The general public's notion of engineering -- once it gets past the idea that we drive locomotives -- seems to be that of the software engineer in his cubicle at three in the morning totally unaware of time or place. And, sure, we've all probably met that guy, working on ground-zero calculations on his tempest rig and looking like he should be provided with a feeding slot next to his security safe. But we're not all like that.

We've also been in start-ups where the founders have been asleep under the desks, or where an improvised version of volleyball is being played in the corridor, or where candy and bottled water are the foodstuffs of choice -- and are free. But we're not all like that either. Are we?

If you read such stuff the astrologists will tell you that your work performance -- as well as the work you should be doing -- are directly related to your birth date and time. I don't know whether that is true or even partially true but there are certainly large differences between individuals; some people seem to change over the years but I have been consistent in being a night person.

There was many the night as a teenager where I would creep down to my rig in the garage and power up the HRO and AR88D and scan the shortwave dials with different antennas; and when I started to get paid to be working with such things I instinctively volunteered for night shifts.

The occasions when I have had to sit at an office desk for eight or so hours a day have never been the most comfortable or productive. I work best when I can do what I am thinking about: That could be at the kitchen counter, in my office, in a quiet gate area at an airport, or even in a hotel. If I am forced to do something creative before 11 AM my body revolts. If I have to catch an airplane at 5 AM -- which happens much too frequently as far as I am concerned -- my body instinctively would prefer to stay up for the night rather than wake up early. I don't do that anymore although I used to.

But, obviously, everybody is not like me. I watch my daughter skipping off for the school bus at 7:30 AM and wonder where the heck those genes come from. I see friends who are happy to be at their office desks well before 8 AM and still be happy to be there at 6 PM. These people are early-day productive.

I never had a working cubicle -- one of those places where you do paperwork on one desk and turn to another parallel desk to do hands-on things. That would be weird to me. I always liked the formal lab approach: a real door, preferably locked, real benches, lab coats, stools, the works. It is somehow to me less like the water cooler atmosphere of the cubicle, less likely for the casual, disturbing, conversation to be started by someone whose anxiety level is high or who is unsure of himself.

I am incredibly lucky because I can determine to a large extent both when and where I work these days. Yes, I have a boss; yes, I have to produce; but I am lucky to be able to produce in my own way. Not many people have that choice, I know, although times are certainly changing so that even designers scattered around the world can perform in their own locales. And many companies have come to realize that allowing at least some telecommute time actually often results in increased productivity.

There are some positions where such flexibility cannot exist, of course, but recognizing when it can is a management challenge that, I believe, will always put that company ahead in the recruitment chain.

Where and when would you work if you had the choice?

Back to Poll.

Analog Main | Product of the Week | Columns | Editorial | Tech Notes

		Click here to get your listing up.