Object Mentor Blog: Saying "NO".

Saying "NO".

Uncle Bob — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 08:35:55 -0600

I saw this cartoon in a tweet today. It’s the story of how a boss corrupts the work of a professional. It’s a funny cartoon, and a sad story that happens all too often in our profession. But who, exactly, was at fault?...

The difference between a laborer and a professional is that a laborer takes orders from his boss, and a professional provides input to his superiors. Laborers are hired to take direction. Professionals are hired to ensure that the direction chosen makes sense.

Imagine this conversation between a patient and a doctor:

Patient: “My arm hurts.” Doctor: “What would you like me to do about it?” Patient: “Make my arm stop hurting.” Doctor: “Do you want me to cut it off?, I can do that.” Patient: “No, I just want it to stop hurting.” Doctor: “I could cut all the nerves to your arm. That’ll stop it.” Patient: “Isn’t there something less drastic you could do?” Doctor: “Ooops, sorry, time for my break.”

Clearly we don’t expect doctors to behave this way. Even though the patient is the boss, the patient expects the doctor to have the answers and help set the direction.

Here’s another version of the conversation:

Patient: “I want you to cut my arm off.” Doctor: “What’s wrong with your arm?” Patient: “It hurts. I’m tired of it. Just cut it off.” Doctor: “Let me see your arm. Hmmm. Looks like you’ve got a sprain or perhaps a hairline fracture. We should take some X-Rays.” Patient: “No, just cut it off.” Doctor: “Sir, I do not cut off healthy arms.” Patient: “But I’m paying you. You have to do what I say!” Doctor: “No, sir, I don’t. Cutting off your arm would violate my oath.”

Which of these two doctors would you rather be? Now project these two doctors into your own profession, and which would you rather be?

Programmers are professionals. They know more about designing and implementing software systems than their bosses do. Indeed, they are hired for this knowledge and expertise. And they have a solemn duty to prevent their managers from doing things that would be harmful.

All this boils down to one simple thing. Professionals are willing to say “No”. When their managers come to them with direction that makes no sense, a professional programmer will refuse the direction.

Is this risky? Sure. But part of being a professional is the willingness to stand on principle. There are lines that a professional will not cross.

Of course saying “No.” is only one side of the coin. Professionals are also expected to explain their positions, and come up with viable alternatives. Professionals negotiate with their superiors until both parties are satisfied with the chosen direction.

The poor web-designer schmuck in that cartoon was not behaving as a professional. He was behaving as a laborer. The fiasco at the end was his fault. He should have said “No.” and started a negotiation with his customer instead of just doing everything the customer said.

The cartoonist painted the web-designer as a wise but impotent victim, and the boss as the overbearing dufus. The reality is that the web-designer took the role of the victim voluntarily and shirked his responsibility to refuse direction that he considered harmful.

If you are a professional, you never allow yourself to be put in the role of the victim.

"Saying "NO"." by boots sale

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 21:45:47 -0500

It is better be smarty than politically correct.

"Saying "NO"." by Salt

Mon, 26 Jul 2010 03:10:33 -0500

I think this shows the distinction between the relationship between a laborer and a boss, vs. a software professional and a client. The professional/consultant, as an expert, helps guide the customer – that’s why they get paid.

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Tue, 13 Jul 2010 02:36:36 -0500

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"Saying "NO"." by program

Sat, 10 Jul 2010 09:28:03 -0500

?t’s so pretty,Thanks admin

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Fri, 09 Jul 2010 19:43:33 -0500

Great discussion…funny…..!!!

"Saying "NO"." by pewter

Sun, 04 Jul 2010 06:03:40 -0500

This is life worth living for. It is better be smarty than politically correct.

"Saying "NO"." by SEO Professionals

Thu, 01 Jul 2010 13:51:01 -0500

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"Saying "NO"." by ladies hat

Mon, 28 Jun 2010 03:45:48 -0500

Sometimes it is difficult to say no

"Saying "NO"." by Ecommerce website development

Sun, 27 Jun 2010 12:06:23 -0500

funny… but why “NO”? you can say “YES”

"Saying "NO"." by conseils coco

Tue, 22 Jun 2010 10:20:57 -0500

All, i hope we can move past the “I’m not a victim”and “fight the power”. The programmer has a work ethic but so does the boss. You need both to make optimum decisions.

"Saying "NO"." by jewellery

Tue, 22 Jun 2010 04:39:03 -0500

It’s realy a funny cartoon, but I don’t found a sad story.. Sorry

"Saying "NO"." by superman

Wed, 16 Jun 2010 11:53:29 -0500

But I agree with your definition a professional. A professional in your definition is someone who educates and explains why a choice may or may not be in the client’s best interest.

"Saying "NO"." by Martin

Wed, 16 Jun 2010 11:50:17 -0500

It’s realy a funny cartoon, but I don’t found a sad story.. Sorry

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Sat, 29 May 2010 08:53:31 -0500

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Mon, 24 May 2010 07:15:44 -0500

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Sun, 23 May 2010 02:50:53 -0500

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Fri, 21 May 2010 04:04:05 -0500

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Tue, 18 May 2010 01:50:26 -0500

I also want to experience a responsible doctor. When physical problems, if a doctor well enough, it may destroy the patient’s life.

"Saying "NO"." by kerala used car

Thu, 13 May 2010 03:21:55 -0500

This really made me remember my studies in navy school. They use to order and we obeys it. No voice for the word NO

"Saying "NO"." by Kerala Tour Packages

Tue, 27 Apr 2010 08:19:07 -0500

This is a great and very valuable information about The difference between a laborer and a professional is that a laborer takes orders from his boss, and a professional provides input to his superiors. Thank you very much for sharing this information with us.

Thanks.

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Mon, 12 Apr 2010 03:42:47 -0500

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Fri, 09 Apr 2010 08:56:03 -0500

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"Saying "NO"." by hanlyone

Fri, 09 Apr 2010 01:18:14 -0500

I would be a bit shocked as a client of this cartoonist to seem how he has ridiculed his customers by incorporating them into his cartoon.

"Saying "NO"." by Dean

Mon, 05 Apr 2010 06:14:22 -0500

its sound like children story “saying no!”