Re: [xsl] [possibly off topic] Adoption Rates and Future

[Wendell Piez <wapiez@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi again,

On 11/4/2011 11:46 AM, I wrote:
> On 11/3/2011 2:19 AM, Hank Ratzesberger wrote:
> > Anecdotal to list, apologies, but for me... I was told yesterday by
> > my previous employer that he can't find anyone to maintain and XML
> > application and today by my current employer that XML is not seen as
> > the solution it was thought to be several years ago.

...

> As for the current employer, this is a howling non sequitur. I agree
> that XML is not the solution it was thought to be several years ago.
> (Nor was it ever thought to be, by many of us.) But to go from this to
> "we're not going to do it" is like saying that because we have not yet
> cured cancer, medical science is useless.

Another thing occurred to me. As Hank tells it, his current employer 
doesn't approve of XML not because it isn't a solution XYZ, but because 
it is not *seen* as a solution XYZ. Assuming this is actually what he 
said, I think this is revealing.

Charitably, one might suppose that this argument is made in view of 
meta-strategic considerations such as how hard it is to find expert 
developers given the dominant perceptions in the marketplace. (Yet he 
has an expert standing right in front of him to whom he is telling this.)

Uncharitably, one might suppose that he is not interested in whether the 
technology is effective at solving problems, but in how it is perceived. 
Maybe he's more concerned with being able to drop the currently sexy 
buzzwords at board meetings than he is with whether it actually works -- 
and taking on the burden of knowing enough about it that he can convince 
the board.

Technology is complicated, confusing and mysterious. But life is filled 
with mysteries. Ultimately it comes down to what you want to take 
responsibility for.

Cheers,
Wendell

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Wendell Piez                            mailto:wapiez@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Mulberry Technologies, Inc.                http://www.mulberrytech.com
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