One of the computer programmers that I talk with, works for my current project customer. I then wind up talking with the customer Department Manager.
The customer DM asks me, "Do you know that Fifi Fantastic has been hired as your Project Manager replacement?"
I tell the DM, "So I have just heard."
The DM asks me, "What of the scheduled Monday demo?"
I reply, "My team and I have wrapped up preparation for the Monday demo. We are good to go. I think that you will like our show."
The DM asks me, "Do you know what background Fifi Fantastic has?"
I reply, "I have been told, by more than one source, that Fifi has no computer programming experience and no management experience."
The DM asks me, "If Fifi Fantastic takes over as Project Manager, what happens to my computer program?"
I reply, "I can only guess, from my own background experience."
The DM tells me, "Okay, guess."
I reply, "My guess is complete and total disaster."
The DM tells me, "Okay, my guess is also complete and total disaster. What should I do?"
I tell the DM. "In confidence, you need me and the current development team. I must have a pay check. I suspect that my development team also must each have a pay check. I see me having my Project Manager head cut off, to make way for Fifi Fantastic." If you can re-attach my Project Manager head, I will do everything in my power to lead my computer programmer team out the door and into our new assignment."
The DM tells me, "Okay, you finish my current computer program and I maybe have no more work for you. Then what?"
I tell the DM, "There are computer programmer studs and there are computer programmer duds. All of my computer programmers are studs. We finish your current computer program and then we train maintenance programmers. You have a good working computer program and the people to keep it a good working computer program. You then whisper to other DMs around town that you have stud computer programmers, but no billets for the studs. You then offload us to good pay checks. We win and your company wins, when you need to hire new programmers."
I wrap up with the customer DM and talk with a few more computer programmers.