Reply #59: I've done corporate and I've done academia . . . [View All]

And so far corporate servitude pays lots better. I work with engineers, and yes, they DO think that way. And for the most part, that's a good thing.

The background noise (i.e., bullshit) from the process maps we use is fairly low due to a sort of Darwinian selection process that's taking place all the time: if the processes don't work, the problem shows up right away and is very big time. This is because we're (in my project's case) doing design-build of a major motorway and failed processes mean that designs aren't done on time or that some material isn't at the site on time, or a rigging crew isn't trained in time, etc., etc., and the schedule, or cost, or quality, or (god forbid) safety could go to hell.

As we're highly constrained due to our contract with regard to cost and schedule, there's not much room for error. And since what we're doing is insanely expensive, even a little error costs a bundle.

Keeps us focused, if ya know what I mean.