[HN Gopher] Manage Like an Engineer
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       Manage Like an Engineer
        
       Author : wallflower
       Score  : 70 points
       Date   : 2023-01-11 14:58 UTC (1 days ago)
        
 (HTM) web link (ben.balter.com)
 (TXT) w3m dump (ben.balter.com)
        
       | marvin_3050 wrote:
       | Sounds like Jira to me
        
         | [deleted]
        
       | blowski wrote:
       | * * *
        
       | lavventura wrote:
       | Why not using Org mode files instead of Markdown files?
        
         | lloydatkinson wrote:
         | Because outside of the bubble not everyone knows or wants to
         | use emacs. Markdown is a lot more well used.
        
       | jsejcksn wrote:
       | Ben's continuous mantra of observability has resonated strongly
       | with me. I have learned so much more from researching and
       | reflecting on the indexed artifacts of others' public discourse
       | than from any ephemeral meeting.
        
         | ssgodderidge wrote:
         | Observability is highly underrated for management. The best
         | managers I've had have public calendars, so we can see what
         | they're spending their time. Priority is pretty clear when
         | management is spending time on something
        
       | twawaaay wrote:
       | > Asynchronous first
       | 
       | Umm... as an engineer I know the ins and outs of async.
       | 
       | The fact is that synchronous is so much more efficient when it is
       | practical.
       | 
       | You can exchange mails with the other person for 3 weeks to get
       | details of something nailed or get the meeting room with a
       | whiteboard for 2 hours and get out with the complete solution
       | without wasting time typing all those emails.
       | 
       | Asynchronous is for when you can't get that other person/persons
       | in the room and expect to get the thing done in reasonable time.
        
       | kerpotgh wrote:
       | Async is the most inefficient bullshit ever.
        
       | winphone1974 wrote:
       | This doesn't make any sense to me, a manager with a technical
       | background. I do use these tools... For their intended purpose.
       | The implication here is there are no functions in management
       | without a software development analog?
        
       | midiguy wrote:
       | I prefer engineering like a manager
        
         | e2e4 wrote:
         | :)
        
         | [deleted]
        
       | indymike wrote:
       | I think the author is talking about things like OKRs and other
       | management documents.
       | 
       | Managers have Google Docs, Notion, SharePoint and all kinds of
       | other tools that do change tracking and management of these kinds
       | of things. Long before Git was created, these solutions existed
       | (track changes). Git does a horrible job with zipped up bags of
       | binary, xml, json, and the show changes in most corporate
       | document management systems are really better/easier for written
       | word.
        
       | chiggsy wrote:
       | So... there are no tools used for managing people that are not
       | used for managing software?
       | 
       | Well, that is remarkably fortunate.
        
         | jiaaro wrote:
         | Yeah - It does seem like the author is trying to apply too many
         | lessons learned from managing computers and software to
         | managing people.
        
           | eftychis wrote:
           | To be fair the other approach of a lot of managers and
           | companies is to manage people as itemized resources -- and
           | not for the convenience.
           | 
           | I think it would be positive of some mathematical or computer
           | knowledge was used, like "don't just throw more people at the
           | problem," "context switching cost" (and generally the whole
           | work scheduling field).
           | 
           | But again "management" is not about people in most companies,
           | but about keeping the jobs of the higher ups. It might be
           | painful for all of us, but it is not like all managers don't
           | know how to improve things.
        
         | [deleted]
        
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       (page generated 2023-01-12 23:00 UTC)