Soft Skills Engineering

Episode 479: Contractors to the rescue and dinged for delay

28 snips
Sep 22, 2025
In a chaotic project scenario, a developer grapples with performance issues and team burnout as rapid contractor hiring complicates the timeline. The hosts dive into the Mythical Man-Month, exploring how adding workers can actually slow progress. They share strategies for managing team stress and improving communication. Additionally, they provide insights on navigating difficult manager reviews and overcoming compliance hurdles. It's a blend of tech chaos and practical advice that resonates with anyone facing project challenges.
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INSIGHT

More People Can Make A Project Later

  • Adding more engineers to a late project usually increases overhead and slows progress.
  • Communication and ramp-up costs can outweigh the added person-hours.
ADVICE

Cut Scope Or Move The Date

  • If a project is late, choose between cutting scope or pushing the deadline.
  • Adding contractors rarely fixes a late project because of ramp-up and integration costs.
ADVICE

Rank Features And Draw A Deadline Line

  • Ask your CTO why the deadline is fixed and rank features by importance against that date.
  • Draw a line at the deadline and decide what must ship versus what can be removed.
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