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From: antialias@earthlink.net
Subject: Re: Do I Really Need A Supervisor?
Date: 1997/03/17
Message-ID: <332E163F.5EFD@earthlink.net>#1/1
X-Deja-AN: 226334048
References: <3327438E.942@earthlink.net> <E6zGF9.K5L@world.std.com>
 <os913rbfi0.fsf@ted.vigra.com> <dewar.858314379@merv>
 <E71Jyp.C2B@world.std.com> <dewar.858441114@merv>
 <332D8B38.4056@watson.ibm.com>
Organization: Maniacal Software Warmongerers, Inc.
Reply-To: antialias@earthlink.net
Newsgroups: comp.lang.ada
Date: 1997-03-17T00:00:00+00:00
List-Id: <comp.lang.ada>


Oh, heck, maybe it didn't belong on comp.lang.ada, but this
IS the kind of software engineering environment that Ada 
software is developed in...this article was also posted to
comp.arch.embedded and comp.software-eng...the comments are
pretty much the same on those groups, many agree that I (we)
don't need supervisors, but many try to defend the role of the
supervisor...hmmm, I wonder if these defenders are themselves
supervisors...

...but then there is this rather curious response which was 
emailed to me but not posted:

> Yes.  You absolutely need a supervisor. 
> 
> Let us assume that you are a very able software engineer, but there 
> is apparently a definite problem.  Maybe you do not convey any 
> confidence that you are capable of performing real work.  Do you 
> convey the idea that you are a mal-content, a trouble maker, of 
> technically questionable ability?
> 
> You state that you have a supervisor, that leads only two people. If
> that is true, that "well known aerospace firm" would not be profitable,
> for very long.  Is that level of supervision required because of your 
> behavior, your attitude?
> 
> As a software engineer, you need a "road map" to help in your design.
> A corporation needs a "road map" to define profitability.  The customer
> needs to know that your design will meet their needs.  Why are you so
> antagonistic towards individuals that are not software engineers?  
> 
> Your attitiude towards SEI shows me that you are not a very discplined
> engineer.  What are you trying ot hide?
> 
> A good software engineer desires supervision, to isolate them from the 
> corporate politics, to shelter them from the customer, etc.  A good 
> supervisor does not need to be as technically astute as yourself.  That 
> is why they are paying you.   
> 
> In my background, I have managed software engineers, a few as five and
> as many as thirty-five.  I am currently working, as a softweare engiunere, 
> in a contract position.  Why did I give up management, to return to 
> engineering?  This is fun, if there is a manager.  If not, I might
> as well return to the politics.
> 
> I hope that I never have the mis-fortune of working with you, or the
> horror of having you work for me.  I know I will never have to worry
> about working for you.
> 

Very strange, very,very strange...