Programmers tend to like change

As we all know the vast majority of people don’t like change. Generally speaking, programmers are an exception to this rule. They tend to embrace change.

Of course, the computer industry itself is constantly changing. Almost any computer-related technology (hardware or software) becomes obsolete within 3-5 years. Sometimes new technologies don’t even last that long. Software developers understand that very well and generally want to keep pace with the technology changes.

Implications:

Keep your programmers up-to-date with the newest technologies. This means sending them to classes. Doing so is important both in order to keep your solutions current as well as keeping your programmers happy.

Back in the days when I was primarily a software developer, I spent a few years working for a consulting firm whose specialty was providing a complete manufacturing facility – including the building itself. The firm had about 200 engineers of whom the majority were structural and mechanical engineers. The electrical engineers were just that – electrical. They were experts in wiring buildings, putting in electrical substations, etc. Less than 10% of the engineers worked in disciplines involving the use of computers in their designs.

The firm was very successful because the paid time of the engineers was over 90% billable. However the firm was very, very reluctant to send the engineers to school. When you are in class, you are not billable.

For the majority of the engineers, this was not a problem. The amount of weight borne by a steel I-beam hasn’t changed for a long time.

But I and the other software developers found this situation to be very frustrating. We knew that our knowledge was becoming obsolete. This caused a large amount of turnover among the software developers. It was the primary reason that I left the company.

The lesson to be learned: keep your programmers up-to-date with the newest technologies.