Other screwed up industries?
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Christopher Duncan wrote: When I wrote Tribes, I gave it a broad appeal Yes and well done I may add. It applies very well. Christopher Duncan wrote: but it turned out to be incredibly stupid. Why do you say that? I disagree. Just as you point out in just about any technology industry the workers live in a "Dilbertesque" world. Christopher Duncan wrote: Are there any non tech industries that have to put up with the political and bureaucratic insanity that we face each week? Chris, you start by stating only programming and now you ask about non-technical. What scope are you looking for? Me (Aircraft manufacturing) or my wife (Retail clothing) or my daughter (public school system) or my best friend (criminal justice system)? I think your book Unite The Tribes fits them all. People are worried about their empires and me vs success of the team everywere. I do not mind getting old. It beats all the other options that can think of.
Michael A. Barnhart wrote: Chris, you start by stating only programming and now you ask about non-technical. What scope are you looking for? Well, I started with programmers just as a point of reference. The scope I'm looking for is basically "all of the above", i.e. all you mentioned and more. Basically, I'm trying to identify additional industries to speak to in the new column I'm working on so that I can locate their web sites, forums, trade magazines, etc. I think we fight problems that are common across industries, and that means a wider base of solutions that we can all use. I'd like to leverage that in what I'm writing. So, I thought I'd do some research up front and try to build a list of different types of business, such as the ones that you guys have suggested here. While I make money from books and such, I tend to distribute my columns for free. I guess you could look at it as giving a little back to the community, but frankly I have a much more selfish motivation. I get personal enjoyment from helping people improve their lives. It's kinda like playing gigs in a band - the more others are enjoying themselves, the more fun it is for you. So, the more industries the merrier, particularly since it gives me a wider perspective to apply to problem solving. And maybe, just a little, I'm reaching for that Holy Grail thing where the size and common interests of the group eventually gives its members power to create change for the better. Hey, I never said I wasn't an idealist, no matter how much I tease Paul... :-D Christopher Duncan Today's Corporate Battle Tactic Unite the Tribes: Ending Turf Wars for Career and Business Success The Career Programmer: Guerilla Tactics for an Imperfect World
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We all know that the programming world is a mess. We spend more time dealing with bureaucracy, marketing and office politics than we do coding, and it affects the quality of the work we're able to deliver, much to our chagrin. But what of other industries? Is there a pattern? When I wrote Tribes, I gave it a broad appeal because I knew that many other types of businesses faced the same thing we do - too much politics and other nonsense interfering with those of us who are trying to get the job done. I thought making it apply to all businesses was a good idea, but it turned out to be incredibly stupid. I can communicate with programmers through websites, trade magazines, conferences, etc. However, there are no such organizations for "applies to everyone". :doh: As I tried to think of other industries where people had to cope with the Dilbertesque reality that is the norm for all of us, I drew a complete blank. Figuring that you all have wives/husbands, girlfriends/boyfriends, friends, associates, most of whom don't work in IT, I thought I'd ask: What tales have you heard about other areas of the business world that suffer like we do? Are there any non tech industries that have to put up with the political and bureaucratic insanity that we face each week? I'm long overdue on a column I promised Chris :-O, but I need to find similar situations in other industries before I can tie it all together and make the points and suggestions that I have in mind. Parallel universes, anyone? :-D Christopher Duncan Today's Corporate Battle Tactic Unite the Tribes: Ending Turf Wars for Career and Business Success The Career Programmer: Guerilla Tactics for an Imperfect World
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Try practicising in the medical profession for a while. Here in Canada, it eventually drove my wife to go to work in private practice. She still has to deal with a lot of crazy bureaucracy, but at least it is on her own terms, most of the time. The happiest day of her professional life was her final day working at a hospital. She sees more patients and enjoys her work now more than ever. :) Chris Meech I am Canadian. [heard in a local bar] I think people should be required to have an operator's permit to use the internet. John Simmons
Easy to believe, man. I just went through some adventures with an injured shoulder where they tried to herd me into surgery because it was the profitable thing to do. For a true healer, like your wife, that's just gotta make you crazy... Christopher Duncan Today's Corporate Battle Tactic Unite the Tribes: Ending Turf Wars for Career and Business Success The Career Programmer: Guerilla Tactics for an Imperfect World
