RE: Re: OT - poor word choice re: Managing Extreme Progr amming

Adding to Steve,

We refer to our customer as stakeholder. This is a term used within the
Department of Energy for the environmental community and comes from the
Post Normal science community in which external participants are granted
equal status for decision making.

The mutual respect is bi-directional in that different domain use
different words. Steve's "guys" might work here since we have 4 out of
130 women. If I went out on site and addressed the construction folks as
"resources" they would understand because that is how they are shown on
the master schedule. Other may object to being called resources.

"Developers" are few and far between here, since we use COTS products
and have mostly DBA's, so DBA's are our developers. Engineers are
common, but FTE's are our currency for planning and budgeting since
EVERYONE except us are subcontractors (3rd and 4th tier). Being called a
4th tier contractor is common.

The point here is when someone external to a situation hears an
objectionable terms, the XP way is to ask why, determine the context and
domain and not assume all are the same.

Glen B. Alleman
Director, Program Management Office
Information Technology
CH2M HILL
Rocky Flats Environmental Technology Site
10808 Highway 93, Unit B, Bldg 060, MV72
Golden, Colorado 80502
Office: 303.966.5865  Nextel: 303.994.0874 


> -----Original Message-----
> From: Steve Ropa 
[>] snip
> >
> > This term is used by several managers in our company and it drives
me
> > nuts.  Its dehumanizing effects silently demoralize developers each
> > time the term is used.
> >
> 
> I guess the key is to know where people's sensitities lie, and respect
> them.  If I were to address my current team as "you guys", I would be
> offending several of the women on the team, but not all of them.  A
good
> manager and leader will learn more about her team and act accordingly.
> Even so, if you are expecting a manager to disrespect you, you will be
> able to interpret anything they say in that light.
> 
> 
> > > Steve Ropa may have been very lucky to "not know a single manager
> > > who doesn't have a ton of respect for engineers and what they do."
> > > Then, again, perhaps some of the managers I've known had such
> > > respect, but didn't communicate it.  Instead, they communicated
> > > entirely different things.  I would rather a manager treat me with
> > > respect.  Share their vision.  Listen to my concerns.  Engage in
> > > dialog.  I've seen far too many who treat developers as machines
> > > (and rather imperfect ones) that produce what they demand.
> >
> I don't know if I've been so lucky.  I may be a bit of a Pollyanna,
but I
> go into a situation assuming we are all professionals and accord each
> other a certain modicum of respect accordingly.  That can either be
> augmented or depleted based on actions.  This has served me well.
> 
> > Some of the managers I know that use the term "resources" when
> > referring to humans try to maintain an image of trust and respect
> > between themselves and the developers.  By using this term I believe
> > they expose their underlying view of developers as simply
"deliverers
> > of value."
> 
> As a manager, I often refer to myself as "overhead".  People seem to
enjoy
> that.  I would actually be quite flattered if someone once said "No,
> Steve, you are a deliverer of value".
> 
> >
> > > Perhaps much of encouraging XP adoption, in many situations, comes
> > > down to teaching mid and low level managers how to manage with
such
> > > respect, how to lead rather than command.
> >
> > Such an incredibly important distinction.
> >
> > --Dave
> 
> Sorry if I keep shouting about this, but its a two way street.  The
> general trend on this and several other threads is one of extreme
> disrespect and sometimes hostility towards the mid and low level, not
to
> mention upper level, managers.  The trend seems to be "those
inadequate
> jerks don't respect me." Of course, I may be imagining it, but I don't
> think so.
> 
> As Ron pointed out last week, the "fifth value" of XP should be
Respect.
> I would phrase that as Mutual Respect.
> 
> ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor
> 
> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> [email protected]
> 
> 
> 
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
> 


To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
[email protected]

 

Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/