There once was a PhD . . . 4

[DHambley]

No, not "from Nantucket".

New job - The guy I replaced was a Phd; really, really good at mathematics of control theory. His software algorithm covered every parameter of the motor and system, from details of the Lq & Ld inductances to the mechanical damping of the load on the shaft. Sharp guy. However, the circuit he designed does not work; it smokes. His old notes show a lack of basic understanding of power converters, everything from Miller effect, core loss calculations, managing of ground planes, reset of current sense transformers...you name it. Power converter design is much more involved than just the control loop.

So here's my problem: I'm presenting a plan to redesign this circuit. The new boss knows nothing about power converters and the attitude is, "We don't want you redesigning boards. New boards don't work. Our proof is that a PhD couldn't even do it". The arrogance and anger of this boss was upsetting. Now, I'm not a PhD in control theory but, I have designed many power converters and laid out many boards. My circuits work. He rejected my plan before he even saw it. The fact still remains that you can't make this circuit work by changing the software.

I'm assuming you, the reader, has had to manage hard-to-get-along-with managers like the rest of us. I bet you've been in a similar situation. How did you handle it?

 

[cvg]

well that makes sense. miscellaneous and contingent tasks almost always are on the critical path...

 

[ScottyUK]

And somehow the Primavera monkey manages to get +20% on the rate paid to the engineers responsible for the difficult stuff like making it all actually work...

Snorgy, we must be the dumb ones!

 

[lacajun]

SNORGY, it's a twist on the math but it works for me.

Pamela K. Quillin, P.E.
Quillin Engineering, LLC

 

[GregLocock]

My current Project schedule has a line item "Headless Chicken investigation" which of course is on the critical path, has top priority, and unknown scope and duration. I do concede that it is of top priority.

Cheers

Greg Locock


New here? Try reading these, they might help FAQ731-376

http://eng-tips.com/market.cfm?

 

[TStaples]

hgldr,

At it's core, it's really an ego management issue. I've only seen this with "managers" who had ginormous egos that were correspondingly fragile. With the founder of one company I have worked for, I handled that type situation by doing it his way, which I knew wasn't going to work, but also doing it a way that would work, as a backup, if at all possible. So, in the case of the bad board design, I would design and build a properly working prototype board anyway, but keep it low key and off the radar, until you have it totally working and done. Then, you just need to leave it out on your desk, for your ego-maniac boss to find, and then he can make it his own.

Note, this only works if you are willing to check your ego at the door, and have enough "FU" money that you can afford to be unemployed for a bit if it backfires. <wink>



-Tony Staples

http://www.tscombustion.com