What to say when your superior demands a deadline from you?

10:40am 22/01/10 In Lab

Ok, this post is a bit late but its better late than never right? Reflecting on the previous lecture, where ex-students of cs3216 shared their valuable experiences on how to manage a team, I cant help but recall the lady's (in white glasses, i cant rem her name, help me out!) conversation with her subordinates who are programmers

Lady: When do you think you can finish the task?
Programmmer: I am not sure.
Lady: What do you mean, 'you are not sure?'
Programmer: You don't understand programmers...
Lady: But I need DATES!

This does sound like a tricky situation. I can SOOO imagine someone asking me this question in future, so I thought of a brilliant reply.

Lady: When do you think you can finish the task?
Programmmer: I am not sure.
Lady: What do you mean, 'you are not sure?'
Programmer: You don't understand programmers...
Lady: But I need DATES!
Me (with a big wide grin): I can be one.

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