I have joined the ranks...
-
He wasn't listening until their lawyers started to phone him every 5 minutes and then he got scared and did what they told him... I am not sure I can really blame him for giving in...
As has been said, the thing is that it proves nothing and makes him hate them. Not a smart move. I would have complied too, but I would certainly have planned a sweet revenge. I don't mind getting fired ( that is to say it would not put me into revenge mode by default ), but I wouldn't sit for that sort of treatment - no way. Christian I have come to clean zee pooollll. - Michael Martin Dec 30, 2001
Sonork ID 100.10002:MeanManOz
I live in Bob's HungOut now
-
...of the unemployed. Oh, let me tell ya... <vent> The higher-ups decided to kill our product, for valid reasons: it wasn't selling. The reasons it wasn't selling were pretty obvious to everyone: our competition was ahead of us because we were missing features. But why were we missing features? A few years ago we had all the features and a better design than all the others. Time passed, and the competition caught and passed us. But, instead of putting our efforts into catching up (which wouldn't have been impossible), our division was told by the higher-ups that the "web" was the future (for all applications), and we had to "put the app on the web" - even though they had no idea as to what "put it on the web" involved (security, scalability, I.T., support, etc.). So, our team grew as we geared up for the massive undertaking. 15 developers spent a full year trying to port a monolithic (10MB EXE) desktop app to the web. And we got within a month or two of completing it. But in the meantime, the desktop app withered: no new features, no new releases. Sales dried up. Because web product wasn't done, there were no sales there either. So our division was cut. It's a reasonable business decision, I don't deny that. But who took it in the ass for this mistake? Not the people who decided to "put it on the web" at the expense of the desktop. No, it was the people who actually did the work - the programmers, designers, customer support and sales people. Management, the people who made the fatal decision, just lowered their eyes as we were led to a conference room and were given our severance packages - told that tomorrow would be our last day. Yet when we returned to our desks to pick up our stuff - we found our computers had been wiped and our accounts disabled. I threw the only copy of the application spec (no electronic version exists) in the trash, on my way out. As I was driving home, NPR was talking about the 35,000 people who are getting laid-off at Ford. I was crushed, thinking of how much pain, anger and sorrow that must add up to. </vent> Anyway. Now I have some time to work on my own stuff . Fuck corporate America. -c
THAT SUX BIG TIME Chris !! I know it'll hurt for a while, but hopefully you'll find a job quickly, that pays you what you're worth (as if any company could actually pay you that much, but hey, 1/2 that much would still be a fortune :) ) Take some time out to smell the roses, get your breath back, lick your wounds etc Good luck & hope to see you around CP Garth
-
...of the unemployed. Oh, let me tell ya... <vent> The higher-ups decided to kill our product, for valid reasons: it wasn't selling. The reasons it wasn't selling were pretty obvious to everyone: our competition was ahead of us because we were missing features. But why were we missing features? A few years ago we had all the features and a better design than all the others. Time passed, and the competition caught and passed us. But, instead of putting our efforts into catching up (which wouldn't have been impossible), our division was told by the higher-ups that the "web" was the future (for all applications), and we had to "put the app on the web" - even though they had no idea as to what "put it on the web" involved (security, scalability, I.T., support, etc.). So, our team grew as we geared up for the massive undertaking. 15 developers spent a full year trying to port a monolithic (10MB EXE) desktop app to the web. And we got within a month or two of completing it. But in the meantime, the desktop app withered: no new features, no new releases. Sales dried up. Because web product wasn't done, there were no sales there either. So our division was cut. It's a reasonable business decision, I don't deny that. But who took it in the ass for this mistake? Not the people who decided to "put it on the web" at the expense of the desktop. No, it was the people who actually did the work - the programmers, designers, customer support and sales people. Management, the people who made the fatal decision, just lowered their eyes as we were led to a conference room and were given our severance packages - told that tomorrow would be our last day. Yet when we returned to our desks to pick up our stuff - we found our computers had been wiped and our accounts disabled. I threw the only copy of the application spec (no electronic version exists) in the trash, on my way out. As I was driving home, NPR was talking about the 35,000 people who are getting laid-off at Ford. I was crushed, thinking of how much pain, anger and sorrow that must add up to. </vent> Anyway. Now I have some time to work on my own stuff . Fuck corporate America. -c
I'm very sorry to hear that Chris. :( Jon Sagara What about :bob:? "Teve Torbes, I've only got one thing to say to you: Tuck Off!" -- Dob Bole
-
He wasn't listening until their lawyers started to phone him every 5 minutes and then he got scared and did what they told him... I am not sure I can really blame him for giving in...
