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:
natural health information centre.
natural health information centre
shuttle from Midway Glen Ellyn ..Viruses and spyware usually show up on your computer one... Read More
Security flaws have long plagued Internet Explorer (IE), the market-dominating... Read More
NOTE: Please take time to read on - it may... Read More
Find out why Spyware Removal from computers is important and... Read More
Former Great Plains Software Dynamics/eEnterprise, and currently Microsoft Business Solutions... Read More
Stealing company information used to be the specialty of spies... Read More
If you have Microsoft Great Plains and support it for... Read More
I completed an experiment recently. I wanted to find out... Read More
Spyware is like the new technological nuclear weapon on the... Read More
Words we choose to describe things and phenomena often show... Read More
So, you've bought a new Macintosh, and now you may... Read More
SAP Inc., a global leader in client/server enterprise application software... Read More
There are many commands that are used in linux on... Read More
While I was in college, if you would have asked... Read More
Bill of Lading is required report for Logistics and Freight... Read More
Remember nice and prosperous Clinton era? When you implemented innovative... Read More
Creating a new markup language.Introduction.General Reuse Markup Langauge, or GRML,... Read More
Not all of us have the luxury of working both... Read More
Corporate ERP/MRP selection might be tough one, especially considering very... Read More
Microsoft CRM was designed to be easily customizable. Microsoft CRM... Read More
Small can be beautiful! Working with Knoppix for the past... Read More
This article will not attempt to advocate the use of... Read More
When you think... Read More
I provide, here clear explanations and a count of function... Read More
If you have been running Windows XP for a couple... Read More
shuttle from O'Hare North Chicago ..Sales are all about leverage, because there is only so... Read More
Traditionally we were considering functionally rich systems, such as SAP,... Read More
Remember back in the days where screensavers were the coolest... Read More
As Mozilla Firefox nears 10% market share, with well over... Read More
The intentions of this short tutorial are not to teach... Read More
Creating a new markup language.Introduction.General Reuse Markup Langauge, or GRML,... Read More
Microsoft Business Solutions CRM is now approaching the phase of... Read More
FTP stands for "file transfer protocol". FTP is basically a... Read More
Great Plains Software Dynamics, Dynamics C/S+, eEnterprise were written on... Read More
When you first think about multicurrency ? you probably have... Read More
What is Colossus?Colossus is software licensed to about twenty-five insurance... Read More
In the Clinton era the status quo was simple: you... Read More
IBM Lotus Notes with Domino email server is traditional document... Read More
Microsoft Business Solutions CRM is web-based CRM application, deploying all... Read More
According to a survey conducted by InfoTrends/CAP Ventures entitled "Content-Centric... Read More
Fortunately one of the most common reasons cited for the... Read More
Pirated software is on the increase and now accounts for... Read More
Looks like Microsoft Great Plains becomes more and more popular,... Read More
The stakes are high when considering security, privacy, and savings,... Read More
Program Flow is what you think it is. How the... Read More
RSS (Really Simple Syndication) is a way for a site... Read More
When it comes to screenplay software each screenwriter needs to... Read More
Microsoft Business Solutions is emerging as very attractive vendor for... Read More
Spyware is like the new technological nuclear weapon on the... Read More
While Ukraine is becoming a new popular IT outsourcing destination,... Read More
Software |