(Part 2) Reddit mentions: The best quality control & management books

Flawless specs don't exist. At best a spec is a representation of what someone thought they understood about a problem that could be solved by a software feature.


At worst, they are months or years old documents that misinterpreted the clients intent and didn't clearly state the intent of the spec writer either.


Conversation trumps all. Try talking to the product person and dev to better understand the problem you are working on and the expectations of everyone involved.

You might want to pick up a copy of Exploring Requirements, too.

>This to me is really bizarre, and why I term the piece mendacious: Asian Americans do talk about white Americans the way whites talk about black folks. This sort of thing was a clear subtext of Amy Chua’s Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother. Many (most?) Asian American kids who grew up with immigrant parents were barraged with assertions about the disreputable character of their “American” (white) friends, and how it was important to keep on the straight & narrow. Immigrants from Asia often perceive white Americans to be sexually obsessed, lazy, and prone to a general amorality and fixation on short term hedonic interests. These are polite ways to condense the sort of attitude many Asian immigrants have toward the white American mainstream, which they worry will absorb and corrupt their children. Dash must know this, as he probably had immigrant parents, or was friends with people from immigrant backgrounds. Most white Americans don’t know this, partly because most white Americans don’t have non-white friends. But anyone from an Asian American background would be aware of the stereotypes and perceptions.

And Amy Chua, if she indeed "subtexted" racist stereotypes about White people, she should be called out for it. But I suspect the "subtext" is rather more imaginary than the author let on.

and yes, some of us have racist mothers or grandmothers who engage in that sort of behavior.

Years ago, I remember reading a book by a famous Japanese engineering expert, Dr. Ishikawa.

http://www.toolshero.com/toolsheroes/kaoru-ishikawa/

his book, http://www.amazon.com/What-Total-Quality-Control-Japanese/dp/0139524339, had a chapter on why he thought Asians were better in science and engineering.

It was pretty racist stuff in that chapter, and I had no problem point it out to my colleagues.

The point is, lots of smart people (especially of the older generation), harbor some racist ideas.

"Harboring" is OK, because you can keep thinking about it, and if enough evidence counter your ideas, you can still change your mind.

"Talking" racist shit in public is NOT OK, because you are hurting people with your own shit ideas.

"Subtexting"? Not sure where that one falls, not unless the author clarifies the definition of that word.