1. Ask them.
2. Take their suggestions seriously.
3. Follow up.
4. Implement if they are feasible.
5. Allow experimentation (3Com model)

It also helps if you foster an environment of learning and encouragement of risk-taking (within limits). Buck-passing and finger-pointing have brought consultancies many dollars.

Their priorities are different. I come from three generations of German VW assembly line workers (Wolfsburg plant). I grew up in the US. Last time I saw my now-retired uncle, he asked me about the (then) new VW Bug and why the Americans kept putting flowers in the dashboard-mounted gun rack. Explanation was pointless.

Agree. Rose annihilating Daleks was one of my favorite moments - if you are going to sell 'frightening Daleks' to an audience, you have to earn it, and I think they did.

Further to your point, having the Doctor rhapsodize about what makes humans great (or not so much) every few episodes is, IMHO, what makes the series so good. Sometimes a little heavy-handed, but it works well, IMHO, especially for younger viewers.

I understand your point - I was not a fan of Noble until halfway through her tenure. I think she is one of those characters one has to take on their own terms - a homebody, and an obnoxious one, who longs for something more. My sympathy for her might stem from the fact that I know many people like her from my own childhood - but I can understand she might grate on you. I liked the fact that she was really not too bright, but she worked her inventory with everything she had. She was emotionally a basket case, but carried on anyway and just sucked it up and dealt with it (after blubbering, of course). The fact that she needed a good shaking from time to time made it more rewarding when she pulled it out and did something great. That, and her insights (re: sick days, for example) came from her (very limited) experience, not raw brainpower.

Is it wrong of me to enjoy someone truly average trying so hard and succeeding to a level that Pipers' and Freemans' characters achieve with much less effort and drama? Probably. Maybe it is like watching the Special Olympics - it isn't about being the fastest or best in the world, it is about living up to ones greatest potential, and putting out maximum effort, even if competing in a field one cannot possibly be world-beating in. I think that is it, for me.

I will agree that Rose was the best rendered companion of the new series, and IMHO the Eccleston Doctor was the best of the new series, from a Doctor-companion character standpoint.

Agreed. I thought his 'pissed off doctor' when he's screaming at the Dalek to 'just die' was a far more appropriate response to encountering the last of the species that had wiped out your entire civilization. Chris E. gave the Doctor an edge. Never saw McCoy, so can't speak to that.

Nice one...

One other thing the Doctor relies on - other people (companions, etc.) to 'do the right thing' and be clever. Kind of unique, if you think about it - the hero of a television show who actually relies on supporting cast to solve problems. Look at what happened to Donna Noble - she gave up literally everything she valued in her life to fix things. One of the best moments of the new series, I thought.

BTW - Daleks aren't just unreasoning force, they are sheer racist hate. The Cybermen are closer to pure unreasoning force, but I digress, and risk being branded a fanboy. :)

.. And it would either be excellent and get cancelled mid-season, or it would absolutely suck and last seven seasons. Combining science fiction, humor and character development are very tough to do. The BBC have a better track record than the US does. We managed to put out Firefly, and even that took ridiculous amounts of time and work... and despite being profitable, got cancelled anyway.

BTW - it could be worse than Brendan Fraser - consider Keifer Sutherland or Matt LeBlanc in the role. Gah. Wait... Nathan Fillion is currently underemployed... do you think...?

Nah.

You are correct - I did not intend to put myself out as independent, merely that consulting comes in different flavors, and there are hazards - an independent consultant has a lot of volatility, but working for a consulting firm (as I do) has some of the same hazards as corporate work.

I was responding to the note about 'every hour being billable' as if that was some kind mechanism for ensuring good project scope and specifications, good client responsiveness and/or good project management - my contention is, being billable is not necessarily a guarantee your time will be treated any better. I should have spelled that out.

I absolutely agree. My only point would be - it sucks when you are fired for wanting to be treated reasonably.

Clients do get what they pay for - and oftentimes, that aint good.

Cheers!

American here - we don't prefer to work hard, some of us just aren't up to the task of working smart. Ok, a LOT of us aren't. Of the rest who like to 'work smart', working for a 'hard worker' makes their intelligence moot - if the boss is on the job, you better be. :)

I wish I ran a company, and needed someone like you. I'd hire you in a second, and pay you very well - if you can steadily increase the amount of stuff that gets done consistently and correctly (scripts don't f*ck off on the job) and you can keep figuring out how to save time and money via automation, I guarantee you would have a job as long as you could keep maintaining the code to 'get stuff done'. That kind of working is, IMHO, what quality IT service is about. You are not lazy, you're smart.

Careful generalizing on consultants - I am one, and we frequently see jobs bid along unrealistic time and budget constraints to just get the work, with no involvement by the people selling the work. This may not be the case at a smaller place, but at medium to large firms where Partners or Directors negotiate the Statement of Work, and whose tech skills are often woefully out of date, it is in my experience pretty common. Result: incredible pressure on engagement managers and seniors to get the job done on time and within budget - with failure to do so directly impacting your promotions and salary. The result - 'eating' hours and burnout. Yes, your every hour is billable, but you cannot always bill all your hours and get the job done without getting yourself fired for blowing the budget. Refuse to eat hours and work stupid overtime on a consistent basis? That's okay, they'll let you go and replace you with a 23-year-old straight from college who is willing to work 18 hour days for 3-4 months. No exaggeration on that - I saw it happen. Fortunately, it is usually not THAT bad.