Timeline for Would you hire a project manager with no programmer background in an IT environment?
Current License: CC BY-SA 3.0
13 events
| when toggle format | what | by | license | comment | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 1, 2012 at 6:19 | comment | added | DHN | Thank you. But I think we have finished this short discussion. :o) | |
| Feb 29, 2012 at 22:44 | comment | added | jmort253 | Hi all, please consider moving this conversation to our empty, awaiting chat room. It's calling :) | |
| Feb 29, 2012 at 17:50 | comment | added | Simon Boulanger | Could I understand enough the programming process, without being a programmer, to know what a programmer needs like support? I think so. But I would really try do learn how to program. Maybe with online courses. A beginner course or something. Are those any good? | |
| Feb 29, 2012 at 14:59 | comment | added | M0N4K0 | @DHN - I totally see where you coming from and the frustration you may have felt. Though, I think this is not just a problem between technical teams and non technical PMs. I have had a couple of unfortunate situations myself where my PM couldn't understand that a particular task required longer than he thought...and tonnes of stories like this one. I have also had some trouble with IT managers that didn't understand the pressure of the customers in operational teams. That's why I have highlighted communications as the key PM skill ;o) | |
| Feb 29, 2012 at 14:43 | comment | added | DHN | @SimonBoulanger: Hmm ok. But it's a pretty huge difference between "I taught programming myself" or "I studied something with programming". At the university you must deal with the theory of computer sciences. This is the step which is skipped by an autodidact. I think this lies in the learning motivation. But as I said, you don't need the skills but if you have sit on the other side of the table you may get a new point of view. ;o) | |
| Feb 29, 2012 at 14:33 | comment | added | DHN | @M0N4K0: Well if you mean foundation in form of a book, an article or a study you're right. But as I said it's my personal opinion. I believe the interaction of team and project manager / teamleader would be most efficient, when the PM has experienced the situation of developers. But this also includes that the former developer can convert his experience in the appropriate actions to reach his managing goals. I think, the tricky part is to find someone like this. ;o) And yes, I had some bad experiences aka "Why did the implementation of this little input field take such a long time?"... :o/ | |
| Feb 29, 2012 at 14:27 | comment | added | Simon Boulanger | I meant that it is easy to start learning programming if you are motivated; but much more difficult to be a great programmer. I like complicated stuff. | |
| Feb 29, 2012 at 14:21 | comment | added | DHN | @SimonBoulanger: I don't want him to have the same skills as the developers. My point is, that the person who wants to manage such projects should has been on the other side, so he can understand what the needs and problems of the developers are. Think of the effect that the estimated time of a task is not equals the time needed in most cases. And yes it's difficuilt to learn programming. I studied business informatics not just for fun. ;o) It's pretty sad that every nondeveloper seems to think, everybody can learn it by reading some books and doing some tutorials. :o/ | |
| Feb 29, 2012 at 14:00 | comment | added | M0N4K0 | I think you have had some bad experience with previous (or current ) Project Manager(s). However, your firm statement "I wound n't accept a project manager which wasn't a developer at least for a short time" has no foundation. As you say, you don't need him to fix technical issues, so if you want him to understand you better try to approach him/her with your concerns. | |
| Feb 29, 2012 at 13:50 | comment | added | Simon Boulanger | Is that so difficult to learn programming? If you put your mind to it and you are motivated. I would take 2 or 3 days even a week and sit beside each of my team members to learn what they are doing everyday and what they need. I like new challenges. | |
| Feb 29, 2012 at 10:11 | comment | added | DHN | It's my own opinion. I know it's pretty bold. But I know some people who are sharing it. The point is, that I don't like the "In theory" approach. Sure a PM could prepare himself by reading some books, visiting workshops or talking to the developer, but this preparation will never be as good as when it has happened to himself. | |
| Feb 29, 2012 at 9:08 | comment | added | Bartosz Rakowski | "Somebody without this experience doesn't know what the typical problems of a developer are" - is this an assumption or you know it by numbers? | |
| Feb 29, 2012 at 7:07 | history | answered | DHN | CC BY-SA 3.0 |