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When I wrote Tribes... When I first read this, I thought you'd written the GAME Tribes and I was going to bow down. --- "This isn't right. This isn't even wrong." -Wolfgang Pauli (1900 - 1958), on a paper submitted by a physicist colleague
J Hurrell wrote: I thought you'd written the GAME Tribes and I was going to bow down. No way, man. Books are easy. Game programming is guru level voodoo! :) Christopher Duncan Today's Corporate Battle Tactic Unite the Tribes: Ending Turf Wars for Career and Business Success The Career Programmer: Guerilla Tactics for an Imperfect World
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We all know that the programming world is a mess. We spend more time dealing with bureaucracy, marketing and office politics than we do coding, and it affects the quality of the work we're able to deliver, much to our chagrin. But what of other industries? Is there a pattern? When I wrote Tribes, I gave it a broad appeal because I knew that many other types of businesses faced the same thing we do - too much politics and other nonsense interfering with those of us who are trying to get the job done. I thought making it apply to all businesses was a good idea, but it turned out to be incredibly stupid. I can communicate with programmers through websites, trade magazines, conferences, etc. However, there are no such organizations for "applies to everyone". :doh: As I tried to think of other industries where people had to cope with the Dilbertesque reality that is the norm for all of us, I drew a complete blank. Figuring that you all have wives/husbands, girlfriends/boyfriends, friends, associates, most of whom don't work in IT, I thought I'd ask: What tales have you heard about other areas of the business world that suffer like we do? Are there any non tech industries that have to put up with the political and bureaucratic insanity that we face each week? I'm long overdue on a column I promised Chris :-O, but I need to find similar situations in other industries before I can tie it all together and make the points and suggestions that I have in mind. Parallel universes, anyone? :-D Christopher Duncan Today's Corporate Battle Tactic Unite the Tribes: Ending Turf Wars for Career and Business Success The Career Programmer: Guerilla Tactics for an Imperfect World
Christopher Duncan wrote: But what of other industries? Is there a pattern? Absolutely. At the school where my girlfriend worked once, they ignored her repeated requests to fix the heating/AC, sometimes both would go on at once!!!, and told her not to use too many paper towels (she worked in the Kindergarten!!!) to save money. Let's not even begin talking about dealing with health insurance claims. Now THERE's a screwed up industry, or outpatient clinics for that matter. The list goes on and on. Marc Microsoft MVP, Visual C# MyXaml MyXaml Blog
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J Hurrell wrote: I thought you'd written the GAME Tribes and I was going to bow down. No way, man. Books are easy. Game programming is guru level voodoo! :) Christopher Duncan Today's Corporate Battle Tactic Unite the Tribes: Ending Turf Wars for Career and Business Success The Career Programmer: Guerilla Tactics for an Imperfect World
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If you were the game author, I was going to send you money or something as thanks. --- "This isn't right. This isn't even wrong." -Wolfgang Pauli (1900 - 1958), on a paper submitted by a physicist colleague
J Hurrell wrote: If you were the game author, I was going to send you money Well, hey, don't let a little thing like details stop you... :-D Christopher Duncan Today's Corporate Battle Tactic Unite the Tribes: Ending Turf Wars for Career and Business Success The Career Programmer: Guerilla Tactics for an Imperfect World
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>> As I tried to think of other industries I think "Industries" is the key word here... I just doesn't matter... The Plan
"No matter where you go, there your are." - Buckaroo Banzai
-pete
Nice read thanks. :-) Regardz Colin J Davies
*** WARNING *
This could be addictive
**The minion's version of "Catch :bob: "It's a real shame that people as stupid as you can work out how to use a computer. said by Christian Graus in the Soapbox
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Christopher Duncan wrote: But what of other industries? Is there a pattern? Absolutely. At the school where my girlfriend worked once, they ignored her repeated requests to fix the heating/AC, sometimes both would go on at once!!!, and told her not to use too many paper towels (she worked in the Kindergarten!!!) to save money. Let's not even begin talking about dealing with health insurance claims. Now THERE's a screwed up industry, or outpatient clinics for that matter. The list goes on and on. Marc Microsoft MVP, Visual C# MyXaml MyXaml Blog
Marc Clifton wrote: The list goes on and on. Dig it... Christopher Duncan Today's Corporate Battle Tactic Unite the Tribes: Ending Turf Wars for Career and Business Success The Career Programmer: Guerilla Tactics for an Imperfect World
