zlacker

Did exactly this! Just it wasn’t CEO, only a Vice President. I mentioned bugs and lack of testing in a polite way, also offered how test system could be designed to automate testing. There was a committee created to do inspection of my code and to analyze, why I do so many bugs. I’ll never tell anybody, how to operate better after this “incident”. The months were hell and I am pretty sure, I’ll be fired during next downsizing round.

>>lnsru+(OP)
First, good on you for trying to make a difference. Second, without painting with too broad of a brush here I would say that depending on the size of your organization this is the exact wrong layer to complain to. The VPs can be in the spot where they want to be perceived as running the show so the C levels can take care of the vision. If there was a CTO at your company that may have been the better move.

Either way, Im sorry to hear that things went south after complaining and it sounds like it just got bruised egos involved.

>>S_A_P+J2
It's almost never the right move. The CTO doesn't know you, but he does know the people who report to him.

>>oblio+73
> It's almost never the right move. The CTO doesn't know you, but he does know the people who report to him.

And they will come down on those people HARD! "Why is your employee complaining to me? Why aren't you doing your job?"

And down the line it comes crashing down. And meteor lands on your face.

>>lnsru+(OP)
> Did exactly this!

Reminds me of this news.yc thread, "We may get fired and I don't know what to do" [0], which had a follow-up from the OP with full backstory ~7 years later, "I stood up to my boss, then he got promoted" [1].

[0] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=6309766

[1] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=21766903

>>lnsru+(OP)
Not every company is like that, but probably a lot of leaders are cover their ass types. I'm the leader of engineering in my startup, I'm trying my best to encourage open ideas and criticism. Perhaps that's why I've never been a top leader in a big company (1/2 ;-)))

>>lnsru+(OP)
> I mentioned bugs and lack of testing in a polite way, also offered how test system could be designed to automate testing.

Did the same a while ago, with my CEO. Instantly removed from overseeing the biggest project we have in the works. Also removed from all communications about the project and privileges to view project-related documents revoked.

>>outwor+78
Come down hard on his people? Probably come down hard on your manager.