tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-381129527146258002.post4930054781648035176..comments2024-03-28T04:51:40.042-07:00Comments on Agile Otter Blog: 40 Hours is UnprofessionalAgileotterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10773578598860454277noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-381129527146258002.post-26930883659921524012009-08-30T11:23:12.450-07:002009-08-30T11:23:12.450-07:00Darrin, self-training is a self-preservation mecha...Darrin, self-training is a self-preservation mechanism. Your employer(s) will be happy to drop you when you're 40-something and they can hire 2 20-something developers who know newer technology for the same money.<br /><br />You are self-employed, after a fashion, whether you realize it or not. You have a vested interest in remaining valuable in your profession. In the software development profession, this means learning new things. And I highly recommend learning things with a long shelf-life. I spoke on Sustainable Career at XP Day Manhattan. You can find the slides on <a href="http://idiacomputing.com/publications.html" rel="nofollow">my publications list</a>.George Dinwiddiehttp://blog.gdinwiddie.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-381129527146258002.post-43023278634066026542009-08-28T03:40:08.969-07:002009-08-28T03:40:08.969-07:00Employees should undergo effective self improvemen...Employees should undergo effective self improvement courses so as to efficiently work for a company.self improvement courseshttp://www.selfimprovementcourses.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-381129527146258002.post-63490254746346331442009-08-27T18:41:54.882-07:002009-08-27T18:41:54.882-07:00Wally:
Just that professionals will add self-educ...Wally:<br /><br />Just that professionals will add self-education to the normal work week, not that a good programmer works ungodly hours. <br /><br />I don't like that formulation either, hence my remark about Faith, Family, etc. I agree that we need to be learning new things and trying new things to educate ourselves, practice to improve our skills, etc.<br /><br />We run the risk of workaholism in general as well as overwork by taskmasters. I worry that software managers will use the soundbite to push developers to work longer days... which would pretty much prevent them from self-educating, practicing, etc. <br /><br />We need to have a little more left over at the end of the day after seeing the family and dealing with home and hearth if we expect to put a few minutes into reading instead of collapsing into a heap. The "sustainable pace" of agile never became a bad idea. We didn't give up on it. On-the-job hours need to be capped.<br /><br />I worry that this leaves little room for those who are on church boards, chamber of commerce, optimist club, sertoma, and the like. A person's only contribution should not be a long line of 14-hour work days.<br /><br />But again, I think he's pushing for us not counting on our employers for our career path and education.Agileotterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10773578598860454277noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-381129527146258002.post-43388694491477941452009-08-27T18:05:28.905-07:002009-08-27T18:05:28.905-07:00Tim,
Can you explain what "Uncle Bob" m...Tim,<br /><br />Can you explain what "Uncle Bob" means by "A 40 hr week is not the choice of a professional"<br /><br />I am not arguing with any of the possible interpretations that I can imagine, I just need to be clear on what YOU believe it means.Walter Moorenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-381129527146258002.post-31195829338180348292009-08-27T13:51:49.453-07:002009-08-27T13:51:49.453-07:00With all due respect to my elders, that's bunk...With all due respect to my elders, that's bunk. Self training is a compensation mechanism.<br /><br />If you are a consultant (the real kind, not the employee with no benefits kind) you ARE your employer and as your employer you recognize the value.<br /><br />Uncle Bob lives the talk and I respect that.<br /><br />Telling employees that they need to self educate is a sign of a sick employer. Most employers I've seen are sick, and bad economies tend to knock them out.<br /><br />But saying self training a philosophical high hill is bunk. If you can only find low performing economy riding employers, fine. You'd be stupid not to compensate.<br /><br />But even in 2009, there are still precious few high performing employers out there and we need to look at them as our models, not the compensation mechanism.Darrin Thompsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04037462028265507114noreply@blogger.com