Comments on: Another article on Telecommuting. The Ugly, The Bad and The Good http://thirdpartycode.com/2008/08/another-article-on-telecommuting-the-ugly-the-bad-and-the-good/ Linux, PHP 5, Apache Consulting in San Antonio, TX Thu, 05 Aug 2010 12:40:23 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Nicholas Sloan http://thirdpartycode.com/2008/08/another-article-on-telecommuting-the-ugly-the-bad-and-the-good/comment-page-1/#comment-445 Nicholas Sloan Sat, 21 Nov 2009 23:45:07 +0000 http://www.phpcult.com/blog/?p=184#comment-445 Great thoughts on this. <a href="http://Alistapart.com" rel="nofollow">Alistapart.com</a> was calling for comments on the subject, you should share these. As a new remote employee, I've experienced a lot of this, and I'm still searching for just the right routine. Great thoughts on this. Alistapart.com was calling for comments on the subject, you should share these. As a new remote employee, I've experienced a lot of this, and I'm still searching for just the right routine.

]]> By: San Antonio Clothing http://thirdpartycode.com/2008/08/another-article-on-telecommuting-the-ugly-the-bad-and-the-good/comment-page-1/#comment-268 San Antonio Clothing Mon, 08 Dec 2008 19:32:47 +0000 http://www.phpcult.com/blog/?p=184#comment-268 I've had nothing but good experiences with telecommunicating, but I guess it could be bad and ugly as well. I’ve had nothing but good experiences with telecommunicating, but I guess it could be bad and ugly as well.

]]> By: jcharbneau http://thirdpartycode.com/2008/08/another-article-on-telecommuting-the-ugly-the-bad-and-the-good/comment-page-1/#comment-270 jcharbneau Sun, 31 Aug 2008 04:31:13 +0000 http://www.phpcult.com/blog/?p=184#comment-270 Hi, I work from home almost 90% of the time now, and just had my review in which my boss commended me for the ability to "get the job done". I would say the difficulties for me are the family (3 kids and my wife stays home with them). I find most of the time that concentration can suffer, but my head phones, etc can go a long way to easing that. Another thing to note, is that if you are the dedicated sort, you may feel at times like you need to put in more time to offset the loss of productivity, but then again, with the current state of software in the industry, I waste much more time fixing silly mistakes/decisions than I do with distractions around the house ;-), and thus have to spend time fixing that. Its a trade for sure, but with my drive (~45 - 60 minutes each way/25miles), I can afford to put in a little extra time to save the gas and time of the cummute. Hi,
I work from home almost 90% of the time now, and just had my review in which my boss commended me for the ability to “get the job done”. I would say the difficulties for me are the family (3 kids and my wife stays home with them). I find most of the time that concentration can suffer, but my head phones, etc can go a long way to easing that. Another thing to note, is that if you are the dedicated sort, you may feel at times like you need to put in more time to offset the loss of productivity, but then again, with the current state of software in the industry, I waste much more time fixing silly mistakes/decisions than I do with distractions around the house ;-) , and thus have to spend time fixing that. Its a trade for sure, but with my drive (~45 – 60 minutes each way/25miles), I can afford to put in a little extra time to save the gas and time of the cummute.

]]> By: ggy216 http://thirdpartycode.com/2008/08/another-article-on-telecommuting-the-ugly-the-bad-and-the-good/comment-page-1/#comment-269 ggy216 Wed, 27 Aug 2008 12:33:23 +0000 http://www.phpcult.com/blog/?p=184#comment-269 Such a wonderful article!..Thank you for the "enlightenment"..Honestly I am on a "see-saw" right now on whether or not I will keep myself be satisfied on the job that I have now. Currently I am working as clerk processor but I really love to work as a telecommute graphic artist, but my love ones always throw me a discouragement to keep my butt away from the computer to seek client for telecommute job..I am jealous to you guys who established already yourselves in telecommuting world! How I wish I can stumble a long-term client soon.. Cheers to all! Such a wonderful article!..Thank you for the “enlightenment”..Honestly I am on a “see-saw” right now on whether or not I will keep myself be satisfied on the job that I have now. Currently I am working as clerk processor but I really love to work as a telecommute graphic artist, but my love ones always throw me a discouragement to keep my butt away from the computer to seek client for telecommute job..I am jealous to you guys who established already yourselves in telecommuting world! How I wish I can stumble a long-term client soon..

Cheers to all!

]]> By: PaulM http://thirdpartycode.com/2008/08/another-article-on-telecommuting-the-ugly-the-bad-and-the-good/comment-page-1/#comment-267 PaulM Fri, 22 Aug 2008 12:44:39 +0000 http://www.phpcult.com/blog/?p=184#comment-267 Depends on the job I guess. My day is full of interruptions as I hold an pager. I worked 2 years straight from home without a problem after 10 years doing the commute to work. Now I do 2-3 days in an office, and the rest from home. Can't say the Bad (working from home) ever gets boring. Especially considering you get back the commute time to do something else. The only way you are going to convince your manager that they don't need to micro-manage is produce the results whether you have to use KPI's or not i.e. they trust you to deliver. Depends on the job I guess. My day is full of interruptions as I hold an pager.
I worked 2 years straight from home without a problem after 10 years doing the commute to work.
Now I do 2-3 days in an office, and the rest from home. Can’t say the Bad (working from home) ever gets boring. Especially considering you get back the commute time to do something else.

The only way you are going to convince your manager that they don’t need to micro-manage is produce the results whether you have to use KPI’s or not i.e. they trust you to deliver.