Damnation! This will only get him pissed off, won't it? Christian is right. If it was me, I'd have gone into revenge mode. Nish Sonork ID 100.9786 voidmain www.busterboy.org If you don't find me on CP, I'll be at Bob's HungOut
-
Damnation! This will only get him pissed off, won't it? Christian is right. If it was me, I'd have gone into revenge mode. Nish Sonork ID 100.9786 voidmain www.busterboy.org If you don't find me on CP, I'll be at Bob's HungOut
Yes, but how much can you really do to a company as big as a country?
-
...of the unemployed. Oh, let me tell ya... <vent> The higher-ups decided to kill our product, for valid reasons: it wasn't selling. The reasons it wasn't selling were pretty obvious to everyone: our competition was ahead of us because we were missing features. But why were we missing features? A few years ago we had all the features and a better design than all the others. Time passed, and the competition caught and passed us. But, instead of putting our efforts into catching up (which wouldn't have been impossible), our division was told by the higher-ups that the "web" was the future (for all applications), and we had to "put the app on the web" - even though they had no idea as to what "put it on the web" involved (security, scalability, I.T., support, etc.). So, our team grew as we geared up for the massive undertaking. 15 developers spent a full year trying to port a monolithic (10MB EXE) desktop app to the web. And we got within a month or two of completing it. But in the meantime, the desktop app withered: no new features, no new releases. Sales dried up. Because web product wasn't done, there were no sales there either. So our division was cut. It's a reasonable business decision, I don't deny that. But who took it in the ass for this mistake? Not the people who decided to "put it on the web" at the expense of the desktop. No, it was the people who actually did the work - the programmers, designers, customer support and sales people. Management, the people who made the fatal decision, just lowered their eyes as we were led to a conference room and were given our severance packages - told that tomorrow would be our last day. Yet when we returned to our desks to pick up our stuff - we found our computers had been wiped and our accounts disabled. I threw the only copy of the application spec (no electronic version exists) in the trash, on my way out. As I was driving home, NPR was talking about the 35,000 people who are getting laid-off at Ford. I was crushed, thinking of how much pain, anger and sorrow that must add up to. </vent> Anyway. Now I have some time to work on my own stuff . Fuck corporate America. -c
Man, that sucks. I was in your shoes about a year and a half ago as the .com industry was just starting to crumble. It was not a pretty sight, especially since I had no money in the bank and tons of bills. Luckily I was able to get another job two weeks later. I hope you at least have some money saved up so you can hang on till something good comes your way. Best of luck! Alvaro
-
...of the unemployed. Oh, let me tell ya... <vent> The higher-ups decided to kill our product, for valid reasons: it wasn't selling. The reasons it wasn't selling were pretty obvious to everyone: our competition was ahead of us because we were missing features. But why were we missing features? A few years ago we had all the features and a better design than all the others. Time passed, and the competition caught and passed us. But, instead of putting our efforts into catching up (which wouldn't have been impossible), our division was told by the higher-ups that the "web" was the future (for all applications), and we had to "put the app on the web" - even though they had no idea as to what "put it on the web" involved (security, scalability, I.T., support, etc.). So, our team grew as we geared up for the massive undertaking. 