Great editorial Steve!

I agree with Hugo's response. In the physics software teams, an over-emphasis on process is the path of least resistance. If an entry-level person can do the job, an entry-level person will. This goes to Hugo's hierarchy.

The sad part is this results from an intentional management decision. Processes reign supreme because repeatability, scalability, and predictabillity are easy to sell. These are noble attributes... or are they? Errors are repeatable. Ignorance scales. Failure is predictable. If you look up the address of "process" you find it living nearer the (intellectually) impoverished - not the innovative.

Hugo describes the institutionalization of the Roman Army well. And he's right: a smarter Army would have been able to defend against the barbarians... but it would have been much more difficult to manage.

People do work, not processes (at least in 2011). Processes should serve people, not the other way 'round.

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