Technical altitude, was Re: Python list vs google group

[Steven D'Aprano]

On Mon, 18 Jun 2018 15:59:58 +0200, Peter Otten wrote:

> Other than that I find it hard to believe that a "bean counter" can
> change a technical spec. He may put pressure on the designer, but when
> the designer gives in he's still responsible for the resulting technical
> problems.

Surely it depends on how dysfunctional the organisation is, and whether 
or not they are answerable to independent standards. Ultimately, the 
engineers answer to management, and if management treat them as drones 
that have to do what they're told instead of experts that can make 
decisions for themselves, anything is possible.

When you hear of technical disasters like tens of thousands of cars 
having to be recalled, or laptop batteries catching fire, or similar 
problems, we almost never find out whether this was an unavoidable 
failure, a technical mistake by the designers, or a case of managerial 
interference.

Fortunately I've avoided having to work in that sort of environment, but 
my wife used to work in the entertainment industry where that sort of 
managerial interference is the rule, not the exception.


-- 
Steven D'Aprano
"Ever since I learned about confirmation bias, I've been seeing
it everywhere." -- Jon Ronson