scott wrote:
>> Oh, I've seen reports of managers who won't believe that a particular 
>> task actually takes 20 minutes, and "can't you just change it to only 
>> take 3 seconds?"
> 
> An extremely valuable skill of any specialist is the ability to explain 
> stuff to non-specialists in a way they understand.

I like to think I'm fairly good at this. I'm probably just deluding 
myself though...

>> I guess the root of all this is people who have no concept of what is 
>> or isn't possible with a computer. But it's more than that - people 
>> who have no clue but *think* they do.
> 
> And it's people like that on both sides that cause the problem, which 
> just leads to the problem getting worse.  On the one hand you have 
> stroppy companies who have no clue about computers, but refuse to 
> believe what they are told.  On the other hand you have supposed 
> "specialists" who actually don't know what they are talking about.  
> Who's going to believe who anymore?

True...

I think if we could sort out who the *real* experts are from the liers 
and fakers, we'd probably be in better shape though.

>> I mean, if a bridge was being designed, you wouldn't presume to know 
>> enough about structural engineering to make decisions about how long 
>> it should take or what the best way to do it is.
> 
> Hahahahahha.  I take it you've never worked as an Engineer on a project 
> then?  Almost every problem is due to the customer saying "I want X" and 
> the Engineers saying "ermm we can't really do that".  Of course the 
> customer usually forces the way they want, but then other things need 
> changing or go wrong later.

OK, I rephrase: *I* wouldn't presume to know about structural 
engineering. ;-)

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