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,FREEMAIL_FROM autolearn=ham autolearn_force=no version=3.4.4 X-Google-Language: ENGLISH,ASCII-7-bit X-Google-Thread: 103376,38cd2874d6e7ac41,start X-Google-Attributes: gid103376,public X-Google-ArrivalTime: 2002-08-16 15:58:50 PST Path: archiver1.google.com!news1.google.com!newsfeed.stanford.edu!news-spur1.maxwell.syr.edu!news.maxwell.syr.edu!newsfeed.mathworks.com!wn3feed!worldnet.att.net!204.127.198.204!attbi_feed4!attbi.com!sccrnsc01.POSTED!not-for-mail From: Caffeine Junky Subject: On accounting and engineering.(Slightly offtopic) Newsgroups: comp.lang.ada User-Agent: Pan/0.11.3 (Unix) Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit X-Comment-To: ALL Message-ID: NNTP-Posting-Host: 12.245.48.122 X-Complaints-To: abuse@attbi.com X-Trace: sccrnsc01 1029538729 12.245.48.122 (Fri, 16 Aug 2002 22:58:49 GMT) NNTP-Posting-Date: Fri, 16 Aug 2002 22:58:49 GMT Organization: AT&T Broadband Date: Fri, 16 Aug 2002 22:58:49 GMT Xref: archiver1.google.com comp.lang.ada:28142 Date: 2002-08-16T22:58:49+00:00 List-Id: This post isn't specifically relevant to Ada, but rather to software companies in general.(Or perhaps it isn't relevant, you be the judge.) There is alot of headbanging going on between "bean counters" and engineers in the world of software engineering. Indeed, I've encountered this on a couple of small contract jobs I did for a local company. The lead engineers would say "We need X, Y, and Z in order to properly complete this assignment." and the bean counters would say "Sorry, your going to have to settle for G and H." Upon conversing with both the lead engineers and the bean counters over beer, I discovered that they both wanted what was best for the company(at least in this case) but thier perspectives were so radically different as to make effective communication all but impossible. They both had legitimate reasons for thier demands, hence work came to a temporary standstill until the boss effectively mediated the conflict. The resolution to the above conflict is immaterial here. What I'm focusing on is the lack of the ability to communicate. Recently a buddy of mine(a bean counter for another company) and I were discussing this issue, heatedly at times. Until we finally realized that the problem wasnt in our philosophy, but rather in our ability to understand the other person. Our perceptions were so different that at times we were using the same words, yet pouring entirely different meanings into them(i.e. Total Cost, Maintenance, Reliability, etc..). 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. Since they're accountants they can obviously handle the math(safe assumption?). Likewise since they are accountants, it isnt necessary to give them a full engineering course. But rather the goal is to enable both parties to see in thier mind (aka understand) at least a portion of what the other sides reasoning is. 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.) Of course, I could just be blowing hot-air here. My professional experience is not nearly as extensive as many in this newgroup. Nonetheless, I seem to have hit on something that might just make my life, and lives of others in our field, a bit less frustrating. Now that I reflect back on it, it seems so obvious that I should have considered it earlier. Maybe this is just a case of a newbie getting his first professional pubes. So, am I stating the obvious and wasting newserver space? Have I hit upon something worthwhile? Should I just leave the accounting to the accountants? What are your experiences? Any insight from the more experienced among us would be helpful. Thanks for your patience. St4pL3