TMG-L Archives

Archiver > TMG > 2002-09 > 1030892386


From: "Holly Hendricks" <>
Subject: RE: [TMG] Bad publicity
Date: Sun, 1 Sep 2002 10:59:46 -0400
In-Reply-To: <3D71A963.6F651CC3@netzero.net>


After years in a number of high-tech companies, my criticisms of various
management groups became so frustrating that I happily took much less
money and went independent. If you believe in the "good/cheap/fast, pick
two" theory of software development, "good" was always sacrificed to
"fast" in that world.

That said, I wish those of you who have genuine frustrations with Wholly
Genes could work with Bob and Lissa at an industry trade show, as I have
done twice. You will see something truly amazing in the world of
management.

The booth is visited continually by hundreds of people including the
biggest names in the business, the press, the theorists and standards
developers, and many people who just want to build genealogical
databases, from novices to pros. Bob takes it all in, asks the users a
lot of questions, and then processes the ideas over dinner with some of
the other pros, sifting and sorting everything they've heard.
(Clarification - although present, I don't count myself as one of the
pros, just a fascinated bystander!) No doubt he continues processing
suggestions, criticisms, and wishes after each event with his staff.

Many companies give lip service to being user-driven, market-focused, and
so forth, but end users never get the ear of the primary decision maker.
User feedback is instead filtered through layers of marketeers and QA
groups, all of whom have their own agendas.

I don't think anyone needs to worry about being openly critical, either.
This company welcomes constructive criticism. Bob's most common response
to criticism is not a defense of the product, but instead asking, "So how
would you like that to work?" or "What did you have in mind?".

So in the "good/cheap/fast, pick two" model, I will happily surrender
fast, because I know the end result at Wholly Genes will be both good and
affordable...and because I can pick up the phone and talk directly to the
boss!

Holly





This thread: