Aspects of the Software Engineering Profession

Today!Brought to you by:

Brenda Franklin

Raising Your Software Consciousness!

In 1970, Charles Reich published a best-selling book called The Greening of America. He identified three kinds of awareness or “consciousness”.

• Consciousness I.

• Consciousness II.

• Consciousness III.

Consciousness I.

Consciousness I is the pioneer mentality. • People who operate at “Con I” place great value

on independence and self-satisfaction.• Don’t easily tolerate people telling them what

to do. ● Self-reliant and self-

sufficient.

Consciousness II

Consciousness II is the gray flannel suit mentality – the corporation man.

• Understand the importance of getting along with others and playing by the rules.

• Rules are good for society. ● Everyone should follow

the rules, no matter what.

Consciousness III

Consciousness III is the mentality of enlightened independence.

• Person operates on basis of principles, with little regard for the rules that predominate in “Con II”, and without the selfishness that predominates in “Con I”.

A few years later in 1999…

The Greening of America was voted by Slate Magazine to be “the silliest book of the 20th century”.

But don’t these basic standards hold true today?

Are we really that far off of the “hippie nirvana” that Reich

published in 1970?

No way, man…

So, which one is the correct “Consciousness”?

“Software applications matter”.Ultimately, the “three Con’s” stand as three

distinct stops along a path of personal software engineering maturity.

No single “Con” is correct, but combined together they show the progression from apprentice to journeyman to master.

What resources are available for me to “perfect my craft” as

a Software Engineer?• Formal education and training• Countless books and professional magazines

and articles.• Professional associations and interest groups

such as IEEE Computer Society are an important part of any mature profession.

What do I have to look forward to as a Software Engineer?

• Know that the average person who obtains a professional degree in the U.S. earns at least 50% more than the average person who obtains only a bachelor’s degree.

What do I have to look forward to as a Software Engineer?

Better Job Specification and Specialization.• 25 years ago, Fed Brooks proposed that

the needed specialization of a programming team should be constructed using a surgical team model.

What do I have to look forward to as a Software Engineer?

Two main categories of specialization are emerging:

• Technology Specialization• Software Engineering Specialization

What do I have to look forward to as a Software Engineer?

On a smaller, more individual group scale, team specialization is being seen as an even bigger improvement to an organization’s productivity.

Team Specializations can include (but are not limited to):

• Construction Lead

• Design Lead

• Planning and Tracking Lead

• Project and Business Manager

• Quality Assurance Lead

• Requirements Lead

Making Software Engineering a better place…

Most Software Development books are written by six kinds of authors:

● Recent Retirees ● University Professors ● Seminar Instructors ● Consultants ● Think-tank Developers ● Developers working on production

software

Making Software Engineering a better place…

In 1837, Ralph Emerson delivered an address that came to be known as “The American Scholar”.

165 years later, this book is still being referenced as the description of a “thinker” vs. “ a man thinking”…

Thought vs. Actions…???

Making Software Engineering a better place…

Emerson stated that a “thinker” is someone whose sole function is to think.

• They experience life second-hand through books, articles, and descriptions of the active world…

Making Software Engineering a better place…

“A Man Thinking”, is a robust person who is active in the world…

• Actively engaged in a trade or occupation.

• Who occasionally pauses for reflection.

The main argument from Emerson is that the direct experience of Man

Thinking is critical to genius, and that genius can emanate only from a Man Thinking, not from a mere thinker…

So, what do we take from this?

1. Don’t be to hesitant to be a “lone programmer; party of one”. Don’t think that all rules are 100% concrete, and don’t think that you can rely on your own principals alone. You will only achieve your greatest potential when you reach the maturity level to incorporate all your knowledge together.

So, what do we take from this?

2. Use the many resources available to refine your craft. Practice makes perfect, and there are many people out there willing to share the knowledge of their practice.

So, what do we take from this?

3. Specialization means the ability to hone your skills. Be the master of your craft; however specialized it

may be.

So, what do we take from this?

4. Be a resource to your own community and share your knowledge with others… As others have done so for you.

So, what do we take from this?

5. Don’t allow yourself to be a “professional student” forever. People who are nothing but “thinkers” are not on the same level as those who apply their knowledge in the real world.

Now go out there and give Bill Gates a run for his money!... Well… sort of…

The End!