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Michael A. Barnhart wrote: Chris, you start by stating only programming and now you ask about non-technical. What scope are you looking for? Well, I started with programmers just as a point of reference. The scope I'm looking for is basically "all of the above", i.e. all you mentioned and more. Basically, I'm trying to identify additional industries to speak to in the new column I'm working on so that I can locate their web sites, forums, trade magazines, etc. I think we fight problems that are common across industries, and that means a wider base of solutions that we can all use. I'd like to leverage that in what I'm writing. So, I thought I'd do some research up front and try to build a list of different types of business, such as the ones that you guys have suggested here. While I make money from books and such, I tend to distribute my columns for free. I guess you could look at it as giving a little back to the community, but frankly I have a much more selfish motivation. I get personal enjoyment from helping people improve their lives. It's kinda like playing gigs in a band - the more others are enjoying themselves, the more fun it is for you. So, the more industries the merrier, particularly since it gives me a wider perspective to apply to problem solving. And maybe, just a little, I'm reaching for that Holy Grail thing where the size and common interests of the group eventually gives its members power to create change for the better. Hey, I never said I wasn't an idealist, no matter how much I tease Paul... :-D Christopher Duncan Today's Corporate Battle Tactic Unite the Tribes: Ending Turf Wars for Career and Business Success The Career Programmer: Guerilla Tactics for an Imperfect World
Well, like I said I think your Tribes book covers most of society not just software. So what are the common traits? I see the following 2 items as the most destructive elements across the industries my family is associated with. 1) The current status that nothing is ever anyone’s fault is one common problem. What this yields is you generate processes that any idiot can follow and any intelligent person finds stupid and offensive. This also is a breading ground for the bureaucratic mess you describe so it must be good! 2) People tend to only look at their own little silos versus the good of the enterprise no matter what industry you are in. They think they are either making themselves more powerful or more protected but the end result is the same. You have more infighting then productivity. I think I can apply all of these to software, education, retail sales, or the criminal system. I hope you understand hesitancy to share real examples as I am not quite ready to retire. So my vote is something that address one of these topics. I do not mind getting old. It beats all the other options that can think of.
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Nice read thanks. :-) Regardz Colin J Davies
*** WARNING *
This could be addictive
**The minion's version of "Catch :bob: "It's a real shame that people as stupid as you can work out how to use a computer. said by Christian Graus in the Soapbox
Sure. It's a classic and one of my top ten favorites. Here is another:
> A man is flying in a hot air balloon and realizes he is lost. He
reduces height and spots a man down below. He lowers the balloon
further and shouts:"Excuse me, can you tell me where I am?"
The man below says, "Yes, you're in a hot air balloon, hovering 30
feet above this field.""You must work in information technology" says the balloonist.
"I do," replies the man. "How did you know."
"Well," says the balloonist, "everything you have told me is
technically correct, but it's no use to anyone."The man below says, "You must be a corporate manager."
"I am," replies the balloonist, "but how did you know?"
"Well", says the man, "you don't know where you are, or where you're
going, but you expect me to be able to help. You're in the same
position you were before we met, but now it's my fault.""No matter where you go, there your are." - Buckaroo Banzai
-pete
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Well, like I said I think your Tribes book covers most of society not just software. So what are the common traits? I see the following 2 items as the most destructive elements across the industries my family is associated with. 1) The current status that nothing is ever anyone’s fault is one common problem. What this yields is you generate processes that any idiot can follow and any intelligent person finds stupid and offensive. This also is a breading ground for the bureaucratic mess you describe so it must be good! 2) People tend to only look at their own little silos versus the good of the enterprise no matter what industry you are in. They think they are either making themselves more powerful or more protected but the end result is the same. You have more infighting then productivity. I think I can apply all of these to software, education, retail sales, or the criminal system. I hope you understand hesitancy to share real examples as I am not quite ready to retire. So my vote is something that address one of these topics. I do not mind getting old. It beats all the other options that can think of.
Michael A. Barnhart wrote: I hope you understand hesitancy to share real examples as I am not quite ready to retire. :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: I can dig it, man. I agree with your observations wholeheartedly. What I'm trying to do at this point is compile a list of explicit business categories, from which I can then compile a list of web sites, trade magazines, etc. I knew I could count on people like you! Christopher Duncan Today's Corporate Battle Tactic Unite the Tribes: Ending Turf Wars for Career and Business Success The Career Programmer: Guerilla Tactics for an Imperfect World