The curse of 'Genie developers'

UpdatedDecember 4, 2023

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Pete Duncanson

Part of seriesProgramming Truths

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Programming Truths

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Sometime I actually write something about coding or business in general, sometimes its worth reading! Grouped here for ease so you don't have to wade through the other stuff.

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How to fix Genie Developers?

If your a client of an agency that suffers from Genie Developers? Then that is simply the way it is, that agency is probably price lead (or profit lead) and its a net result. You could ask to get someone else more senior on the case but it will cost more and that senior person will likely be overworked or indeed might still end up being a Genie Developer. You might have to go elsewhere.

If you have Genie Developers within your own agency/company? Then you have two options. The first might seem obvious to just get rid of them and lay them off. That might be the right choice but first look at the surrounding environment, could that be the cause of their actions? Are you pushing too hard to "get work done" rather than "get good work done"? Are you chasing the wrong metrics? Are you asking for more through put rather than more quality? Do they have the training and systems in place for them to do their job well? Are they over worked? Are they working on a "difficult client" who requires some hard boundaries. Explore these angles before you simply sack them, could be they are more likely to be causes than you might care to admit.

If you are a Genie Developer? Well done for recognising it. Either find an agency that rewards that way of working (they do exist) or change how you like to work. Ask for more time on jobs, ask to speak to the client directly to get to the bottom of the real problem, start adding some value rather measuring your work day by how many issues/cards you can complete. If your boss won't allow you to do that then maybe its time to look elsewhere and expand your horizons.

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Programming Truths

Slow is smooth, smooth is fast

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How to fix Genie Developers?