The Speed/Efficiency Paradox

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(This column is posted at www.StevenSavage.com, Steve’s Tumblr, and Pillowfort.  Find out more at my newsletter, and all my social media at my linktr.ee)

A little more “Steve rants about software and process” time here as I contemplate issues of efficiency, distraction, and how faster isn’t always better.

It’s easy to argue that faster is good. The more things we do faster the more we can do! The more we get done. However, let us take a warning from real life that a love of speed breaks down, say, on the highway with some of your less inhibited fellow drivers. Speed burns fuel, leads to accidents, leads to citations, disrupts others, and pisses people off.

Speed, like anything has side effects. And am I going to compare idiot drivers to idiot software that takes “Gotta Go Fast” as a motto? Yes I am.

Previously I had critiqued an emphasis on speed as efficient software also adds more work, so somehow we get slower by going faster. But let’s take a look at how speed in our software, our culture, our business process, backfires.

First and foremost I’d note that speed can be wasteful. You have the latest software, the latest graphic card, the latest AI. Great, how much did that cost? How much does it cost to power? How much effort do people have to put in to keep up? Having the latest cool technical stuff or business process might be fast, but is it worth the cost? Assuming speed always pays off is not a great idea.

Secondly, when it comes to that fast software or new workflow, going faster also may mean it’s harder to check on what you’re doing. Sure, you streamlined that billing process, now how about those lawsuits that are coming in because something got missed. Sometimes slow is there to make sure you don’t screw up – and if you’ve been in IT any length of time you know.

Third, so you got that fast new process for disposing of waste or sending out paychecks – until it screws up because it’s so fast. Not only have you done all sorts of financially and ethically dumb things, now you’re getting investigated, regulated, etc. Admittedly, I wish we saw more of this in the world, but still there’s some impact on companies, business, and people. For now.

(Working in medicine and medical tech, which is rightfully regulated and contains people very serious about doing things right, I want more regulation and policy like that.)

Fourth, speed can be disruptive, and not in the fun Silicon Valley disruptor way. Actually, forget that “disruption” thing period because we’ve had a lot disrupted and it turned out to be awful. Going faster does mean you break things, distract people, derail processes, and so on and that has an impact. The love of disruption misses that maybe some things shouldn’t be disrupted and we miss that as speed, as disruption is a virtue above the results.

Fifth and finally, past a point, speed can just piss people off just like that driver racing by you at 95 MPH in a school zone. People need time to process information, input, signals, forms, and what have you. Someone racing around doing things fast even if good can still derail human interaction. Sometimes the point is to talk to people, take time, and be considerate of what happens to them.

(I’ve used this as a Project Manager, where just a checklist and a half hour meeting gets far more done than any kind of software process.)

So no, I’m not a fan of speed for speed’s sake. It has it’s time and it’s place. I’d love to figure out Faster Than Light travel, for instance. But let’s not assume it’s the best thing ever. It can often create more problems than it solves if it solves any problem.

Steven Savage

Why I Keep Writing

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(This column is posted at www.StevenSavage.com, Steve’s Tumblr, and Pillowfort.  Find out more at my newsletter, and all my social media at my linktr.ee)

So after a short break from writing, I’m back at my kind-of-weekly column. I’ve been doing this in one form or another for over two decades. I have columns logged back years. I even have some experimental compendiums of my past writings. I’ve written a lot just blogging and journaling.

Of course I’ve taken breaks, or I’ve done light stuff. I’ve changed my plans and focuses. In fact, as of this writing I’m still thinking of my next steps. There are always next steps, always changes, but I keep writing.

And here’s an interesting question – why? Why do I keep writing. I can trace this back to my pre-teens. I just keep writing.

I know some people understand. I know you may understand. Some of us keep writing.

But it’s not much different from other driven creations, is it? There are people who draw and just draw even if they make money for it. There are collageists. There are actors who will take any role and did, and it seems well beyond any financial needs. There are musicians who just keep doing it.

And the truth is creativity and communication are parts of being human. It’s what we do. Writers are obvious as they create product. Artists are obvious because they make highly visiible creations. But we all do it.

There’s no difference between that friend that keeps doing improv, the friend writing fanfic, and the other friend who is first to do the PowerPoint presentations at work. They’re all creative, all expressive. The motivations may differ, but we all know people who want to get out there and say something.

Again, that’s almost certainly you. There is probably a way you express yourself and connect even if you don’t realize or appreciate it.

So I write because, well, that’s what I do. That’s my art (along with collage art). That’s what this is, my not-quite monthly posts. Whatever form they take in the future, it’ll be the same motivation, even if it manifests differently.

So there might be delays or changes, but I’ll be here, writing away.

Steven Savage

A Rant: The Anxiety of The Project Manager

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(This column is posted at www.StevenSavage.com, Steve’s Tumblr, and Pillowfort.  Find out more at my newsletter, and all my social media at my linktr.ee)

One of the things people don’t talk about Project Managers like myself is how the job makes life stressful.

Oh I’m not talking at work. That’s normal. Nothing like looking at a 100 page design document no one can read or a flowchart that outlines why everyone is being stupid. We’re used to that. We’ve developed immunity.

I’m talking about the world. There’s really nothing like being a person used to analyzing goals and tasks, calculating numbers and budgets, and then watching very little of that apply to our planet. Being a Project Manager is having a whole new way to be frustrated about the state of the planet as it doesn’t have to be this way.

What’s the plan, we wonder as politicians act like influencers. Where are the deliverables, we ask as people promise one thing and deliver, well nothing and then some. What’s the return, we sign, knowing that what really happened is someone met a quarterly number and kept his job as CEO another quarter and has money in his cocaine budget.

Everything is being run like it’s something but too many things aren’t being run as what they say they are.

It’s not even arrogance. A mediocre project manager can see these things. A new one can. Once you do have some experience, it’s very hard to look away from things being very wrong. And you see a wrong different than the regular wrongs!

Nothing is what people say they are, the numbers are wrong, someone is clearly funneling money to their idiot cousin’s inherited family business, and everyone is lying. There’s a very big disconnect in the world and we can feel it. It’s what we do on the job.

If you have ever listened to a Project Manager go off – not just this rant but really go off – you know we see it when things aren’t working. It’s been getting worse the last 10-15 years.

So give us some grace. Also now you know why I’ve been a little more ranty, a little bit more political – it’s time. Also, it’s therapeutic.

Steven Savage