kaled - 12:36 am on Jul 22, 2003 (gmt 0)

When I was at University (studying cybernetics) on day one we were told that, as engineers, it was our job to give customers what they need, not what they want. The reason for this was quite simple. The people in charge of comissioning do not normally have a sufficient understanding of the problems.

Some years ago, a friend of mine asked for my help on a DIY job. He'd spent hours on detailed drawings of what he wanted. I looked at his drawings and told him in no uncertain terms that either we ditched them or I walked. He was not happy about it but I left him with no alternative. When the job was done, he understood the problem and was forced to conceed that I was right.

If you are desperate for work, in the real world you sometimes have to go along with a customer's stupid ideas but in general you should not.

Kaled.

PS
Those that can do.
Those that can't teach.
Those that can't teach, teach teachers.
Those that can't teach teachers write books.
Those that can't write books become managers.
Those that can't manage become management consultants.
...
...
And the rest become politicians.