15 developers spent a full year trying to port a monolithic (10MB EXE) desktop app to the web. And we got within a month or two of completing it. But in the meantime, the desktop app withered: no new features, no new releases. Sales dried up. Because web product wasn't done, there were no sales there either. So our division was cut. It's a reasonable business decision, I don't deny that. But who took it in the ass for this mistake? Not the people who decided to "put it on the web" at the expense of the desktop. No, it was the people who actually did the work - the programmers, designers, customer support and sales people. Management, the people who made the fatal decision, just lowered their eyes as we were led to a conference room and were given our severance packages - told that tomorrow would be our last day. Yet when we returned to our desks to pick up our stuff - we found our computers had been wiped and our accounts disabled. I threw the only copy of the application spec (no electronic version exists) in the trash, on my way out. As I was driving home, NPR was talking about the 35,000 people who are getting laid-off at Ford. I was crushed, thinking of how much pain, anger and sorrow that must add up to. </vent> Anyway. Now I have some time to work on my own stuff . Fuck corporate America. -c
-
...of the unemployed. Oh, let me tell ya... <vent> The higher-ups decided to kill our product, for valid reasons: it wasn't selling. The reasons it wasn't selling were pretty obvious to everyone: our competition was ahead of us because we were missing features. But why were we missing features? A few years ago we had all the features and a better design than all the others. Time passed, and the competition caught and passed us. But, instead of putting our efforts into catching up (which wouldn't have been impossible), our division was told by the higher-ups that the "web" was the future (for all applications), and we had to "put the app on the web" - even though they had no idea as to what "put it on the web" involved (security, scalability, I.T., support, etc.). So, our team grew as we geared up for the massive undertaking. 15 developers spent a full year trying to port a monolithic (10MB EXE) desktop app to the web. And we got within a month or two of completing it. But in the meantime, the desktop app withered: no new features, no new releases. Sales dried up. Because web product wasn't done, there were no sales there either. So our division was cut. It's a reasonable business decision, I don't deny that. But who took it in the ass for this mistake? Not the people who decided to "put it on the web" at the expense of the desktop. No, it was the people who actually did the work - the programmers, designers, customer support and sales people. Management, the people who made the fatal decision, just lowered their eyes as we were led to a conference room and were given our severance packages - told that tomorrow would be our last day. Yet when we returned to our desks to pick up our stuff - we found our computers had been wiped and our accounts disabled. I threw the only copy of the application spec (no electronic version exists) in the trash, on my way out. As I was driving home, NPR was talking about the 35,000 people who are getting laid-off at Ford. I was crushed, thinking of how much pain, anger and sorrow that must add up to. </vent> Anyway. Now I have some time to work on my own stuff . Fuck corporate America. -c
Crap. I feel for you, Chris. It's an ugly feeling, isn't it? I was laid off in '92, and I haven't had a decent job offer since. I was, for a time, over-qualified. Now I'm out of date. Can't win. What the hell, no one hires an engineer over 40 anyway, so I've pretty much given up trying. But you're young, your skills are current, and there are some good indicators that the market is recovering from its slump! Update the ol' resume and hit the streets, before depression and fatalism set in and paralyze you. It's not fair, what they did to you - get over it and move on. You're perfectly able to not only replace them, but better your position - get out there and do it. Good luck to you - don't let this glitch get you down! Life, as well as software, has bugs. I can't give you a recipe for success, but I can give you one for failure - Don't try. Works every time...
