undefined | Better HN

0 pointsshankr3y ago0 comments

> My little pet theory is that the old "Do as you told" buisness-culture is to blame for germanys inability to produce great software. Software needs developers with agency, who refuse "idiotic" tasks and fight back to improve the product.

This I have experienced first hand where this junior product manager who wrote some ticket whose requirements when got challenged says "it's mentioned here so you have to do it and you don't have to challenge it". I lost it and I said, "everything needs to be challenged, we are not just going to follow it like a machine". I did apologize to him for my tone. But it bothered me so much.

0 comments

qikInNdOutReply3y ago

Its really tough to change that mindset though, once it takes hold, its so deeply ingrained. ("Ober sticht unter").

Basically the whole education system needs to push discussions more, were you have to argue a point, proof you are right and stick to your guns. Something regarding this is going right in some education systems and cultures, and fails utterly in others. Its a education to lead, instead of education to be led.

lock-the-spock3y ago

On the other hand you could argue too many people that stick to their guns are wrong and this too would be a failure of the education system. The scientific method is what we all need to learn and appreciate: form theories, find evidence for but also against that theory to test your thesis. Improve and refine on this basis or drop a disproved thesis.

Attrecomet3y ago

>"Ober sticht unter"

As a Skat player, this is only true in Null, the game you actively try to "lose". Fitting, I guess?

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse