[Nasrudith]

I see this as highlighting something else - differing philisophies with goals and values and talking past one another. Many in software aren't interested in optimizing career itself but the skills for their own sake.

Similiarly "outcomeism" vs "skills" is another area of differences in views. Talking only of outcomes to a skills person can seem charlatanish - making promises without the hows and important fine distinctions. Similiarly to the outcomes skills details don't matter - while ignoring the details which lead to the outcome and even treating them with contempt.

[marssaxman]

This reminds me of the "maximizer vs satisficer" dynamic.

[tandr]

Would you be kind to expand on that a bit? I have never heard about such dichotomy, and genuinely curious. Thank you.

[marssaxman]

It's an idea from decision-making theory. A maximizer would try to review all possible options, then select the best one; a satisficer would evaluate each option in turn, then select the first one which meets their criteria.

It's a way of looking at rational decision-making which accommodates the fact that information is incomplete and time is a factor; the optimal choice may not be the maximal one, because the cost of evaluating the options must be factored into the decision.