• Visitors can check out the Forum FAQ by clicking this link. You have to register before you can post: click the REGISTER link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. View our Forum Privacy Policy.
  • Want to receive the latest contracting news and advice straight to your inbox? Sign up to the ContractorUK newsletter here. Every sign up will also be entered into a draw to WIN £100 Amazon vouchers!

American IT Workers don't say sorry do they!?

Collapse
X
  •  
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

    American IT Workers don't say sorry do they!?

    Amazingly, this is the third time i have had to complain to the US IT dept about shoddy programming or documentation.

    Each time they lazily fix it and don't inform me. When you do get an email or talk to the person they cannot even admit they f-cked it up.

    Poor. Very poor. They same incapable of saying sorry or saying they didnt do it properly.

    Is this an American thing or is it just my client?
    What happens in General, stays in General.
    You know what they say about assumptions!

    #2
    Yanks are worse than women in the software development stakes!

    Grace Hopper... Anyone?

    Comment


      #3
      There should be no need to apologise, just fix the fault.

      An apology suggests guilt and that suggests blame and we do not encourage that.

      Try "The Egoless programmer" for inspiration.
      I am not qualified to give the above advice!

      The original point and click interface by
      Smith and Wesson.

      Step back, have a think and adjust my own own attitude from time to time

      Comment


        #4
        I've worked with some yanks in the UK, their work culture seems to be one of utterly avoiding any responsibility for anything and having no desire to accomplish anything. They sit there for a long time though, which they think makes them really good. I am not going to call it 'working long hours' like they would, because they don't do anything of any use. Occasionally they may 'high five' one another and talk about asses (kicking other peoples, putting theirs on some kind of a line, people having other peoples), none of these things relate to any accomplishment but they like to do it anyway.

        Comment


          #5
          Originally posted by MarillionFan
          Amazingly, this is the third time i have had to complain to the US IT dept about shoddy programming or documentation.

          Each time they lazily fix it and don't inform me. When you do get an email or talk to the person they cannot even admit they f-cked it up.

          Poor. Very poor. They same incapable of saying sorry or saying they didnt do it properly.

          Is this an American thing or is it just my client?
          There is actually a good reason for that.

          It is common practice for "bugs" to be assigned to developers, like black marks in school.

          A developer that has above average "bugs" will be sent to a "correction" centre to be "retrained". If the developer still persists in creating more bugs he gets sacked.

          ...so if a developer finds a bug, he doesn't just fix it, he has to report it to the QA manager. The QA manager is usually a burly six foot guy who you wouldn't want to meet in a dark alley.

          Hence.....a developer doesn't have bugs in his codes.
          Last edited by BlasterBates; 27 February 2007, 10:33.
          I'm alright Jack

          Comment


            #6
            some more insights into American working practices:
            http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/6346315.stm
            Coffee's for closers

            Comment


              #7
              I've worked with a few yanks before and enjoyed taking the p!ss about them losing the Vietnam war. Then when 9/11 happened I had a whole bunch of new material. Now I'm waiting for the tail between the legs retreat from I-raq.

              Comment


                #8
                Originally posted by Jawz
                I-raq.
                You make it sound like a Steve Jobs inventions (sorry I-vention)
                Coffee's for closers

                Comment


                  #9
                  Originally posted by Spacecadet
                  You make it sound like a Steve Jobs inventions (sorry I-vention)
                  I was trying to type it how old George W says it.

                  Comment


                    #10
                    I worked with one yank project manager - good chap, but he totally lacked sense of local humour, ie sarcasm - you'd see people saying it in his face but he would not get it, was fun to watch

                    Comment

                    Working...
                    X