How Software Devs feel about Project Managers

In my early career, when I used to hear the footsteps of the project manager approaching, I always feel like it was the right time to be in defense mode because probably we will have an argument and it will end with more changes!

What are the complaints that developers have:

• Everything is a priority
• Some PMs knows less about the project than I do
• Meetings addicts
• PMs always say "YES" to clients

Every software developer I ask, he always mentions the above points about working with some project managers, I have met a handful of project developers that are perfect and fun to work with but just a handful!

Gathering Requirements

When clients meet with the project manager and share their ideas with him, I believe that is a great time for the project manager and the software developers to meet and discuss the project and agree about the business objectives. This will work wonders for resource allocation and time estimation. Many times the project manager does not involve the software developers early on the project. Communication and bouncing of ideas between the two can catapult the project because if the developers are included in the big picture they will have amazing suggestions and they will be able to notify the project managers about challenges way ahead.

 Time Estimation

If your developers added a feature for a company and it took them 6 weeks, that does not mean that it will take them 6 weeks to implement a similar feature to a different company, each project comes with its own difficulties and challenges. Communication is key.

Last-Minute Changes

When time is set and all the developers know their tasks, and we are in the middle of a sprint, clients will want last-minute adjustment or new features. Please do not agree with those changes unless the clients are notified that more changes mean a longer time because this will put more pressure on the developers and we can always add features to the next sprint.

Reduce Rework

Developers are like cats they like to work with new technologies and projects, but they get bored really fast especially when they have to rewrite their code for the fifth time because a client changed his mind.

Speak The Language

Project managers should have good knowledge in the tech world, software engineering best practices, the best tools to use. Software developers will find themselves easier to talk to someone that understands why refactoring is important or what is the importance of clean code for future modifications.

Conclusion

I have been a software developer more than I have been a project manager so you can understand the biases.