Training

From: Jim Morcombe (jim_at_byronics.com.au)
Date: 05/19/04 

Date: Wed, 19 May 2004 11:54:18 +0800

This comment was made in another thread.

I think you underestimate the value of an hour invested in a training
session; more importantly, you underestimate - or demean - the ability of
human beings to learn new things.

For crying out loud, if someone can write COBOL programs, and has been doing
so since COBOL 74 (in which they certainly did not receive any formal
instruction very recently), surely they can handle it.

If your firm is unwilling to invest an hour or so in an employee, well, that
simply confirms the patronizing attitude expressed above.

Anyone who has lead a sizable maintenence effort will have had to deal with
the problem, "How the hell do we get the programmers to do it this way!!"

Anyone can be taught how to adopt a new method, but once they start dealing
with existing code that still does it the old way how do you stop them from
back-sliding into old habits?

The only method I have found that works is to have a systematic program in
place that forces individual staff to use the new methods several times.
All staff need to be forced to go through this process.

Having used the new methods quite a few times forces people to learn as
opposed to understand.

It also places the new methods in the existing base of software being
maintained, Hence people keep coming across the new techniques repeatedly.
This acts as a refresher course.

But Jeez, it is such a battle. At times you begin to understand all those
idiots that stand up and shout that its better to fire the old programmers
and hired new ones.

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