-
...of the unemployed. Oh, let me tell ya... <vent> The higher-ups decided to kill our product, for valid reasons: it wasn't selling. The reasons it wasn't selling were pretty obvious to everyone: our competition was ahead of us because we were missing features. But why were we missing features? A few years ago we had all the features and a better design than all the others. Time passed, and the competition caught and passed us. But, instead of putting our efforts into catching up (which wouldn't have been impossible), our division was told by the higher-ups that the "web" was the future (for all applications), and we had to "put the app on the web" - even though they had no idea as to what "put it on the web" involved (security, scalability, I.T., support, etc.). So, our team grew as we geared up for the massive undertaking. 15 developers spent a full year trying to port a monolithic (10MB EXE) desktop app to the web. And we got within a month or two of completing it. But in the meantime, the desktop app withered: no new features, no new releases. Sales dried up. Because web product wasn't done, there were no sales there either. So our division was cut. It's a reasonable business decision, I don't deny that. But who took it in the ass for this mistake? Not the people who decided to "put it on the web" at the expense of the desktop. No, it was the people who actually did the work - the programmers, designers, customer support and sales people. Management, the people who made the fatal decision, just lowered their eyes as we were led to a conference room and were given our severance packages - told that tomorrow would be our last day. Yet when we returned to our desks to pick up our stuff - we found our computers had been wiped and our accounts disabled. I threw the only copy of the application spec (no electronic version exists) in the trash, on my way out. As I was driving home, NPR was talking about the 35,000 people who are getting laid-off at Ford. I was crushed, thinking of how much pain, anger and sorrow that must add up to. </vent> Anyway. Now I have some time to work on my own stuff . Fuck corporate America. -c
Sorry to hear about that Chris. Chris Losinger wrote: Yet when we returned to our desks to pick up our stuff - we found our computers had been wiped and our accounts disabled. I know how I would feel if i where in that position... I hope you would get a decent job soon. All the best. Cheers Kannan
-
...of the unemployed. Oh, let me tell ya... <vent> The higher-ups decided to kill our product, for valid reasons: it wasn't selling. The reasons it wasn't selling were pretty obvious to everyone: our competition was ahead of us because we were missing features. But why were we missing features? A few years ago we had all the features and a better design than all the others. Time passed, and the competition caught and passed us. But, instead of putting our efforts into catching up (which wouldn't have been impossible), our division was told by the higher-ups that the "web" was the future (for all applications), and we had to "put the app on the web" - even though they had no idea as to what "put it on the web" involved (security, scalability, I.T., support, etc.). So, our team grew as we geared up for the massive undertaking. 15 developers spent a full year trying to port a monolithic (10MB EXE) desktop app to the web. And we got within a month or two of completing it. But in the meantime, the desktop app withered: no new features, no new releases. Sales dried up. Because web product wasn't done, there were no sales there either. So our division was cut. It's a reasonable business decision, I don't deny that. But who took it in the ass for this mistake? Not the people who decided to "put it on the web" at the expense of the desktop. No, it was the people who actually did the work - the programmers, designers, customer support and sales people. Management, the people who made the fatal decision, just lowered their eyes as we were led to a conference room and were given our severance packages - told that tomorrow would be our last day. Yet when we returned to our desks to pick up our stuff - we found our computers had been wiped and our accounts disabled. I threw the only copy of the application spec (no electronic version exists) in the trash, on my way out. As I was driving home, NPR was talking about the 35,000 people who are getting laid-off at Ford. I was crushed, thinking of how much pain, anger and sorrow that must add up to. </vent> Anyway. Now I have some time to work on my own stuff . Fuck corporate America. -c
Chris, I can't believe they wiped your PCs, what the hell was the point of that? Why they wouldn't sit with each of you can have a discussion about "What parts of what is done to date do you think would be valuble to save" is totally beyond me, but I don't really know the environment you're coming from. Their approach seems borne out of fear and a lack of understanding. My thoughts are with you, for what it's worth. David http://www.dundas.com
-
