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:
Make money by GIVING AWAY our FREE E-book
Research bears that less than 70 percent of development projects... Read More
Are you lost in the mess of documents that get... Read More
Traditionally we were considering functionally rich systems, such as SAP,... Read More
Whether you have used Microsoft Word for years, have just... Read More
NOTE: Please take time to read on - it may... Read More
Great Plains Integration Manager scripting and translation - overview for... Read More
Microsoft Great Plains could be tuned and setup to fit... Read More
Since Version 8.0 Microsoft Business Solutions Great Plains & Great... Read More
Homeland security, airport security, Internet security â?" these days weâ??re... Read More
Microsoft CRM has built-in conversion tool, however you should probably... Read More
Mapping Software Improves Data VisualizationFrom the outset, it is important... Read More
Case study: A secretary using Corel WordPerfect 7 is often... Read More
Features Additionally, Vista will include many other new features.Aero Vista... Read More
Microsoft Business Solutions Great Plains was historically designed to serve... Read More
The Microsoft system preparation utility for Windows 2000 is a... Read More
Microsoft Office program is a programming tool called Visual Basic... Read More
Microsoft Business Solutions Great Plains is very good fit for... Read More
Microsoft Word is one of the most popular office applications... Read More
Lotus Domino/Notes ? Microsoft Great Plains tandem as ERP with... Read More
One day, you suddenly realize that your computer started to... Read More
In the real world a "fire wall" is a fireproof... Read More
Each Industry and market niche has business specific and unique... Read More
Microsoft Business Solutions CRM is web-based CRM application, deploying all... Read More
Although statistics often is blamed for various deadly sins --... Read More
The most important things you can do for your computer... Read More
Microsoft Business Solutions Great Plains, Navision, Axapta, Solomon and CRM... Read More
Microsoft Business Solutions Great Plains was purchased from Great Plains... Read More
The destruction of the Soviet Union about 15 years ago,... Read More
With thousands of web pages added to the Net every... Read More
It is possible that if one avoided all sources of... Read More
Using professional icons in your application or website can bring... Read More
The title of "software engineer" has got to be among... Read More
You turn on your computer, and it doesn't look quite... Read More
Having from five to ten and more favorite screensavers is... Read More
Great Plains Fixed Assets Management module is a robust tool... Read More
Microsoft Great Plains ? ERM from Microsoft Business Solutions and... Read More
While paper labeling CDs and DVDs may appear to be... Read More
If you are to buy a HelpDesk & Asset Management... Read More
The Windows registry is a huge database that ensures normal... Read More
The research in the field of Natural Language Processing usually... Read More
While I was preparing some personal background information for a... Read More
If you have been using the Internet for any amount... Read More
Ad-Aware and Spybot are probably the two most well known... Read More
If you have Microsoft Great Plains as main accounting and... Read More
Collaboration SoftwareCollaboration Software, also known as group collaboration software or... Read More
The COSMIC FP (function point) software quality metric, is no... Read More
Microsoft Business Solutions Great Plains was historically designed to serve... Read More
Follow the steps below to quickly design, generate, and deploy... Read More
Great Plains Integration Manager scripting and translation - overview for... Read More
With so many Microsoft Windows related viruses, errors, and other... Read More
Configuring PPP PAP AuthenticationNow we know how the ISDN link... Read More
If you feel intimidated when someone tries to teach you... Read More
When you double-click a layer in the Layer Palette, you... Read More
Let's first look at your ERP system selection (without Retail... Read More
Let's say that you have a software project that's under... Read More
GroupwareEfforts are continually made to manage the unavoidable ad hoc... Read More
Looks like Microsoft Great Plains becomes more... Read More
Microsoft Business Solutions Great Plains might be considered as ERP... Read More
Microsoft Business Solutions products: Great Plains, MS CRM, Navision, Axapta,... Read More
One of the main reasons business owners and entrepreneurs use... Read More
FTP stands for "file transfer protocol". FTP is basically a... Read More
Writing software manuals is boring, isn't it? We often think:... Read More
While I was in college, if you would have asked... Read More
Stealing company information used to be the specialty of spies... Read More
Disclaimer: All the thoughts expressed are my views only! Your... Read More
Internet worms. Is your PC infected?If your computer has become... Read More
Software |