On Thu, 17 Mar 2011 08:13 -0500, "Olin Lathrop" wrote:
> alan smith wrote:
> > Getting more info from the customer...wouldnt it be nice if they
> > would just tell me everything...
>=20
> Grow up and stop blaming the customer.  You're the one who screwed up.=20
> Your
> job as engineer is to gather the requirements if these are not already
> known
> before designing something.  Most customers don't understand what you
> need
> to know.  After all, that's why they hire you.  They also tend to imagine
> a
> solution and then ask for that implementation.  Good engineers will ask
> questions until they are satisfied they know what is really needed and
> what
> will solve the customer's true problem, not necessarily the one they
> first
> presented.
>=20
> If you can't handle this, you should be working for a large company with
> senior people around.  Don't try to be a consultant.

Hey! Up in your lofty perch, can you hear me? Down here, yeah!=20

There's more than one way to do things. You are comfortable with it one
way. Maybe his customer doesn't like being put through your meat
grinder. Maybe they already talked to you and liked Alan's personality
better. I know you won't deal with customers that can't come up with a
complete specification. That leaves plenty of customers that have money
to pay and need help developing the spec as well as designing the
product.

I don't see how Alan is not a "good engineer" even by your definition.
He is preparing his next round of questions for the customer. We're
helping. There's nothing wrong with that. It's actually a more
up-to-date way of doing it, utilizing the hive mind as a resource.

Bob

--=20
http://www.fastmail.fm - Access all of your messages and folders
                          wherever you are

--=20
http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive
View/change your membership options at
http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist
.