as far as we can tell, yep. when we came back down, they were all sitting at the "SafeMode" Win2K splash screen, so they definitely did something drastic. when we tried to login, we couldn't. i tried getting to the drives i had shared out from a different computer, but my old machine wasn't showing up in the list of available boxes. that's what 4 years will get ya. -c
B*st*rds:mad: I would of thrown the PC thru the window just to finish job and lit the spec before throwing in the trash can. I can't believe companies act like that. Anyway my sympathies Chris, and I wish you luck on getting your next job, which I hope is pretty soon. Normski. - Professional Windows Programmer
-
...of the unemployed. Oh, let me tell ya... <vent> The higher-ups decided to kill our product, for valid reasons: it wasn't selling. The reasons it wasn't selling were pretty obvious to everyone: our competition was ahead of us because we were missing features. But why were we missing features? A few years ago we had all the features and a better design than all the others. Time passed, and the competition caught and passed us. But, instead of putting our efforts into catching up (which wouldn't have been impossible), our division was told by the higher-ups that the "web" was the future (for all applications), and we had to "put the app on the web" - even though they had no idea as to what "put it on the web" involved (security, scalability, I.T., support, etc.). So, our team grew as we geared up for the massive undertaking. 15 developers spent a full year trying to port a monolithic (10MB EXE) desktop app to the web. And we got within a month or two of completing it. But in the meantime, the desktop app withered: no new features, no new releases. Sales dried up. Because web product wasn't done, there were no sales there either. So our division was cut. It's a reasonable business decision, I don't deny that. But who took it in the ass for this mistake? Not the people who decided to "put it on the web" at the expense of the desktop. No, it was the people who actually did the work - the programmers, designers, customer support and sales people. Management, the people who made the fatal decision, just lowered their eyes as we were led to a conference room and were given our severance packages - told that tomorrow would be our last day. Yet when we returned to our desks to pick up our stuff - we found our computers had been wiped and our accounts disabled. I threw the only copy of the application spec (no electronic version exists) in the trash, on my way out. As I was driving home, NPR was talking about the 35,000 people who are getting laid-off at Ford. I was crushed, thinking of how much pain, anger and sorrow that must add up to. </vent> Anyway. Now I have some time to work on my own stuff . Fuck corporate America. -c
Sorry to hear that... At least you are in America, and with your talent you get a new job pretty soon. If you were here in Brazil you´ll probably be desperade. Your case makes me remember of a friend of mine. He was a network administrator of a company. One day his boss came to him with a list of people being fired, so that they have their account disabled (the people didn´t know they wore being fired). After he finished the work his boss told him to get another list in the HR department, with some more accounts to disable. What was his surprise that when he arrive at the HR department he was fired. When he came back from the HR, his boss was gone and his account was disabled. He get fired and done all the "dirty work" of disabling the others accounts... a shame... pretty cruel boss this one... Mauricio Teichmann Ritter Brazil mauricioritter@hotmail.com
-
...of the unemployed. Oh, let me tell ya... <vent> The higher-ups decided to kill our product, for valid reasons: it wasn't selling. The reasons it wasn't selling were pretty obvious to everyone: our competition was ahead of us because we were missing features. But why were we missing features? A few years ago we had all the features and a better design than all the others. Time passed, and the competition caught and passed us. But, instead of putting our efforts into catching up (which wouldn't have been impossible), our division was told by the higher-ups that the "web" was the future (for all applications), and we had to "put the app on the web" - even though they had no idea as to what "put it on the web" involved (security, scalability, I.T., support, etc.). So, our team grew as we geared up for the massive undertaking. 15 developers spent a full year trying to port a monolithic (10MB EXE) desktop app to the web. And we got within a month or two of completing it. But in the meantime, the desktop app withered: no new features, no new releases. Sales dried up. Because web product wasn't done, there were no sales there either. So our division was cut. It's a reasonable business decision, I don't deny that. But who took it in the ass for this mistake? Not the people who decided to "put it on the web" at the expense of the desktop. No, it was the people who actually did the work - the programmers, designers, customer support and sales people. Management, the people who made the fatal decision, just lowered their eyes as we were led to a conference room and were given our severance packages - told that tomorrow would be our last day. Yet when we returned to our desks to pick up our stuff - we found our computers had been wiped and our accounts disabled. I threw the only copy of the application spec (no electronic version exists) in the trash, on my way out. As I was driving home, NPR was talking about the 35,000 people who are getting laid-off at Ford. I was crushed, thinking of how much pain, anger and sorrow that must add up to. </vent> Anyway. Now I have some time to work on my own stuff . Fuck corporate America. -c
