March 5. 2008 08:56

The article has nothing to do with the customer being right/wrong! There's a trite mention at the beginning of the article before he launches into his real topic: the dangers of being a workaholic - a subject about which he is passionate, has painful experience, and is generally correct.

But to associate the 'yes'-man culture with 'the customer is always right' is a false association: the two may occasionally feed off one another, but they are not directly related.

positivesharing.com/.../

sethgodin.typepad.com/.../the_customer_is.html

www.jamesmapes.com/.../02_customer-not-right.htm

experiencematters.wordpress.com/.../

The customer needs to be trained as much as anyone else to recognise and value high-quality work. But in the case of software development, it's a fine line to tread: you DON'T know their business like they do, and they DON'T know software development like you do - the correct path is often one defined by excellent communication: weeding out what the customer really needs from a long list of things he wants.

Strangepants

March 5. 2008 11:06

Agree Strangepants. The article isn't entirely about the subject the title suggests, leading to a loose association with the title and rest of the subject matter.

The other links you posted are certainly interesting reads.

Sarnil Prasad