Should I send my team to coding boot camp?
A few members on our team don't understand technology very well. I've read that coding boot camps promise they can turn almost anyone into a capable web developer. I've done my research but prices really vary... $1,000 - $10,000, or even higher. Have any of you attended a coding boot camp? Was it helpful? If so, how much would you justify spending on it per team member?
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Oct 1, 2015
Sometimes you get what you pay for.
Is the ROI significant enough for you to pursue this option? What is the deterrent from contracting a capable programmer (...they don't all cost through the roof)?
If you want to test the waters, this site (https://www.codecademy.com/learn) offers some freebie courses and they are fairly well put together.
At one of my companies (linkpoint.ca) we have in-house staff who are capable programmers, but there are times where we decide to contract out due to cost feasibility.
Hope this helps!
- Kyle
www.thesarwalgroup.com
Oct 1, 2015
A way to get your people involved with coding (and then with new job skills) is let them offer solutions developed with very simple coding in everyday activities. We use IFTTT (IF app and Button app) for our job activities. It is easy, don't need courses but lets people develop reasoning skills APPLIED to their specific job needs. It works pretty well when our co-workers ask me for new and different tools.
Oct 1, 2015
Hi Daniel, ideally coding boot camps are good for teams of established businesses where you want them to expand their expertise or knowledge. But if you are seriously thinking of turning them into developers whom you can utilize for your tech needs then it is not a very good idea. Boot camps pump in info and knowledge, but only practice and multiple projects bring in the experience, expertise & the skills. You'd be better off investing the money in outsourcing your tech needs or in hiring an expert. Hope this helps.
Sep 30, 2015
The implicit assumption behind this question is that anyone, given sufficient training, can be a programmer. The truth is that programmers are born and not made. The only exception is yeshiva students who have spent years studying the Talmud. It's helpful for non-technical people to have a passing understanding of technology. They just have to be aware of the limits of their knowledge. I once worked in an office in which all of the Vice Presidents told the incoming President that they were computer experts, even though I literally once had to turn on a printer to end a panic among some of them about it not working. The Office Manager was the true computer expert because she knew what she didn't know.
Sep 29, 2015
The short answer is: No, hire a developer.
The long answer is no "coding boot camp" will get a non-technology team member to point where they are as proficient as an experienced developer. A seasoned developer, whether it be software or web, will have a much deeper understanding of the array of technologies involved in deploying web-based applications, such as databases, servers, cross-browser compatibility etc.
My recommendation would be to hire a developer. A web developer will be stronger for web-based applications. If you are looking at breaching the mobile market, I'd recommend a software developer as they will most likely have the experience in both arenas. Lastly, you could partner up with a software development firm that specializes in web and/or mobile development.
You haven't stated the purpose for training your team in web development. Depending upon your goals, partnering with a firm will most likely have a lower overhead per annum.
Best of luck in your venture!
Sep 28, 2015
Richard Stern- If you feel the cost will generate a better and efficient flow of information, then yes.
Sep 28, 2015
Learning new technologies is great. That being said, in my opinion, you are better off having dedicated developers, that have put the time into learning the technologies because that is what they wanted to do.
If they were passionate about writing software, they would be learning it on their own at every opportunity.
Coding boot camp about a specific technology could be helpful, if the person attending the class has a very strong desire and years of software development experience to satisfy any prerequisites there may be.
A couple of questions to ask yourself would be:
1. How can whatever they learn in a few months compare to what developers that have been programming for decades know?
2. What is to prevent your current team members from demanding more money or taking what they have learned somewhere else?
Sep 28, 2015
I have a hard time believing that everyone on your team needs to be a web developer. Without knowing the products and services that your team provides, I would expect that you need a few members to understand how clients will use and perceive your products. Depending who your target market or clients are (if they don't need to be very knowledgeable about web developing), you may want some of your team to be focused on client perspectives and be client advocates. You may want some of your members to better analyze client use, market trends, client retention, client satisfaction and handle client survey results. Review the strengths, talents, and passion on your team and align those with the different roles that need to be filled. Not everyone has to (or should) be an expert in the same thing.
Once again - I don't know what your current product and services are - so this may not be relevant.
Sep 28, 2015
If I were going to suggest anything to a client to adapt from the coding world it would not be coding boot camp. While I'm sure you can go from ignorant and disinterested to aware and incompetent, do you really think that will benefit the team? What I saw firsthand having run a very large technology operation was a change to Agile development methodology that created a whole new sense of unity, inclusion, time respected, obstacles tackled immediately... and the list goes on. Your team would benefit most by putting them in a situation to have their skills best utilized. Agile principles, like a daily morning scrum, can be adapted to any group with task-oriented accomplishments, goals, customers, almost anything. Do your research on the principles of management there and you can do without making people think they know enough that it might just make them dangerous.
Sep 28, 2015
Hi Daniel,
Thanks for posting your question.
You're halfway there to understanding which approach to take, judging by the input from others.
I have attended a few coding boot camps, and help to run a few for fortune 100, 500, and 1000 clients. One of the most important things you can do after the instructional period is to utilize the skills that were learned. I can promise you that your team will lose their knowledge on the subject if this does not take place.
What will be your ROI? Sometimes spending $30k on 2 weeks of class for 15 students makes sense (think of cost-overages, failed deadlines, opportunity costs, etc. when you are trying to place a value on this).
Two questions::
Do you need generic skills?
Do you need company-specific skills?
Once you answer this, you can move on the next step: finding an SME (subject matter expert) who can sit on a call with you to discuss your specific needs, and tailor an outline to meet those needs.
If you know the specifics of what you need, I would be happy to speak with you or help to point you in the right direction. No pressure.
404-394-5235
-Malachi