Re: Enterprise development: Its ok to say No!

[kodo]

It's the same for me, I always ask what the problem is because usually the way our managers want to have something solved is by far not the perfect way.
All they usually come up with is "some way" they know because they've heard about it or seen something about it sometime ago while having no clue if it's still a good way to solve the problem nowadays. Or they just don't know the alternatives...
If I would just have to implement other people's solutions I would have quit my job already a long time ago, because it would just bore me to death.

But sometimes it also happens that they just want solution X to be implemented if it's a good idea or not. Managers sometimes just are like that, they get something in their brain and won't agree to that it's a bad idea whatever arguments you come up with. A good example here is "java/J2EE" which is IMO often used for things it shouldn't be. I really hate that but you finally just have to accept it sometimes I guess...

I really love it to say "see that's why I said we should use Y for that and not X!" once a project is finished and people start to realise that the result is a piece of crap....

[demerphq]

But sometimes it also happens that they just want solution X to be implemented

My response is usually that they should state in writing that they understand my objections and that they intend to override them anyway. Only with this in hand do I travel down the "you must" road. That way when it all goes tits up the evidence of the responsible party is in hand. The funny thing that i've found however is that managers dont like to do this for some reason and end up backing off. Its amazing to see the bravado vanish when you say "Fine. give it to me in writing and no problem." I suppose the thought that you might be right and they might be wrong is too much for them. But off course if you take this approach, make sure you are in fact right. :-)

[kodo]

I also did that in the past but never got back that requested writing ;)
But really depends on who is giving you the job it's sometimes better (for me) to just agree after some discussion you know...