Like the rest of us here I'm sorry to hear what has happened to you and wish you all the best for the future. I will offfer one bit of advice though, and that is if you think you've got some half way reasonable ideas, and have some entrepreneurial flare and want to have a go at doing your own thing then go for it. It is challenging working for yourself, but very rewarding. I haven't worked for anyone for what seems like forever and couldn't contemplate anything else, not for a second. Whatever you do, take the lessons you've learnt from this experience with you and use them as best you can. Neville Franks, Author of ED for Windows. www.getsoft.com
-
...of the unemployed. Oh, let me tell ya... <vent> The higher-ups decided to kill our product, for valid reasons: it wasn't selling. The reasons it wasn't selling were pretty obvious to everyone: our competition was ahead of us because we were missing features. But why were we missing features? A few years ago we had all the features and a better design than all the others. Time passed, and the competition caught and passed us. But, instead of putting our efforts into catching up (which wouldn't have been impossible), our division was told by the higher-ups that the "web" was the future (for all applications), and we had to "put the app on the web" - even though they had no idea as to what "put it on the web" involved (security, scalability, I.T., support, etc.). So, our team grew as we geared up for the massive undertaking. 15 developers spent a full year trying to port a monolithic (10MB EXE) desktop app to the web. And we got within a month or two of completing it. But in the meantime, the desktop app withered: no new features, no new releases. Sales dried up. Because web product wasn't done, there were no sales there either. So our division was cut. It's a reasonable business decision, I don't deny that. But who took it in the ass for this mistake? Not the people who decided to "put it on the web" at the expense of the desktop. No, it was the people who actually did the work - the programmers, designers, customer support and sales people. Management, the people who made the fatal decision, just lowered their eyes as we were led to a conference room and were given our severance packages - told that tomorrow would be our last day. Yet when we returned to our desks to pick up our stuff - we found our computers had been wiped and our accounts disabled. I threw the only copy of the application spec (no electronic version exists) in the trash, on my way out. As I was driving home, NPR was talking about the 35,000 people who are getting laid-off at Ford. I was crushed, thinking of how much pain, anger and sorrow that must add up to. </vent> Anyway. Now I have some time to work on my own stuff . Fuck corporate America. -c
as an old friend of mine used to say 'fuck them to fuck' ! they aren't fit to clean your shoes! Regards Ray "Je Suis Mort De Rire"
-
Crap. I feel for you, Chris. It's an ugly feeling, isn't it? I was laid off in '92, and I haven't had a decent job offer since. I was, for a time, over-qualified. Now I'm out of date. Can't win. What the hell, no one hires an engineer over 40 anyway, so I've pretty much given up trying. But you're young, your skills are current, and there are some good indicators that the market is recovering from its slump! Update the ol' resume and hit the streets, before depression and fatalism set in and paralyze you. It's not fair, what they did to you - get over it and move on. You're perfectly able to not only replace them, but better your position - get out there and do it. Good luck to you - don't let this glitch get you down! Life, as well as software, has bugs. I can't give you a recipe for success, but I can give you one for failure - Don't try. Works every time...
Roger Wright wrote: What the hell, no one hires an engineer over 40 anyway Man, that's grim. I've got a year on you and I'm out of work also. I'm not sure that being out of work in this industry is that big of a deal though. The computer industry sucks. I love to program, but I'd rather shovel shit than work in this industry. I wonder what the hell the big deal is about hiring older programmers? If someone *would* give me a decent job, I would probably finish my career with them. But, no, they'll hire a 20 something who will quit for greener pasteurs in a couple of years. Oh, well, just prooves that the people who manage this stuff are complete morons. And who wants to work for a moron?
