Oxymoron One: Engineer Communication

What is the key challenge in communicating with engineers? They hear with different ears and describe things in unusual ways. How do leaders make sure the message is understood?

Optimism Versus Pessimism

There is no such thing as a pure optimist or pessimist, but software engineers seem to follow an odd cellular mitosis to one extreme or another. Is it good to have all pessimists? Yes, that is not the best way to get things done. All optimists? See the chapter about Estimation: Never Accurate.

Experience Versus New Techniques

Software engineers have favorite technologies in ways that a 2-year-old hugs a favorite blanket. It is hard to sell change to the perennially successful traditionalist. But, there are times the new innovators will need to lead the way. How do we get the best of the experienced engineers to apply to new techniques?

The Old Guard Versus New Engineers

If the old guard believes that the right way is set in stone, the new engineers believe the new way is the only way. If leaders do not encourage the balance of these 2 groups progress would become either stagnation or chasing shiny objects.

Oxymoron Two: Engineer Communication

The continuation of the futility of engineering communication… and how to improve it.