[npolet]

Very much so. I think a lot of people who code or know much about it are surprised by how much abstract thinking there is involved when programming. I would love to time my work hours (somehow) over the course of a few months and see the amount of time spent thinking and jotting ideas down, to actually writing code.

I work closely with non-developers a lot and they have mentioned that they didn't realise how 'big' programming, languages, algorithms etc... are. There is a hell of a lot of stuff to know. But I suppose this is the same with many industries.

[otakucode]

It can be problematic. Many leaders of companies think programming is a matter of typing. We've had a monumental fundamental shift in the workplace from repetitive physical labor (manufacturing) to mental labor, and the workplace has not caught up at all. They're still using the same structures and practices honed to perform well in manufacturing contexts. Human beings have very different needs and capabilities when it comes to mental work. But we still drop people in a big noisy open floor plan office, expect 8+ hours a day of continuous exertion, and load daily schedules up with distraction.