]]> By: Khürt Williams http://thirdpartycode.com/2008/08/another-article-on-telecommuting-the-ugly-the-bad-and-the-good/comment-page-1/#comment-266 Khürt Williams Thu, 21 Aug 2008 18:25:40 +0000 http://www.phpcult.com/blog/?p=184#comment-266 I have been wanting to telecommute for years. I have found that when I have the opportunity ( e.g when my car is being service ) I am more productive and I also start my day earlier ( 7AM ) and end it later ( 6 PM ). I am not distracted by the water cooler chat about the game or last nights TV show. I get the idea that being home each day would get boring and I have already scoped out every cafe and wireless hotspot in town in preparation for the day when I am actually able to telecommute on a more frequent basis. I have been wanting to telecommute for years. I have found that when I have the opportunity ( e.g when my car is being service ) I am more productive and I also start my day earlier ( 7AM ) and end it later ( 6 PM ). I am not distracted by the water cooler chat about the game or last nights TV show.

I get the idea that being home each day would get boring and I have already scoped out every cafe and wireless hotspot in town in preparation for the day when I am actually able to telecommute on a more frequent basis.

]]> By: Michael Shear http://thirdpartycode.com/2008/08/another-article-on-telecommuting-the-ugly-the-bad-and-the-good/comment-page-1/#comment-265 Michael Shear Thu, 21 Aug 2008 18:05:10 +0000 http://www.phpcult.com/blog/?p=184#comment-265 Vidyut, Thank you for your contribution and honesty on this issue. I have focused on the development of another model approach for working remotely - distributed workplace. I will be the first to say there is no one solution but I would also argue there must be more ways than what we are currently using. I would be interested in your comments if you have the time to visit www.pocketsnet.com regarding this effort. Best regards, Michael Shear Vidyut,

Thank you for your contribution and honesty on this issue. I have focused on the development of another model approach for working remotely – distributed workplace. I will be the first to say there is no one solution but I would also argue there must be more ways than what we are currently using. I would be interested in your comments if you have the time to visit http://www.pocketsnet.com regarding this effort.

Best regards,

Michael Shear

]]> By: Vidyut Luther http://thirdpartycode.com/2008/08/another-article-on-telecommuting-the-ugly-the-bad-and-the-good/comment-page-1/#comment-274 Vidyut Luther Thu, 21 Aug 2008 13:31:03 +0000 http://www.phpcult.com/blog/?p=184#comment-274 Arjen, I agree, KPI's by their very name, can be gamed. They're analogous to the "state proficiency tests" kids have to pass these days. A lot of curriculums teach you how to take the test, not the actual material, it's a real shame. But, my point is also, that if you are doing important work, you need to be communicative and let people know what you're doing. If you're out of sight, you're out of mind, and you can't risk that if you want to continue to remain out of sight in the office. When a PM needs to tell his boss about a status, or ETA for something, he should be able to get a hold of you, the boss doesn't care if you work from home. Arjen,
I agree, KPI’s by their very name, can be gamed. They’re analogous to the “state proficiency tests” kids have to pass these days. A lot of curriculums teach you how to take the test, not the actual material, it’s a real shame.

But, my point is also, that if you are doing important work, you need to be communicative and let people know what you’re doing. If you’re out of sight, you’re out of mind, and you can’t risk that if you want to continue to remain out of sight in the office.
When a PM needs to tell his boss about a status, or ETA for something, he should be able to get a hold of you, the boss doesn’t care if you work from home.

]]> By: Arjen Lentz http://thirdpartycode.com/2008/08/another-article-on-telecommuting-the-ugly-the-bad-and-the-good/comment-page-1/#comment-275 Arjen Lentz Thu, 21 Aug 2008 11:40:04 +0000 http://www.phpcult.com/blog/?p=184#comment-275 I used the buzzword bingo on purpose. A KPI to me is a key indicator that management might have gone gaga and is trying to measure the wrong things for the wrong reasons. KPIs make it possible for complete morons to remain in an organisation and even attain promotions, while others doing the real important work "fail". Basically, it promotes dumbly following orders from above - as dumb as possible to optimise time used. This is of course silly, unless you employ semi-trained monkeys. I however prefer humans with independent brain function, and I also wish to encourage them to use that wetware at all times - otherwise you don't manage but puppeteer, right? I used the buzzword bingo on purpose. A KPI to me is a key indicator that management might have gone gaga and is trying to measure the wrong things for the wrong reasons.
KPIs make it possible for complete morons to remain in an organisation and even attain promotions, while others doing the real important work “fail”. Basically, it promotes dumbly following orders from above – as dumb as possible to optimise time used. This is of course silly, unless you employ semi-trained monkeys. I however prefer humans with independent brain function, and I also wish to encourage them to use that wetware at all times – otherwise you don’t manage but puppeteer, right?

]]> By: Nicholas Sloan http://thirdpartycode.com/2008/08/another-article-on-telecommuting-the-ugly-the-bad-and-the-good/comment-page-1/#comment-264 Nicholas Sloan Thu, 21 Aug 2008 04:50:10 +0000 http://www.phpcult.com/blog/?p=184#comment-264 Great thoughts on this. Alistapart.com was calling for comments on the subject, you should share these. As a new remote employee, I've experienced a lot of this, and I'm still searching for just the right routine. Great thoughts on this. Alistapart.com was calling for comments on the subject, you should share these. As a new remote employee, I’ve experienced a lot of this, and I’m still searching for just the right routine.

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