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=-0.4 required=5.0 tests=AC_FROM_MANY_DOTS,BAYES_00, LOTS_OF_MONEY autolearn=no autolearn_force=no version=3.4.4 X-Google-Language: ENGLISH,ASCII-7-bit X-Google-Thread: 103376,c8086456b887be55 X-Google-Attributes: gid103376,public X-Google-Thread: 11232c,ab67bdd1ff50fd8 X-Google-Attributes: gid11232c,public X-Google-ArrivalTime: 2001-04-24 15:26:33 PST Path: newsfeed.google.com!newsfeed.stanford.edu!news.tele.dk!193.190.198.17!newsfeeds.belnet.be!news.belnet.be!isdnet!psinet-france!psiuk-f4!psiuk-p4!uknet!psiuk-n!news.pace.co.uk!nh.pace.co.uk!not-for-mail From: "Marin David Condic" Newsgroups: comp.lang.ada,misc.misc Subject: Re: License to Steal Date: Tue, 24 Apr 2001 18:20:45 -0400 Organization: Posted on a server owned by Pace Micro Technology plc Message-ID: <9c4u7u$5ok$1@nh.pace.co.uk> References: <92HD6.3345$D4.334091@www.newsranger.com> <200104240531.WAA01552@well.com> NNTP-Posting-Host: 136.170.200.133 X-Trace: nh.pace.co.uk 988150846 5908 136.170.200.133 (24 Apr 2001 22:20:46 GMT) X-Complaints-To: newsmaster@pace.co.uk NNTP-Posting-Date: 24 Apr 2001 22:20:46 GMT X-Priority: 3 X-MSMail-Priority: Normal X-Newsreader: Microsoft Outlook Express 5.50.4522.1200 X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V5.50.4522.1200 Xref: newsfeed.google.com comp.lang.ada:6902 misc.misc:2554 Date: 2001-04-24T22:20:46+00:00 List-Id: I had always thought that The Ada Mandate approach was flawed because it was based on threats (non-credible ones at that.) I suggested at the time that all the angst over the mandate was going on that having tried threats, maybe it was time to go the other direction and try bribes. I don't think that the Powers-That-Be could grasp the concept - perhaps because it is rather Capitalistic instead of Bureaucratic. Suppose that someone high up the totem poll were to say: "Here, Mr. Programmanager (Or Colonel Programofficer) I have in this cookie jar $100,000.00 genuine U.S. Dollars with non-consecutive serial numbers. If one year from right (look at watch).......now! you're project is being programmed in Ada with no material exceptions, then I will empty this cookie jar into your briefcase and you can go buy yourself a boat or a Lamborghini or *anything* your greedy little heart desires." How long do you think it would take for that Program Officer or Program Manager to get their project moved into Ada? Do you think there would have been a flurry of waivers being begged for? Or would they more likely have found religion? Do you suppose that Colonel Programofficer would likely start saying to his contractors: "Get your programs into Ada or get another customer!" Would Mr. Programmanager have told his reluctant junior managers and senior programmers "Start using Ada or start writing your resume!" Businesses have been tying executive compensation to measurable objectives for some time now and for the most part it works. In general, bribery is going to be far more motivational than threats. (Better for The Prince to be loved than feared? :-) BTW, If I were Mr. Programmanager, I'd have found some bonus money for the junior managers and senior programmers if the objective was met, before I'd have threatened staff changes. But I've seen managers say to recalcitrant staff "Find religion or find another job" (why do Software Metrics come to mind? :-) and have people comply. If I can't have your heart, at least I can have your compliance. MDC -- Marin David Condic Senior Software Engineer Pace Micro Technology Americas www.pacemicro.com Enabling the digital revolution e-Mail: marin.condic@pacemicro.com Web: http://www.mcondic.com/ "Kent Paul Dolan" wrote in message news:200104240531.WAA01552@well.com... > > The problem with the Ada mandate is that the services > protected their fiefdoms, and showed no higher > organizational level of discipline at all, just the > outward show of some. > > This is human nature, and was ignored in the planning > phases for Ada. > > Putting some higher level military service discipline > back in place would probably help a lot, wherever the > next attempt to untie this knot heads.