Unlike smaller businesses, in many, if not most, larger non-tech corporations, software developers are seen by mid to upper management as cogs that can quickly and easily be replaced by a random contractor. This attitude makes it more likely that developers will not be that conscientious about the kinds of arrangements you've made for business continuity. When you know that you can be sent packing out the door immediately on the whim of a director or VP, it doesn't breed much loyalty to the organization.
However, this "programmer are disposable" can have significant costs and bridges can be burned both ways.
For example, one mid-sized public corporation I worked at decided to lay off an entire team of developers (myself included) complete with the "security escort them out the door" treatment. No thought was given to continuity. The result was a billing automation system failed to run, resulting in $35M in lost revenue before someone discovered the problem and their "hired gun" contractor figured it out and fixed it.
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Unlike smaller businesses, in many, if not most, larger non-tech corporations, software developers are seen by mid to upper management as cogs that can quickly and easily be replaced by a random contractor. This attitude makes it more likely that developers will not be that conscientious about the kinds of arrangements you've made for business continuity. When you know that you can be sent packing out the door immediately on the whim of a director or VP, it doesn't breed much loyalty to the organization.
However, this "programmer are disposable" can have significant costs and bridges can be burned both ways.
For example, one mid-sized public corporation I worked at decided to lay off an entire team of developers (myself included) complete with the "security escort them out the door" treatment. No thought was given to continuity. The result was a billing automation system failed to run, resulting in $35M in lost revenue before someone discovered the problem and their "hired gun" contractor figured it out and fixed it.
Wow, that's a great story, Frank. No doubt, the manager that fired your team kept his job despite his/her $35M mistake.