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388 points replyifuagree | 4 comments | | HN request time: 0.906s | source
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nmstoker ◴[] No.37966119[source]
I get the point, and with irresponsible parties (as is fairly widespread in most companies) there's a real risk here.

However the analogy of a meteorologist seems poor as that job is focused on predicting the weather - the typical dev is focused on operating in that weather and comparatively inexperienced in predicting with great accuracy.

What's frustrating as a stakeholder is ludicrous estimates, which don't even start with the work time, let alone end up with a realistic duration. This is particularly true (and frustrating) at the micro task level, an area I'm often requiring items that take at most 30 minute to complete and are usually things I could do in less time if only I had access... You get a weeks long estimate back, even when it's incurring a serious cost in production and falls in the drop everything category (which obviously one wants to avoid but does come up). I get that none of those 30 minute tasks will take 30 minute alone as there's testing and documentation to add but the more bs level the estimate, the more it damages the trust relationship.

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1. replyifuagree ◴[] No.37967327[source]
Yep, these days I tend suss out the estimate the person is looking for because the relationship is actually more important to my career longevity. I mean, the estimate is very likely wrong anyway, so they might as well be happy for a bit!

This works because almost never is the true scope of the work known when the ask is made, so it is usually pretty easy to say later "hey, blah blah blah wasn't taken into account for the estimate." Having a good relationship from step one makes it pretty easy to carve out the extra time.

There are some more lizard brained people who play hardball, but as long as I was nice in step 1, my VP handles them. Not sure what I would do if I didn't have a decent VP!

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2. c0pium ◴[] No.37968894[source]
> Not sure what I would do if I didn't have a decent VP!

Learn how to actually do your job?

It’s always interesting to see toxic positivity painted in such a favorable light. Very glad I don’t work with you.

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3. replyifuagree ◴[] No.37969835[source]
If you are like most business people I've worked with, you love my complicity.
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4. c0pium ◴[] No.38018635{3}[source]
I get people like you fired.