Thriving without Managers in Efficient Software Initiatives
Understanding the different types of managers you may encounter as a programmer is essential. While idealists work hard, they can sometimes get bogged down in corporate rituals and myths. On the other hand, managers thrive in political environments where multiple people are working together. The agile software movement aims to bridge the gap between business and IT, but scaling it can be complex and inefficient. In today’s world, where everyone is an opportunist conducting business on their terms, it’s crucial to focus on delivering quality code, collaborating with your company, and staying knowledgeable.
Most companies prefer to hire journeyman programmers with 3–5 years of experience to avoid investing in training. Therefore, networking, solving everyday problems, and showcasing your skills are essential. Some corporations and developers need to adapt to new realities and stop treating programmers as interchangeable commodities. It’s important to remember that programming is a tool, not the world-changer itself.
Intelligent and creative individuals can be successful if given the opportunity. We should work to make it easier for companies to invest in software initiatives. Challenging bad engineering management and playing by our rules is crucial. Efficient companies focus on profits and objectively view everyone’s contributions. Seek efficiencies through automation and process improvements before resorting to code solutions or more hierarchies and bureaucracy.
