I wonder if Microsoft developers ever feel underappreciated. Having never worked there I can't say first hand, but judging from the antics of their chief exec, I'd bet not. Not every exec responsible for software endeavors share Mr. Ballmer's enthusiasm for our kind. If you bounce around long enough in this field, you will inevitably get a taste of both the yin and the yang of executive flavor for which I refer. In my case, the past employers that fall into the opposite spectrum of Mr. Ballmer are in that camp simply because they didn't know any better. Software, or should I say, the importance of software has a way of sneaking up on an exec. One day its pencils, ten keys, and typewriters, and then BAM! - You're in a meeting to negotiate this year's accounting system license agreement. Well, maybe I am exaggerating a bit, but for non-tech leaders, this creep happened, and some adapted better than others. And it's sometimes hard to fault them for their attitude towards developers. In the early days where their opinions were formed; it was all about their experiences. If their teams were good, and they successfully implemented software based systems that actually worked without first failing over and over, the bosses get the impression that it's easy and anyone should be able to do it. On the other hand, if their teams were lousy, and repeatedly failed, well, those developers are certainly not worthy of any kudos either. And then there is the yang for the yin. The exec that has presided over this technology creep with foresight. The creep was there for him too, but he creeped with intent. This exec recognized the competitive advantages that his software systems could achieve his company. This exec recognized the need to ensure that his development teams were better than his competitors and that this competitive advantage could significantly affect the organization's success. This guy is real and he's in Ballmer's camp.
For leaders who have "grown up" so-to-speak within the software process, their opinions are based on other factors, because their experiences were different. They understand far better than their non technical counterparts the great challenges (and great enthusiasms) of the software creation process. They understand developers, and understand that not all developers are created equal. They understand that while great coding might arguably be considered an individual endeavor, great software is definitely a team sport. The successful leaders in this group are also in Ballmer's camp.
In software, a good team of developers stand a chance of overcoming methodology weaknesses, dysfunctional project managers, and impossible schedules and yet still pull off miraculous success. But the best of everything else with bad developers… there's gonna be a big thud when the gantt hits the windshield.
So embrace your developers. Give em' a hug. Hell, stand center stage and at the top of your voice yell! Developers, Developers, Developer!
Brian