I was assigned a project a few months ago, and every time I go to review and present my progress with the Boss-he always wants something chnaged! I’m sick of it-but I want tokeep my job…what can i do? I go in with my charts and papers prepared-and there is always something he doesn’t like!
Am I being set up?
Chnage is GOOD! 
Used to have a hierarchy of 4 bosses who had to approve each report or change order before it went to the final boss for approval. And they all had different ideas about what went into a report. So that was at least 4 sets of edits. Usually more.
They had to find something to change to show that they were doing their job. They didn’t really agree with each other. The main trick was to never go back to a lower level boss after a higher level one deleted everything they had added or vice versa. That way lay madness.
You’re getting paid to make the changes, so that’s good. The only suggestion I’d make is to be sure to save all the intermediate versions. It makes it easier to re-install things from earlier forms. It also documents that you were busy all that time; you weren’t slacking and it’s not your fault if it’s late.
Much sympathy. It’s probably going to be the same next time. And the time after that.
Ah yes. ‘scope creep’. Nothing ever stays the same. I feel your pain. It seems that you have no project specs.
Ralph, ask for some specifications. That’s not unreasonable, and will probably keep your boss so busy that before you get this project done, you will have a new one. :smack:
Be glad you get any specifications besides colors and font size. Hell, I don’t even get that. In my experience, the powers that be, agree to their bosses, and their bosses that it can be done, and just knod their heads. Not always understanding that what looks like a minor change can be a major re-write.
“Look around on the ‘net’ see what other people are doing.” Is what I often get for design ideas. :rolleyes: Both my parents are art history majors. I’ve been exposed to what looks good and what does not all my life. But, you can’t please everyone. But I’m not always right to be sure. It can be hard to worry about draining the swamp (basic design) when your ass deep in alligators (making the system work).
Try to code as modularly as you can. Make it portable. I can’t customize code for every department in our organization. It’s going to be intranet based, and service based.
My boss wanted me to create custom code for a mapping and large data applications for every department in our County Government. I’m one man.
Need different data? Different map layers (ESRI ArcMap and ArcView stuff) Fine. They can actually build the file that is served out. If it’s approved to be served, I will. But it’s gonna have a light blue background and such and such font. I’m going to build one application that can take care of you all. YOU can pick the data that you want. You want yellow? Buy a server and leave me alone.
My boss wants me to customize an application for TWO of my coworkers (buds of mine) that say they don’t want and won’t use. AND I have ALREADY developed an intranet app that does the same damn thing.
It would take me a couple of months to develop it. I’m pretty much ignoring the request since the application already exists. Not sure what to say there.
It works OK for me. My users let me know what they need by just asking me questions. My bosses think they are making great strides in computer development by picking out fonts and colors.
You didn’t give a lot of detail, so I’m going to assume you’re dealing with what just about anyone deals with when in charge of a “project”. (And if this doesn’t apply to you, ignore it. It applies to most corporate “team-members” and any associated “projects”.)
The project you’re in charge of is actually a larger project your boss has been asked to do, by his boss. You have part of it, and your co-workers/team are responsible for the other parts.
Your boss is hell-bent on getting the overall project done, and needs all of you to get it done well.
In a perfect world, you and your “team” get the project done. (Don’t get me started on the “team” concept, it’s never about team.) You’re going to have people that fuck it up or don’t care and expect the rest of the “team” to pick up the slack.
In cases like this the rule is “Make your boss look good.” It’s not fair, and often he/she will take unwarranted credit, but after enough time making the boss look good will make you look good as success breeds success.
I’ll just keep it short and say from experience make your boss look good. That gives you a chance of showing your talents as beneficial to the company. Make the boss look bad, and it reflects on his subordinants. And that means you.
Think of it as job security.
I need to be more specific. I have been asked to design a process. So I met with all the members of the organization of relevance, presented my ideas, and drew up a process map, with procedures. I then had a second meeting, and all involved accepted the plal. Now I present the peocedure to the Boss, and HE wants it changed! He finds fault with details-like the Title of the peocedure. He says I’m taking too much time! I don’t know what do do to satisfy this guy! One time, I thought I had agreement with him-then he changes his minds. I really don’t know what this guy is up to-but everybody else seems to think my approach is correct.
For your job’s sake, I hope your boss is oblivious to your typing and grammatical errors.
Projects are living, breathing things. He’s probably trying to please a boss as well and wants to get it right. People think of things after the fact. This problem isn’t rare. You just need to do what he says and make sure you get the parameters of the request correct so when he changes his mind, he doesn’t think you omitted something. After each meeting, send him a recap of your conversation:
Per our meeting on 4/7/06, you requested the following:
a.
b.
c.
d.
We agreed that these items would be completed by 4/14/06. Please let me know if you want to make revisions.
Regards,
Ralph
That clarifies the expectation so he can’t turn it around and make you look like a slacker. Good luck!
On a message board? What omniscient overlords do you work for?