-
...of the unemployed. Oh, let me tell ya... <vent> The higher-ups decided to kill our product, for valid reasons: it wasn't selling. The reasons it wasn't selling were pretty obvious to everyone: our competition was ahead of us because we were missing features. But why were we missing features? A few years ago we had all the features and a better design than all the others. Time passed, and the competition caught and passed us. But, instead of putting our efforts into catching up (which wouldn't have been impossible), our division was told by the higher-ups that the "web" was the future (for all applications), and we had to "put the app on the web" - even though they had no idea as to what "put it on the web" involved (security, scalability, I.T., support, etc.). So, our team grew as we geared up for the massive undertaking. 15 developers spent a full year trying to port a monolithic (10MB EXE) desktop app to the web. And we got within a month or two of completing it. But in the meantime, the desktop app withered: no new features, no new releases. Sales dried up. Because web product wasn't done, there were no sales there either. So our division was cut. It's a reasonable business decision, I don't deny that. But who took it in the ass for this mistake? Not the people who decided to "put it on the web" at the expense of the desktop. No, it was the people who actually did the work - the programmers, designers, customer support and sales people. Management, the people who made the fatal decision, just lowered their eyes as we were led to a conference room and were given our severance packages - told that tomorrow would be our last day. Yet when we returned to our desks to pick up our stuff - we found our computers had been wiped and our accounts disabled. I threw the only copy of the application spec (no electronic version exists) in the trash, on my way out. As I was driving home, NPR was talking about the 35,000 people who are getting laid-off at Ford. I was crushed, thinking of how much pain, anger and sorrow that must add up to. </vent> Anyway. Now I have some time to work on my own stuff . Fuck corporate America. -c
Chris I'm so sorry to hear that. :( Truly though it sounds like you're best out of that place - I'm certain someone with your skills will have little trouble finding another post. Good luck :rose: Andy Metcalfe - Sonardyne International Ltd
Trouble with resource IDs? Try the Resource ID Organiser Add-In for Visual C++
"I would be careful in separating your wierdness, a good quirky weirdness, from the disturbed wierdness of people who take pleasure from PVC sheep with fruit repositories." - Paul Watson -
...of the unemployed. Oh, let me tell ya... <vent> The higher-ups decided to kill our product, for valid reasons: it wasn't selling. The reasons it wasn't selling were pretty obvious to everyone: our competition was ahead of us because we were missing features. But why were we missing features? A few years ago we had all the features and a better design than all the others. Time passed, and the competition caught and passed us. But, instead of putting our efforts into catching up (which wouldn't have been impossible), our division was told by the higher-ups that the "web" was the future (for all applications), and we had to "put the app on the web" - even though they had no idea as to what "put it on the web" involved (security, scalability, I.T., support, etc.). So, our team grew as we geared up for the massive undertaking. 15 developers spent a full year trying to port a monolithic (10MB EXE) desktop app to the web. And we got within a month or two of completing it. But in the meantime, the desktop app withered: no new features, no new releases. Sales dried up. Because web product wasn't done, there were no sales there either. So our division was cut. It's a reasonable business decision, I don't deny that. But who took it in the ass for this mistake? Not the people who decided to "put it on the web" at the expense of the desktop. No, it was the people who actually did the work - the programmers, designers, customer support and sales people. Management, the people who made the fatal decision, just lowered their eyes as we were led to a conference room and were given our severance packages - told that tomorrow would be our last day. Yet when we returned to our desks to pick up our stuff - we found our computers had been wiped and our accounts disabled. I threw the only copy of the application spec (no electronic version exists) in the trash, on my way out. As I was driving home, NPR was talking about the 35,000 people who are getting laid-off at Ford. I was crushed, thinking of how much pain, anger and sorrow that must add up to. </vent> Anyway. Now I have some time to work on my own stuff . Fuck corporate America. -c
Sorry to hear that. I wish you goog luck and God speed in finding a new and better job. Matt Gullett
-
James T. Johnson wrote: I don't like it one bit, too many CPians getting fired lately Actually all around people are getting fired. Funny how quickly and unexpectedly it all happens. Nish Sonork ID 100.9786 voidmain www.busterboy.org If you don't find me on CP, I'll be at Bob's HungOut
Nish [BusterBoy] wrote: Funny how quickly and unexpectedly it all happens. Not to be negative but I think most people could see what was coming at least far ahead enough not to be surprised. If you just read the news and keep up with the rumours you can pretty much figure out who is going down and who isn't. regards, Paul Watson Bluegrass Cape Town, South Africa "The greatest thing you will ever learn is to love, and be loved in return" - Moulin Rouge Martin Marvinski wrote: Unfortunatly Deep Throat isn't my cup of tea Do you Sonork? I do! 100.9903 Stormfront
-
Roger Wright wrote: What the hell, no one hires an engineer over 40 anyway Man, that's grim. I've got a year on you and I'm out of work also. I'm not sure that being out of work in this industry is that big of a deal though. The computer industry sucks. I love to program, but I'd rather shovel shit than work in this industry. I wonder what the hell the big deal is about hiring older programmers? If someone *would* give me a decent job, I would probably finish my career with them. But, no, they'll hire a 20 something who will quit for greener pasteurs in a couple of years. Oh, well, just prooves that the people who manage this stuff are complete morons. And who wants to work for a moron?
