I haven’t written a blog in a while but I do have pages of ideas that I need to flesh out. Some of them I could probably finish if I dedicated some time to them, whereas others need some more ideas to make them interesting. I’ve got various code samples and funny quotes too.
So let’s discuss what has happened over the last few weeks in the crazy world of software engineering.
In our new team structures, we were told that the teams could be quite flexible so people would move teams frequently, which really goes against what makes a successful team. Surely you can’t have much team cohesion when staff are constantly being reassigned. We were also told that each team would have a Tech Lead who would be permanent (which I was). However, a few weeks later, another Senior joined and was instantly assigned the Tech Lead, then a few weeks later, I then moved teams. So maybe the Tech Leads don’t move teams, but can be demoted – then moved!
Recently, all the changes that have happened seem random and we don’t get an explanation of manager’s decisions. However, the person that I replaced in my new team specifically asked to move teams. The thing is, he has reasons why he didn’t like this team and moving me into it isn’t going to change things. He mentioned that there’s 2 people that often argue, there’s a lack of developers, and the developers they do have often tried to get him to do their work.
I mentioned in Mentoring #5 that I wasn’t working with my Apprentice anymore, but now I am. This is one reason why there’s a lack of developers because he isn’t at a level to do proper work.
After a few days in the team, I was invited to their “Retrospective” meeting. I looked through their notes for their previous meetings and they had previously discussed the amount of turnover in their teams, so I brought it back up for discussion. A week later, the Product Owner switched teams.
I think the 2 people that often argue was the Product Owner and the Senior Tester, so maybe that issue has been resolved now.
I keep being asked to do everything. We seem to have loads of projects planned but I don’t see how we can do them given we don’t have enough developers and can’t do multiple projects at once. I end up attending meetings, then am asked to try to estimate the size, then have to fix urgent bugs, help people with various stuff, and do code reviews.
One day, I think 3 hours went by before I even started thinking about writing some code. I said to my Apprentice that I just don’t have time to start proper work. He said he hadn’t done anything either because after the Daily Standup meeting, he decided he wanted a second breakfast! I really don’t get it. I told him stories of developers like Derek that took so many breaks, he only worked 4 hours when he was supposed to work 7.5, and my Apprentice seems to be going down that path. He ends up starting late because he sleeps in, he likes an hour lunch because he likes eating, then finishes early because he needs to pick up his kid from school, but then can’t work because he has to look after his kid. So he probably works 4 or 4.5 hours. I’ve mentioned in previous blogs that I understand people have personal circumstances and it’s possible you could be very efficient and get your work done in half the time – so it’s not really a problem if you literally work half the time you are paid for. But in this case, I see nothing from him.
Stranger Coding Tings 