Software chaos

“Fatal Abstraction: Why the Managerial Class Loses Control of Software” is an indictment of large industries taking shortcuts in software. Using examples from companies such as Boeing, Microsoft, Uber, Facebook, and Enron. Making money as the main focus. At a huge cost to people. It is not a pretty picture. A book that is a bit like “The Four”.

The lost promise of the digital age

How the promise of the digital age has turned to ash in front of our eyes. How the rhetoric of salvation and techno-optimism lead not only to petty disappointments but also to society-breaking catastrophes. The potential of software versus what the author calls “managerialism”. Command and control, the rise of financialisation and dumbing down of business leadership. The lack of thinking deeply about the consequences of decisions. Only focussing on productivity, profitability, and shareholder returns — in some cases doubling them or more — through “good management” alone. Generalistic MBA thinking.

Misunderstanding software

Combined with a complete misunderstanding of what software can (and, more importantly, cannot do). Software development is invisible, intangible, and unmeasurable until the last possible moment. Once that software is finalised, it can be launched in the blink of an eye, Unlike previous innovations, software can be deployed with stunning speed and…