Stan Shannon wrote: wonder what the hell the big deal is about hiring older programmers? My dad was in the same situation and the line they fed him for every rejected application was "You are over skilled and we fell that you will be restricted by the position we are offering.". Basically they are scared that he will go in there and after a month want to do more than they want him to do, i.e. make decisions, try run the companty eytc. etc. Never mind that he said "look, I don't care, all I want is a salary right now, you can make me write text files, I can do it all, or exactly what you want." It is however a valid concern. Stan Shannon wrote: Oh, well, just prooves that the people who manage this stuff are complete morons. And who wants to work for a moron? lol, not all are morons. But most are. Start your own business and then see what your employees say :) regards, Paul Watson Bluegrass Cape Town, South Africa "The greatest thing you will ever learn is to love, and be loved in return" - Moulin Rouge Martin Marvinski wrote: Unfortunatly Deep Throat isn't my cup of tea Do you Sonork? I do! 100.9903 Stormfront
-
...of the unemployed. Oh, let me tell ya... <vent> The higher-ups decided to kill our product, for valid reasons: it wasn't selling. The reasons it wasn't selling were pretty obvious to everyone: our competition was ahead of us because we were missing features. But why were we missing features? A few years ago we had all the features and a better design than all the others. Time passed, and the competition caught and passed us. But, instead of putting our efforts into catching up (which wouldn't have been impossible), our division was told by the higher-ups that the "web" was the future (for all applications), and we had to "put the app on the web" - even though they had no idea as to what "put it on the web" involved (security, scalability, I.T., support, etc.). So, our team grew as we geared up for the massive undertaking. 15 developers spent a full year trying to port a monolithic (10MB EXE) desktop app to the web. And we got within a month or two of completing it. But in the meantime, the desktop app withered: no new features, no new releases. Sales dried up. Because web product wasn't done, there were no sales there either. So our division was cut. It's a reasonable business decision, I don't deny that. But who took it in the ass for this mistake? Not the people who decided to "put it on the web" at the expense of the desktop. No, it was the people who actually did the work - the programmers, designers, customer support and sales people. Management, the people who made the fatal decision, just lowered their eyes as we were led to a conference room and were given our severance packages - told that tomorrow would be our last day. Yet when we returned to our desks to pick up our stuff - we found our computers had been wiped and our accounts disabled. I threw the only copy of the application spec (no electronic version exists) in the trash, on my way out. As I was driving home, NPR was talking about the 35,000 people who are getting laid-off at Ford. I was crushed, thinking of how much pain, anger and sorrow that must add up to. </vent> Anyway. Now I have some time to work on my own stuff . Fuck corporate America. -c
Your management layer failed, plain and simple. Frankly I don't think dropping a product because they made a bad decision before is a way to correct or rectify the solution. Obviously the product had merit before and so probably still has at least the potential of merit. Plus the team is there and they have proven before that they can make an industry leading product. Really, they are throwing away a huge amount of investment and their justifications are wrong, IMHO. I hope you either start your own company or find one with wise management Chris, best of fortune to you in your new venture :) regards, Paul Watson Bluegrass Cape Town, South Africa "The greatest thing you will ever learn is to love, and be loved in return" - Moulin Rouge Martin Marvinski wrote: Unfortunatly Deep Throat isn't my cup of tea Do you Sonork? I do! 100.9903 Stormfront
