IT people and their lack of imagination

[sasguru]

One thing I've noticed in 20 years in computing in a range of industries and on this forum is the absolute literalness of most IT people.
Obviously I'm talking about technical people (support people/developers mainly). There seems to be a complete lack of imagination in most IT types, a singular inability to imagine anything they have not experienced personally and allied with this a complete lack of ability to see the bigger picture.
Many IT people see their skills (say C# programming or DBA) as defining who they are.
And so they remain at a low level for the rest of their lives and allow the chancers and bulltulipters (PMs, BAs etc) to exploit them and cock things up.

Why is this? Education? Or is it inevitable that a mindset that deals with detail has no time for the bigger picture? Is there a level of autism involved?

I have long been fascinated by this issue.

[Scrag Meister]

One thing I've noticed in 20 years in computing in a range of industries and on this forum is the absolute literalness of most IT people.
Obviously I'm talking about technical people (support people/developers mainly). There seems to be a complete lack of imagination in most IT types, a singular inability to imagine anything they have not experienced personally and allied with this a complete lack of ability to see the bigger picture.
Many IT people see their skills (say C# programming or DBA) as defining who they are.
And so they remain at a low level for the rest of their lives and allow the chancers and bulltulipters (PMs, BAs etc) to exploit them and cock things up.

Why is this? Education? Or is it inevitable that a mindset that deals with detail has no time for the bigger picture? Is there a level of autism involved?

I have long been fascinated by this issue.

I enjoy dev work, get paid well enough and don't want to be known as a Chancer and a Bulltulipter.

Its all to do with the mild Asperger's.

[SimonMac]

No imagination?!

Have you seen some of the tulip threads that crop up on here!

[northernladuk]

There seems to be a complete lack of imagination in most IT types

I have long been fascinated by this issue.

Is this a lesson in irony??

[Spacecadet]

One thing I've noticed in 20 years in computing in a range of industries and on this forum is the absolute literalness of most IT people.
Obviously I'm talking about technical people (support people/developers mainly). There seems to be a complete lack of imagination in most IT types, a singular inability to imagine anything they have not experienced personally and allied with this a complete lack of ability to see the bigger picture.
Many IT people see their skills (say C# programming or DBA) as defining who they are.
And so they remain at a low level for the rest of their lives and allow the chancers and bulltulipters (PMs, BAs etc) to exploit them and cock things up.

Why is this? Education? Or is it inevitable that a mindset that deals with detail has no time for the bigger picture? Is there a level of autism involved?

I have long been fascinated by this issue.

On the whole I agree with what you say though, there are a lot of developers who lack the "fuzzy" thinking and communication skills necessary to make that transition. You can usually spot them by their sneering attitude of anyone outside of the technical team.

Personally, I'm quite happy making strategy and sticking my neck out and pointing out whats wrong and how the team/department/company should be doing things. Infact I make it a point to do this within the first week of starting any contract just to stamp my mark.

[MarillionFan]

I've seen things you people wouldn't believe.

[PAH]

No imagination?! Have you seen some of the tulip threads that crop up on here!

Those are by AtW's SKA-bots. Everyone knows that. Unless you're a bot.

I'm sure I saw a news article in the last week or so about a high number of people in IT having aspergers or autism. Makes them more logical minded.

Edit: yep, found it:

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/03cb43a0-a...#axzz1RglSjsKf

[shaunbhoy]

One thing I've noticed in 20 years

That would be about right.

[suityou01]

One thing I've noticed in 20 years in computing in a range of industries and on this forum is the absolute literalness of most IT people.
Obviously I'm talking about technical people (support people/developers mainly). There seems to be a complete lack of imagination in most IT types, a singular inability to imagine anything they have not experienced personally and allied with this a complete lack of ability to see the bigger picture.
Many IT people see their skills (say C# programming or DBA) as defining who they are.
And so they remain at a low level for the rest of their lives and allow the chancers and bulltulipters (PMs, BAs etc) to exploit them and cock things up.

Why is this? Education? Or is it inevitable that a mindset that deals with detail has no time for the bigger picture? Is there a level of autism involved?

I have long been fascinated by this issue.

I'd say 20 years is not enough to take the high horse on IT matters.

[shaunbhoy]

I'd say 20 years is not enough to take the high horse on IT matters.

Particularly when you are an arrogant pompous sociopath with all the grace of a rattlesnake.