Comments on: Survey: People skills valued over those for IT

Microsoft-commissioned survey of execs finds ability to communicate with co-workers is regarded as more important than tech skills.

[Renegade Knight]

Catch 22

Communications Skills over Tech Skills explains buggy software that doesn't work all that well. It doesn't explain the crappy error messages though. You would think at least those would be well worded and would communicate clearly exactly why something that should work, doesn't.

[iknownothing1997]

Not software

I am pretty sure they weren't referring to software. They were referring to actual verbal communication for collaboration, and explanation of IT implementation, and maintenance. Besides developers/programmers don't usually fit into the common "IT" definition for companies. Usually :)

[Penguinisto]

Not that easily explained...

You would be amazed at the number of coding teams with excellent tech skills that turn out a rotten product due to a lack of clear communication.

It's like this - when you're building an app, utility, driver, whatever... first, you have to define what the thing does. Next you have to define how to make it do those things. [i]Then[/i], you get to really dig deep and define how all the bits interact (which also gives you a chance to consolidate functions and pieces so that you don't end up duplicating work unnecessarily).

Once everyone has a clear and unified idea as to what needs to be done, and agree on how to do it, then they start writing code.

I've seen excellent projects (DAZ|Studio for instance) based on clear communication and excellent coding skills. Believe it or not, it works (DAZ for instance kept the main code monkeys together in the same physical room w/ four desks in it... it was excellent for asking questions, getting insight as to a bit or bob, and in general allowing everyone to be sociable and comfortable with each other personally).

Now I know what you're pointing at... and yes, Vista is basically crap. BUT - the whole thing with Vista IMHO has more to do with bad initial design and a lack of inter-departmental communication than it does with bad coding.

I'm thinking that's prolly why Microsoft funded the study in the first place. Let's face it - in spite of the marketing spin they pump out, they have to know that Vista is about as buoyant as a lead brick. They won't admit that realization to you or I, but they have no choice but to admit it to themselves, at least if they have any hope of long-term survival.

The very fact that they commissioned this study and spent money on it confirms the theory nicely, IMHO.

/P

[sanjayb]

Document Writing

This article forgot to mention one important skill that everyone seems to need these days - document writing. In my work place more and more projects are focusing on writing documents then actually coding. And if u can write a document then you will be more widely recognized than if u can program well. This is the state of enterprise development.