I was about to check in a SQL script to go along with a big change to our application. The change affected the way the software starts up each year. But the delivery date for the change was after the start up occurs next year. So my script basically rolled back the startup data so my new code could be used.The more I thought about this rollback script, the more I felt like it was cheating our users. It takes a lot of customer effort to start up the new year. Why make them go through the pain twice next year? I could blame it on the schedule. But that would be irresponsible.
So I asked a memeber of our requirements team to set up a meeting with our client. I wanted to make sure they understood the prior plan to execute my script, undoing a months worth of startup work. The goal was to discuss a better way to handle the task.
Our project manager likes getting carbon copied on important e-mails like this. He responded with some ideas that did not make sense. So I went to have a talk with him. He threw out some ideas on how to solve the problem. I provided him with the pros and cons of each idea. In the end we agreed upon a solution that does not create a lot of work for me, and saves much time for the customer.
I find it refreshing to work under a project manager who actually started out in development. They can slip back in developer mode and understand the technical issues I am dealing with.
