Comment by bearjaws
1 year ago
Most people know who Bill Atkinson on this forum. The story premise that he wrote negative code isn't my gripe, I am sure it happened.
The outcome where all of a sudden leadership just shit its pants and doesn't communicate at all and never followed up... It's like writing "and then everyone clapped" for programmers.
Man you must have only worked with really good management. "Management realised the stupid policy change they announced with great fanfare was stupid, stopped doing it, and never mentioned it again" is something I've seen several times in my career.
It just occurred to me that really good management is like a fruit at the optimum of its ripeness - it stays that way only for a while so enjoy it while it lasts otherwise it will rot and stink.
> The outcome where all of a sudden leadership just shit its pants and doesn't communicate at all and never followed up...
This is not only a possible outcome, it is a common one. When leadership realizes it was a mistake to instill one of these types of "productivity motivators", it is easier to disappear it and never (officially) speak of it again.