Two development groups were tasked with producing a set of reusable software components for the common features of a range of applications.
One group was a team of world-leading experts in object orientated techniques.
The other was a team of programmers, whose experience was in COBOL and data entry systems. The programmers were provided with basic object orientated training.
Both teams had to create a piece of code that defined the way in which data is presented to a file, printer, etc.
The experts created a wonderful piece of code. It was elegant, it performed well and it only took two man months to develop.
The COBOL Programmers downloaded a good enough, list object from the Internet at a total cost of $5.
And the point of the story - the programmers understood the purpose of object orientated techniques is all about reuse, not reinventing the wheel.
Video: Steve Job's Commencement speech at Stanford University
Drawing from some of the most pivotal points in his life, Steve Jobs, chief executive officer and co-founder of Apple Computer and of Pixar Animation Studios, urged graduates to pursue their dreams and see the opportunities in life's setbacks -- including death itself -- at the university's 114th Commencement on June 12, 2005.
David Gurteen's comments: This is one hell of an inspirational speech from Steve Jobs!
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If you are interested in Knowledge Management, the
Knowledge Café
or the role of conversation in organizational life then you my be interested in this online book I am writing on
Conversational Leadership
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