A home builder is hiring some more workers for his new construction project. A few handymen, applied for the job.
When he interviews the candidates, he asks the following questions:
1) Do you know how to use hammer?
2) Do you know how to use saw?
3) Do you know how to use measurement tape?
4) Do you know how to use power tools?
When he gets positive answers, he hired them.
Not long after the project started, he realized the project is not doing well, the wall is not straight, and the floor is not level…
A software company is hiring some software programmers for an enterprise commercial system. A few non-professional programmers came to apply for the job.
When he interviews the candidates, he asks the following questions:
1) Do you know how to write VB.Net program?
2) Do you know how to write SQL/Server Stored procedure?
3) Have you created sql server tables and views?
When it gets positive answers, the company hired them.
Not long after the project started, he realized the project is not doing well, the design of the system is convoluted, the code is difficult to read and full of bugs, when one bug is fixed 3 other bugs are produced, the performance of the system is terrible, the project is way behind schedule…
The commonality between above 2 scenarios is the decision maker mistakenly confused tools over skills.
Lots of people know how to use a specific language write, but not all of them can write beautiful novel or a scientific paper; lots of people know how to play piano, but not all of them can play beautiful music like pianist ; lots of people know how to use these tools a professional home builder uses, but not all of them have the skills to build a single family house; lots of people knows how to write .Net code, and design database tables, but not all of them are qualify to design / develop commercial standard enterprise software system. It is the skillset differentiate professionals from non-professionals not the tool.
that's deep... knowledge of a tool and skilled usage of a tool.
ReplyDeleteQuestion: what should we we asking in those interviews? there are limitations and time constraints in an interview.
the worse thing is that person at the leadership position does not see the difference in it. and hope these with lower cost can deliver the same result as these with higher cost.
ReplyDeleteGuess what, when we have this kind of leadership, the project will cost more. more time, more budget, more resource. or even lead to the failure of the project.
They asked these questions, because these are the questions they have...
ReplyDelete