Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!swrinde!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!decwrl!ads.com!saturn!jgautier From: jgautier@vangogh.ads.com (Jorge Gautier) Newsgroups: comp.software-eng Subject: Re: bridge building and discipline Message-ID: Date: 16 May 91 18:29:45 GMT References: <1991May9.053311.800@netcom.COM> <4563.282e83ea@iccgcc.decnet.ab.com> <1991May15.223719.10256@auto-trol.com> Sender: usenet@ads.com (USENET News) Distribution: na Organization: Advanced Decision Systems, Mountain View, CA 94043, +1 (415) 960-7300 Lines: 52 In-Reply-To: alesha@auto-trol.com's message of 15 May 91 22:37:19 GMT In article <1991May15.223719.10256@auto-trol.com> alesha@auto-trol.com (Alec Sharp) writes: > >I think the desire for metrics is an admission by management types > >that they really don't know what's going on in their projects. Good > >managers are able to tell if the project goals are being met, who's > >doing well and who's screwing up without any metrics. Metrics mania > >indicates that someone doesn't understand software development and/or > >they're desperate to figure out what's causing poor quality or project > >failure. The "logical" arguments for metrics and the assurances that > >they won't be used for evaluating people are merely persuasive > >techniques used to facilitate the establishment of a questionable > >practice (just like the ads that tell us how "beef fits into today's > >balanced diets.") > >-- > Why do so many people posting news assume that we are all perfect? Where in my posting did I assume that everybody's perfect? > Half the software developers out there are below average. Half the > managers are below average. Really? Well, if this were so, then the other halves would be above average, wouldn't they? Are you sure you don't mean median instead of average? If you're talking average, the majority could be either above or below the average. And what's the metric here anyway? > I'm sure there are substantial numbers of > managers who don't know what's going on in their projects and yes, are > desparate to figure out what's causing poor quality. Why penalize > them just because they aren't "good" managers? They are what their > organizations have, so they may as well use whatever tools and > techniques best help them meet the goals of their organizations. I don't see any penalization in my posting. I'm not trying to prevent anyone from using metrics. I agree with your last sentence. Let everyone use whatever they want. I'm just presenting my opinions which are based on experience and observation. Nobody has to agree with them. If you don't want to see them, just put me in your news kill file. > Please, let's get away from this elitism in posting and start > addressing the "normal" software development process where many of the > people are below average and the procedures and tools must be able to > address their needs and the needs of their organizations as they > struggle to meet quality and schedule goals. You're free to address whatever you want in your postings. I will do the same. Whining because others don't address your concerns strikes me as unreasonable in an open public forum. -- Jorge A. Gautier| "The enemy is at the gate. And the enemy is the human mind jgautier@ads.com| itself--or lack of it--on this planet." -General Boy DISCLAIMER: All statements in this message are false.