Reply to: Project Manager Uselessness

[tomtomagain]

Some projects require a PM. Some don't. Unfortunately some organisations attempt to put a PM onto everything.

The largest project I ran had a team of around 35, about two dozen suppliers, operated across multiple timezones and cultures, required some extremely technical resources for some aspects of it and had a budget of many millions of dollars.

Are you suggesting that nobody is required to do the coordination, procurement, planning, issue resolution, recruitment, reporting, prioritisation and so on?

[Mordac]

@MF




One wonders what you had to type into Google to find that, but that's probably a discussion between you and your therapist.

[vetran]

He got banned. Came back as a sockies which got banned. The he could come back but flounced.

explains why the economy picked up he found everyone new jobs.

[SueEllen]

I thought I was going nuts for a second. Where the hell is DA anyway? Still in purgatory?

He got banned. Came back as a sockies which got banned. The he could come back but flounced.

[MarillionFan]

Not quite how I remember it, but at least the question which has been torturing my soul for the last dozen or so years has finally been answered: Namely, which squealing toss-womble grassed me up?
Lemme guess how it went. "Miss, miss, that bastardy contractor scum-git stole all my test kit!" followed by toys hurled from the pram and a hissy fit that would put Lily Allen to shame. Am I close?

[Mordac]

No I didnt get a bollocking for it as I told them it was all you, then I sat back and laughed when they escorted you from the building. I've never seen a grown man blub like that before.

Not quite how I remember it, but at least the question which has been torturing my soul for the last dozen or so years has finally been answered: Namely, which squealing toss-womble grassed me up?
Lemme guess how it went. "Miss, miss, that bastardy contractor scum-git stole all my test kit!" followed by toys hurled from the pram and a hissy fit that would put Lily Allen to shame. Am I close?

[GB9]

I rest my case.

How would we tell from what you normally do with your case?

[MarillionFan]

Cheeky fecker, it took you a week to notice I'd nicked most of your test kit. Not exactly paying close attention, were you
I can't remember if you got a bollocking for that, I know I did (sacrificial contractor an' all that) but it was fun

No I didnt get a bollocking for it as I told them it was all you, then I sat back and laughed when they escorted you from the building. I've never seen a grown man blub like that before.

[sasguru]

And that's exactly the sort of statement I would expect from developers who have ONLY worked on really small projects I. E. with one or two developers on it. ��

I rest my case.

[GB9]

What use are most PMs really? My 7 year old can do a fooking Gantt chart.
Is it a case of those with the talent earn the big bucks and those who can't PM?
In any case most ex and current PMs come across as thick as pig-tulip.
It's becoming the case that senior devs increasingly take on the PM - that makes sense as they'll understand the issues and can even get their hands dirty if needs be.

And that's exactly the sort of statement I would expect from developers who have ONLY worked on really small projects I. E. with one or two developers on it. ��

[jamesbrown]

Nope I can't quote SAS using the app...

I thought I was going nuts for a second. Where the hell is DA anyway? Still in purgatory?

[Mordac]

Oh dear, has someone told you to pull your socks up. Don't worry, happens to everyone(well except me) at some time.

Cheeky fecker, it took you a week to notice I'd nicked most of your test kit. Not exactly paying close attention, were you
I can't remember if you got a bollocking for that, I know I did (sacrificial contractor an' all that) but it was fun

[SueEllen]

Insight, you are right in your analysis of the situation. The problem is not the fact that you do not have a seven day notice clause, it is that the client has a seven day notice clause to get rid of you.

I have always found that if a contractor really wants to leave there is little that can (or should) be done to prevent it. This is because most contractors are quite professional in managing their departure. These clauses should only ever be invoked if a contractor does something very naughty . The fact that they are there is really a deterrence rather than anything else.

Nope I can't quote SAS using the app...

[SueEllen]

Insight, you are right in your analysis of the situation. The problem is not the fact that you do not have a seven day notice clause, it is that the client has a seven day notice clause to get rid of you.

I have always found that if a contractor really wants to leave there is little that can (or should) be done to prevent it. This is because most contractors are quite professional in managing their departure. These clauses should only ever be invoked if a contractor does something very naughty . The fact that they are there is really a deterrence rather than anything else.

Hey hey

[MrMarkyMark]

In any case most ex and current PMs come across as thick as pig-tulip.

That's normally my base starting point, it ensures that I am never disappointed