Life at work goes on and on. I am getting seriously burned -out working on one particular report, which has been in "User Testing" for eight weeks.
It was done when I went on vacation in September but somehow it got redesigned while I was away. Gremlins and scope creep have oozed out of thje woodwork. The PM decided to change programmers just as we were getting to the end of things.
Now if you have ever dealt with code jockeys you know that there is no more cardinal sin of stupidity than to change horses in strong current. Programmers hate any code that they are forced to maintain - especially if it was written by another. Much like writers editing someone else's dreadful prose.
It is not consoling that we have discovered at least three seious bugs in the way Oracle writes to their audit tables, and we have shone a spotlight on the malfeasence of the custom design team in creating a virtual plate of spaghetti for a database.
The PM is still micromanaging the whole affair and doing everyone's job. He is working pretty hard, but the rest of us are letting him do it, wondering when or if he will figure out how to manage people who know more than he does. It may take months, but for us - it's easy money for now.
Actually, phase 2 is not going so bad. Big difference, writing specs for a system that you know a little about, and with users who have had a few months of real experience under their belts.
I have come to the point where I actually enjoy the weekly status meetings, despite the fact that they do not accomplish anything. I keep thinking how it ties the PM up and he cannot faithfully do our all of our jobs for us while he is earnestly managing that powerpoint project document. (I never can figure out what percentage complete I am with any task until it has been done and not undone by management for at least a week.)
Have a great Holiday and thank your lucky stars if you are free of micro management.
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