July 2004
I was talking to another engineer that had been around for some
time and asked him "have you ever noticed how someone could have the dumbest
idea of all time -- but not be convinced that it is not a great idea -- because
it is their idea?"
We've done things and people find all kinds of fault with what we've done. Instead of talking with us, formulating a plan, and then working the plan -- they go and secretly formulate their own plan. Many times, they're worse off, but they won't admit it -- because it was their idea! OR the reason we failed is simply because it wasn't their plan to begin with!
Which is one of the reasons why people are so against change. It was their idea to do it this way so we will keep on doing it this way forever.
Which is precisely why we have to be so flexible. We can walk in with the best idea in the entire world -- but unless we can convince someone else that it is their idea -- we will never be successful.
Operations operators are the best example of this. How many times have vendors or management made a decision, implemented it, and then dropped it on the operations people? Trust us. It is their decision on if the solution works or doesn't work. They are that good.
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