There is a lot of focus on team work. I'm still not sure if programming is suited for team work. There's clearly some activities of creative problem solving which are better suited for individuals working mostly alone, but belonging to a community of peers.

For example: * math * research * art * visual design * writing * music

* programming?

People have been trying to apply Taylorism to programming making it approach an assembly line in organization. Now we're trying to organize programmers as sports teams instead with Agile.

I just don't understand why programming specifically is under this intense pressure of having to be measurable and quantifiable in every little detail.

It seems like being a good cog in an assembly line, or a good member of a sports team is just as important, if not more, as just creating good programs. Why aren't for example visual designers being hassled in this way? No they are beging left alone as long as they do good stuff. They can freelance or work from home if they want.

But programming is somehow different. There's this assumption that it needs to be done in a group at all times. Solving all problems by group discussion.

If I was hiring I would just ask to see previous project, and/or a portfolio (github for example). If they have nothing to show, or it's really bad and show no signs of progress, I would not hire. Simple as that.

I wouldn't hire a group of 15 clearly sub-standard visual designers who have nothing to show, try to organize them into a group, measure closely and try to make them create visual design.

In the same way I would not try to do this with programmers either.