Meritocracy is the software engineer’s delusion.

One of the problems I have with the jobs "above the effort thermocline" (to use the author's words) is that as an engineer, it just seems like a waste of time. My job as an engineer is to get things done and to get them done effectively. If I can automate something so that I never have to do it again, awesome. If something is broken, I fix it.

I don't beat around the bush. I address things head-on and fix them. I want to be successful, and I want my team to be successful.

But in the real world, you run into this issue where addressing things head-on is a no-no. Instead, you have to compromise. You have to make sure you don't hurt anyone's feelings. This is politics. And it just gets in the way.

No wonder I'm having such a hard time transitioning from "just an engineer" to management. I just want to solve problems, and I want to lead a team that solves problems. And sometimes the "leading" part isn't about solving problems at all, but instead kicking that can down the road to make someone else happy.

Annoying. No wonder I'm not cut out for management.

Ouch! Are you suggesting that I actually dress for success?

Your conclusion did not cheer me up at all: everyone is doing it so you should too.

It would be nice to get a system where these human flaws in aspiration would work against each other to some mutual advantage.

Good article, but not surprising. I gave up on delusions of "meritocracy" in my early 20's.

This was an eye opener for an engineer like myself. -Chris

spot on.

[edit] Ok, thanks for the down vote on an article that hasn't got much rating and up votes.