Planning & Reporting

It’s damn interesting working with undergraduate students on genuine product development projects. 

Mostly they (the students) are technically fantastic and very motivated.

What they universally don’t have is any real appreciation for reporting and planning.

I’m trying to recall with no luck, but I’m sure it takes years to learn the hard way that a minute spent on reporting and planning is worth an hour in the bush.

The university tries valiantly to provide training in reporting and planning but I don’t think that it works because the trainers themselves are pretty shit at it.

No that’s unfair; the trainers know it’s important but their appreciation is cargo cultish. They themselves don’t need it much.

I can’t teach the students because they aren’t receptive as yet and I’ve learned over the years not to annoy one’s resources.

Indeed, I’ve also learned to do the planning and reporting for my troops where that is unfortunately the more efficient approach.

So the graduates will eventually learn it the hard way when they are usefully employed. Or not.