From mboxrd@z Thu Jan 1 00:00:00 1970 X-Spam-Checker-Version: SpamAssassin 3.4.4 (2020-01-24) on polar.synack.me X-Spam-Level: X-Spam-Status: No, score=-1.9 required=5.0 tests=BAYES_00 autolearn=ham autolearn_force=no version=3.4.4 X-Google-Language: ENGLISH,ASCII-7-bit X-Google-Thread: 103376,38cd2874d6e7ac41 X-Google-Attributes: gid103376,public X-Google-ArrivalTime: 2002-08-20 10:43:14 PST Path: archiver1.google.com!news1.google.com!newsfeed.stanford.edu!news-spur1.maxwell.syr.edu!news.maxwell.syr.edu!cpk-news-hub1.bbnplanet.com!cambridge1-snf1.gtei.net!news.gtei.net!bos-service1.ext.raytheon.com!dfw-service2.ext.raytheon.com.POSTED!not-for-mail Message-ID: <3D627F6E.7BA5F272@raytheon.com> From: Mark Johnson X-Mailer: Mozilla 4.76 [en] (Windows NT 5.0; U) X-Accept-Language: en MIME-Version: 1.0 Newsgroups: comp.lang.ada Subject: Re: On accounting and engineering.(Slightly offtopic) References: Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Date: Tue, 20 Aug 2002 12:42:06 -0500 NNTP-Posting-Host: 192.27.48.39 X-Complaints-To: news@ext.ray.com X-Trace: dfw-service2.ext.raytheon.com 1029865393 192.27.48.39 (Tue, 20 Aug 2002 12:43:13 CDT) NNTP-Posting-Date: Tue, 20 Aug 2002 12:43:13 CDT Organization: Raytheon Company Xref: archiver1.google.com comp.lang.ada:28257 Date: 2002-08-20T12:42:06-05:00 List-Id: Caffeine Junky wrote: > > [snip - background info] > Hence we came up with a possible solution to the language wall(at least > as far as software development is concerned.) As part of orientation for > a company(in the tech field, but possibly other fields as well) have the > engineers take a couple short introductory courses on accounting, so as > to give the engineers a tool for effectively communicating with the bean > counters, and likewise give the bean counters a couple short introductory > courses on programming and software engineering, to reciprocate the tool. I used to work with a group that generally did the following... - the first few years, a developer is given daily direction by a lead person, gradually doing more and more complex systems. Would help to status schedules, explain accomplishments, problems, etc. - at about three to five years, starts to get the responsibility of making those plans, generating estimates, and so on. Still working closely with a lead person, but begins to learn the lingo as part of their regular work. So that when they become a "lead person", they have the basic planning and financial background that they need to lead a project (or part of a project). It doesn't have to be a formal training session as long as you have the right framework in place to train people as they move up in the organization. However, I did attend a good "Management Course" which was 50/50 management techniques and "how the facility worked". The second half did a lot to improve my insight into how the other departments worked. > I've recently picked up several books on accounting, and it's giving a > much better picture of how to pitch myself to the bean counters. Likewise > my pal in accounting has begun reading some introductory books on > programming and software engineering, and has a much better idea of why > the engineers make pitches that before sounded completely irrational to > him.(Stuff like purchasing rackmount servers rather than beige case > systems, and when to/when not to do in house development.) > That is of general benefit anyway. A good software developer has insight into more than just "Software Engineering" but on how their products are used (e.g., software, plans, presentations). Walking a mile in the shoes of another goes a long way to making that happen (and explains why rotating staff through an organization to different positions makes for stronger staff). --Mark