation.

                                    TOMZ_KV

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                                    • L loctrice

                                      I would agree as well. However, it's not that way working in smaller companies. What tends to happen is they read about something that sounds great, then you have to show them how to use it. When they can't figure something out, you have to learn that feature. Then, when something either is missing or happens to not "work correctly" you are expected to "patch" the third party program they've adopted. Also, I find it difficult to get management to buy tools. Especially if they believe it's cheaper just to "write something real quick" instead of pay the fees for third party stuff. Overall though, I agree with what the guy is saying. I think if people spent more time using things that are already available it would be good for everyone. Not only would we not have to write stuff that already exists, but I think users would become more accustom to software as a whole... which would help us/me in the long run.

                                      Elephant elephant elephant, sunshine sunshine sunshine

                                      A Offline
                                      A Offline
                                      Andy Brummer
                                      wrote on last edited by
                                      #25

                                      I work in a medium size foundation, there are about 80 people spread around the globe and I've worked in a startup of about 25 people, and haven't had that problem, but both places focused on hiring smart technical people across the board. For my current job, we have a really solid breakdown of things that are unique to the mission of the foundation, things that directly support the mission, and everything else. We build custom software for the unique things, and then buy software for the others, which is working out well.

                                      Curvature of the Mind now with 3D

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                                      • H Herbie Mountjoy

                                        As one client told me, "it's only rules. All you have to do is change the rules." Oops! There goes another kitty.

                                        I may not last forever but the mess I leave behind certainly will.

                                        J Offline
                                        J Offline
                                        JimmyRopes
                                        wrote on last edited by
                                        #26

                                        If they bought some off the shelf system have them deal with customer support. :doh:

                                        **_Once you lose your pride the rest is easy.

                                        I would agree with you but then we both would be wrong._**
                                        The report of my death was an exaggeration - Mark Twain Simply Elegant Designs JimmyRopes Designs
                                        I'm on-line therefore I am. JimmyRopes

                                        1 Reply Last reply
                                        0
                                        • K Kevin Priddle

                                          Ever been told to "get out of the way" by your marketing dept? Thought you all might get a good chuckle from this... Power To The Marketer[^] :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

                                          K Offline
                                          K Offline
                                          Kirk 10389821
                                          wrote on last edited by
                                          #27

                                          Wow, I was hoping this kind of stuff was stopping, not getting worse. While some of the points are not so far out there, the level of insanity is quite high. It reminded me of an interview for a lead developer position. The company was behind schedule, it was all the developers fault, of course. They were hiring me to get them over the hump and lead things better after that. But get this. They bought a Major Ad spot in 3 magazines, that were going to start the next month. They were clearly 90 days behind being able to do this. Lets just say... I didn't take the job. I ran from that interview. And the funny part, is that on another team, I had a marketing guy pull me and and write on MY Whiteboard: Product - Sales = Shht! (without the typo) So I wrote up there: Sales - Product = Fraud! After a short while of talking it out, we got each other, and it all went quite well after that. He agreed to not market what we don't have, and I agreed to push for ONE "MARKETING" feature per quarter to make it in the software.

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