Managing Stress In The Computer Industry - Five Steps To A Stress-free Life
|
It would be easy to think, like most people apparently do, that stress and the computing (and especially programming) industry were unlikely bedfellows. The habitual image of long-haired young "geek" programmers churning out 'software' from their teenage bedrooms is one that many still associate with mainstream programmers. Stereotype or not, this image is still commonly held, and the armies of deadline-bound, overworked and stressed-out programmers in the real World are all but forgotten in the melee that is the result of the technological age.
Stress is widespread within the computer industry, perhaps even endemic. From the assembly-line manufacturers forever looking to increase throughput to the debuggers whose time requirements weren't in the original production schedule, pressure on those who work in the industry is at an all-time high and it is only going to increase as margins drop and further efficiencies are required.
Even getting into the industry can be stressful ? like private companies, many educational institutions are now usurping control of the code written on their campuses via "ownership" clauses which leave the originators of ground-breaking code with nothing to show for their efforts. Having something to show at interview is becoming increasingly difficult not just for existing programmers, but for the "new wave" just emerging from colleges and universities with excellent qualifications, but nothing they "own" to demonstrate.
Once the elusive job does come along, things rarely improve. Our "immediate" society is a result of the computer age and effortless sourcing of products and services via the internet. How many programmers have faced the challenge of meeting impossible deadlines with the threat that the next job will go to cheaper labour overseas that can do it in half the time? This leads to longer working hours, less rest, exhaustion, errors and then the cycle starts again - is that really what we expected when we entered the industry? So how can you reduce the stress put upon you by this relentless march of "progress".
First of all, an ounce of prevention is better than a pound (or should that be a ton?) of cure. By ensuring that your contracts are fair and considerate to both sides, you could remove a lot of stress later on. Here are five easy steps to help prevent stress in you next contract:
1. Be Honest
If a deadline is too short ? say so. If it seems short now, it will only seem much shorter later.
2. Be Realistic
When you are assessing the requirements of a job, make sure you've got some wiggle-room. Nine times out of ten, you'll need it (or at least appreciate it!)
3. Be Certain
Check your facts, figures, requirements and timings. If you have made an error, you want to find out now, not later when you'll be held to what you quoted.
4. Be Flexible
It helps to have an ace up your sleeve. If things really go wrong, where can you get extra help. Build contingency arrangements with others in your field and help each other out when you need it.
5. Beware
Stress creeps up on you unexpectedly. Do routine reviews against your plan and make sure you're still on course. If not, DO something about it and always, ALWAYS let the client know.
Brian Adamson
Natural Health Information Centre
This article is Copyright 2005 Natural Health Information Centre, but may be freely distributed in its entirety when properly attributed to the source:
Make money by GIVING AWAY our FREE E-book
|
|
|
The Top 5 Wrong Reasons For Not Hiring Testers
Considering whether or not your software company should hire a dedicated team of testers? Here are the Top 5 Wrong Reasons why you shouldn't.We Have a Beta ProgramSome people feel that the best way to debug a system is to ship it to your customers and wait for trouble tickets. I don't know how things work in your industry, but as far as I'm concerned, finding new customers is hard enough. I definitely don't want to make matters worse by shipping them buggy software.I've spent the last 5 years in the telecommunications industry where the standard for reliability is 5-9. If I even suggested to my custom...(related: Software)
Artificial Intelligence And Intuition
The intuitive algorithm.Roger Penrose considered it impossible. Thinking could never imitate a computer process. He said as much in his book, The Emperor's New Mind. But, a new book, The Intuitive Algorithm, (IA), suggested that intuition was a pattern recognition process. Intuition propelled information through many neural regions like a lightning streak. Data moved from input to output in a reported 20 milliseconds. The mind saw, recognized, interpreted and acted. In the blink of an eye. Myriad proce...(related: Software)
Microsoft Great Plains Partner Selection: Overview
Microsoft Great Plains, Navision, Solomon and Axapta are Microsoft Business Solutions ERP applications, serving to the whole spectrum of vertical and horizontal markets. Assuming that you already have one of these systems installed and implemented we would like to give you - IT director, Database Administrator, Programmer, Software Developer, Controller your options in supporting/upgrading Microsoft Great Plains for your companyIt is always good idea to install everything on your own - however Great Plains requires combination of computer networking, some programming, good accounting/distribution/logistics/reporting background - so it is not a surprise that Microsoft Business Solutions requires their customers to have specially assigner Microsoft Great Plains Partner/VAR/Reseller to serve the account.First Scenari...(related: Software)
Microsoft Moves To Small Business Accounting/retail Market ? Stakes And Thoughts
In this small article we will be looking at the new opportunities for Microsoft Small Business Server specialists, but rather look at the global business strategy and possible ways of future ERP modules standardizing and interoperability. This is important to get into consideration for midsize and large corporate business IT decision makers. Let's look at the chronology and possible future development.? Great Plains Software acquisition. When Mi...(related: Software)
Instant Messaging Is A Sweet Way To Communicate
MSN messenger is a pretty cool invention. I mean I'm not really into serious discussions on the email, answers to questions can often take a few days to arrive because people are so busy these days. I've just been 'hooked up' into Messenger and it's really a different kind of communication, quick, simplistic and even humorous with the capability to express your feelings with 'emotion' cartoons. With Messenger you c...(related: Software)
Is Your Small Business Ready For A Crm Software Solution?
