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Useless Software
So I’m working in a software company (a good sized one) and we have a
new release of an existing program due out. I notice that a particular
piece of functionality is not working, when it had been before, so I
write up a problem report about it. I get an email back from one of
the lead developers that “We removed that functionality because it
isn’t used very often, and there is a workaround for it.” I wrote
back that it is used extremely often, and in my opinion, this cannot
be released without it. Back and forth this goes, bringing upper
level managers and program managers (who don’t use this program) into
the discussion. Being as this software HAS to be released by a
certain date, I get over-ruled and the software goes out without said
functionality.
Guess what the very first customer reported problem was for the
software? Guess what was the second customer reported problem? Guess
which problem was reported more often than any other? Guess which
functionality was returned in the point release?
Guess who had to leave to go to an intelligent company?
15 Comments to Useless Software
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What was the first problem? What was the second problem? You never answered these questions that you posed. Who left? You left me so confused I am crying!
I wouldn’t have quit my job over that one incident. On the contrary, after your warning proved to be correct, it ought to enhance your standing within the company.
Well…all I can say is that your management would have been better off if they listened to you. They had their beliefs. You had yours. Turns out, yours was right. They made a mistake. Don’t let it bother you.
I just want to thank you for being there for technical support when I call that 800 number.
Dilbert?
Should we also guess what your boss has to do with any of this? Good story otherwise.
I wouldn’t call that a bad boss. A boss made the best decision he could with the information available, even though it was the wrong one. They released the software, it turned out they were wrong, and released a point revision to correct their mistake.
Your role as an employee is to be frank with them and give them all the information they need to make a decision. Their role is to make the decision, even if it’s the wrong one. Then you just sit back and watch the fur fly, in a reasonably healthy company, as long as you have a paper trail you can’t be easily scapegoated.
I’ve had to do that several times. There are so many politically astute ways to say “I told you so”…
Nice! This was the first time I actually LOL’d at a post on here!
Microsoft?
Guess who cannot tell the difference between a question and an imperative.
You quit over that? You realize this is a common problem with software releases? Deadline trumps testing and functionality.
You sound female.
Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Go jump off a cliff.
By any chance is this the Palm Pixi? I’ve gone through 3 phones in 3 weeks and they all had the same problem.
You got me OP, what were the first and second complaints? What problem was reported more often than any other? What functionality was returned? Who had to leave to go work for another company?
Microsoft, right? This is about copying to the default profile in Windows 7, right? Because why even bother having the “copy” button when it is permanently grayed out? If it is, you’re a genius and your bosses suck!