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Itchy Feet posted Thursday, August 12, 2004
So...Ophelia is known to have itchy feet in terms of work. Indeed - I find the longer I stroll along the career path that is software QA, the quicker my feet are to itch when I pause along the journey.
Take my latest "rest stop" as an example...no, please - TAKE it!
I first encountered a slight sensation around the toes during my first weeks when I was introduced to the "sink or swim" "you have to figure it out" culture. Hey - Ophelia's a reasonably intelligent girl but nobody has the ability to psychically sponge in the entire architecture and philosophy of a brand new product in 1.36 minutes. Can't be done. Itch.
The soles of my feet began to experience the same sensation as my toes when I encountered the insane overtime-workaholic part of the culture. 12 hour days - 7 day weeks - phone calls at home - don't make plans because you need to work. Itch itch.
This feeling began to circle my feet when I completed my first "project". This one is no surprise for you software folk - over schedule, over featured, under tested, builds at the last minute, just ship it, we have to assume the risk - your basic, garden variety software experience. One notable difference was the lack of leadership, guidance, support, and all those good mushy things. It was like an experience I had in a kitchen in California - turn on the light and all the roaches disappear! Well, as soon as any project gets into what is known as "freak-out mode" the management folks make like cockroaches and scatter. Itch itch itch.
The itching really became uncomfortable when the job morphed into full-fledged customer support. Ophelia has been known to indicate that the need for a headset is a sign that a visit to workopolis is in order. Right now I need that headset to avoid getting a giant cauliflower ear. Barf. It's an extra special treat that spending all your time on support means that you have no time to do what you are really supposed to be doing - test the stuff!. Thus the cycle perpetuates itself: no time to test->release untested product->issues found by customer->more support needed.
Wow - I love it when the customers find the bugs. Even better - I love it when they ask: "Hey, Didn't you guys test this? How could this get past your QA?". The humiliation is exquisite.
On Friday my feet simply burst into flames. Ophelia spent most of the day on the phone. At 5:00 the powers that be decide that the customers need a new version. The version is built and the people who are responsible for the quality of the product (Ophelia and her ilk) are told to send it to the customer and not to test it. The idiot-meter is at full tilt. Not only are we required to sent out some hunk-of-junk, but we get to stay late on a Friday night to do it! Hooray! And - we get to look forward to all the customers installing it and burning up the phone lines on Monday! Hooray! If we're really lucky we will get to stay late all next week sorting this out! Hooray!
Ahhh! Ophelia is treating herself to a soothing footbath while perusing the internet. Now - where's that site...right! www.workopolis.com ...
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