I have yet to see a business that, sometimes in spite of themselves, didn't benefit from implementing a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) or a simpler Contact Management software solution.Your small business might be the rare exception, but if you can relate to some of the following scenarios, you may be ready to take advantage of the improved and inexpensive CRM systems coming on-stream.Mary, your star sales performer, has just been poached by your opposition. She departs your employ with im...(related: Software)
Most Dangerous Types Of Spyware Are On The Rise: How To Choose The Weapon
Bad News - the Threat is Bigger than it SeemedHow recently it was ? when even many journalists thought that spyware gathers mostly informa...(related: Software)
Microsoft Great Plains: Dexterity Vs. Econnect ? Faq
Microsoft Business Solutions Great Plains, former Great Plains Software Dynamics/eEnterprise was originally written in IDE and programming language ? Great Plains Dexterity. Currently Microsof...(related: Software)
S Is For Spying, Surveillance -- And For Software As Well
Words we choose to describe things and phenomena often show our attitude towards what we say. They imperceptibly reflect our opinions and judgments, prejudices and preferences, moral convictions and beliefs. Whether we like it or not, good deal of words we use are biased, or should I say "slanted", --positively or negatively. Two people will call the same thing differently, depending on their points of view.Look at this example: "Monitoring", "surveillance", "control", "data interception", "gathering evidence of wrongdoing" -- on the one hand; "sleuthing", "spying", "eavesdropping", "snooping", "peeping", "prying", "tapping"--on the other. A neutral "information gathering device" vs. negatively loaded "bug"--choice of words clearly shows whether we approve or disapprove it....(related: Software)
5 Time-saving Tips In Microsoft Word
Whether you have used Microsoft Word for years, have just switched from WordPerfect or are new to word processing, try these easy steps to save time and simplify your work in Word:Turn off Personalized Menus and ToolbarsAlthough it is a default, Personalized Menus and Toolbars is...(related: Software)
Navision Attain C/odbc Crystal Report ? Customization Example
Microsoft Business Solutions Navision is main ERP application for European, Brazilian markets plus it serves vertical segments of the USA market, such as light manufacturing, POS, CRM. As our experience indicates ? Navision implementation requires more customization and tuning in comparison to another mid-market ERP solution from MBS: Microsoft Great Plains. Our goal is to popularize Microsoft Business Solutions products and enlighten IT people to do customize Navision in-house.Today, the main topic of this article is working with native C/SIDE Navision Attain database via C/ODBC interface, in particular ? Linked Server creation in Microsoft SQL ...(related: Software)
History Of Java
The java programming language is becoming more and more popular each day. It is the language without which one cannot even hope to a land a job thesedays. But has somebody even wondered how this language came about? There are many stories about, many books have been written. Here is my version (not approved by Sun Microsystems).The java programming language originated in Indonesia. It was meant to be usedby the tourists that visit that country each year. Why would tourists want to use computer? Well, these ar...(related: Software)
Navision Sales Module & Reporting: Jet Reports, C/odbc, Xbrl, Business Analytics ? Highlights
Microsoft bought Navision, Denmark based software development company, along with Great Plains Software. Now Microsoft Business Solutions offers the following ERP applications: Navision (former Navision Attain), Microsoft Great Plains (former Great Plains Dynamics/eEnterprise), Solomon, Axapta. Formerly Navision had strong positions in Europe. Now it is being promoted in USA and Europe. Navision has a quite advanced manufacturing module.
site-map - Copyright © 2008 | Contact Webmaster | All Rights Reserved. | Software