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On Fri, 19 May 2006, J Stanley Warford wrote:
> The problem is what economists call "opportunity costs". When you make
> a decision to spend resources, whether time or physical resources, you
> take into account not only the cost of your time and the cost of your
> physical resources, but also the benefit you would get if you spent
> your time and resources on other options. In this case, the developer
> considers not only the cost of his or her time to become proficient in
> BB, but must weigh it against the benefit that would be achieved
> spending the time to become proficient in a different more-mainstream
> technology. [...] But for professional
> development, the opportunity costs are high, as Bob has pointed out.
I can see your point. It is hard to disagree. However... substitute
"hair dresser" or "car mechanic" for "developer" (and something related
to those professions for "BB") and read again. The text will read
just as relevant. What does this mean? Perhaps you are describing
a general situation in any service industry?
Following this trail of thought, are you implying that programming has
become service industry? Are you further implying that the mission
of computer science departments is training new generations of
employable servicemen and women? How about science, education, enrichment,
fulfilment, and other such that you can probably read on the Pepperdine
University home page? Have all these been traded for marketable skills?
Side note: perhaps I should explain my trail of thought. My neighbor
used to be a cook in a restaurant. He worked hard and long hours.
On a side he played with computers, put together networks, and was
developing some web pages. About two years ago he applied and
was hired as a level-1 technician in a major computer company.
He is now answering customer calls (why a printer does not work
and how to make it work, etc.). He is now thinking of becoming
a level-2 technician who is answering calls of those who answer
customer calls.
After reading your e-mail I was thinking of him. Your comment applies
wholesale to his situation. He should not spend time learning BB, but
rather getting M$ cerifications and other relevant training, just like
you said. So his case both illustrates and proves your points.
With one exception. My friend did not go through the computer science
community college training. Nor did he join a university c.s. department.
He is pulling himself from the mud in what clearly is a service industry.
He is following your and Bob's rules. After reading your post I thought
"how odd". Do the same rules also apply to bachelors, masters, and
professors of computer science? Are these *the* rules of modern
computing, no exceptions allowed? Something is missing here.
Or am I missing something?
> For those of us who become proficient in BB in our spare
> time as a hobby, the opportunity costs are low, because BB competes
> with other things we would do in our spare time.
Not my case. I do not have "spare time". I do have to make choices
between designing the next board, programming an FPGA, writing
embedded C code, or programming in BlackBox (which I am not learning
anymore, just using). All of the above are either current professional
activities or future professional activities. The cost of not designing
the next board is as high as the cost of not reading a book on optics,
or not writing a book on programming, all of which I could potentially
do. Life is too short to do it all, so I have to choose a subset
of all potential activities, accomplishments, problems, and defeats.
I guess here I am describing a situation of any scientist, engineer,
or designer worth his/her profession.
I wanted to say that I am not describing a service person. But this
sounded untrue. Most service people do have their hobbies. The
majority must be just like you and me. So what is wrong with
a service person not being fully driven by "opportunity costs"
but rather doing something odd like, for example, learning
and using BB?
I think nothing would be wrong with someone not always following
the "opportunity costs". I think there is something wrong with
telling people they should always follow the "opportunity costs".
W
--- BlackBox
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Received on Sat May 20 2006 - 05:25:01 UTC