Transcript My Experience as a Facilitator Between Biostatisticians

Empowering SAS®
Programmers: The Role of
the Manager
Carey G. Smoak
Roche Molecular Systems, Inc.
Pleasanton, CA
OVERVIEW
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Introduction
Empowering SAS Programmers
The Role of the Manager
Conclusion
EMPOWERING:
SAS Programmer
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Definition of Empowerment
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to give the confidence to do something
EMPOWERING:
SAS Programmer
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Elements of Empowerment
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Skills
Information and Resources
Authority
Motivation
SKILLS:
SAS Programmer
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Technical
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Soft (People)
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SAS programming
Ability to work with people
Success
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Technical skills alone are not enough
INFORMATION & RESOURCES:
SAS Programmer
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Study related materials
Direct knowledge about a clinical trial
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Attendance at clinical team meetings
AUTHORITY:
SAS Programmer
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Allowed to work-out problems whether
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Technical, or
Inter-personal
MOTIVATION:
SAS Programmer
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More than willingness
Committed to getting the job done
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When difficulties occur during a clinical trial
Persistence and resourcefulness demonstrate
motivation
The Role of the Manager
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Goal:
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Giving their programmers the best chance at
being successful
SKILLS:
The Role of the Manager
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Assign them tasks appropriate to their skill
level
Give them opportunities to grow
INFORMATION & RESOURCES:
The Role of the Manager
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Encourage the programmer to take
initiative in working out the programming
specs (with the study Biostatistician)
Intervene (assist) in this process when
needed
AUTHORITY:
The Role of the Manager
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Avoid micromanaging programmers
Encourage them to solve problems
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Coach them how to solve problems
MOTIVATION:
The Role of the Manager
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Personality
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Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI)
INTJ – suited to careers in statistics and
programming
Introverted
 iNtuition
 Thinking
 Judging

MOTIVATION:
The Role of the Manager
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INTJs tend to be hard-working and driven to
solve problems
This can be good
 However, when timelines need to be met, the
manager may need to intervene and keep the
programmer on-track
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E m p ow erin g S A S P rog ra m m ers
H ig h
Low
Low
H ig h
Sk ill
PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER:
The Role of the Manager
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An empowered SAS programmer is:
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Highly motivated
Highly skilled
Properly uses authority and information/
resources
Not micromanaged
PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER:
The Role of the Manager

Programmers who are neither highly
skilled nor highly motivated need to be
coached by their manager

The manager will need to evaluate what level
of authority is appropriate for this type of
programmer
PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER:
The Role of the Manager

Understanding your style of managing
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INTJs may make good statisticians or
programmers, but not necessarily good
managers
INTJs as managers tend to have
communication problems, such as
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Hiding the reasons behind their decisions
CONCLUSION

Giving programmers the best chance at
being successful means that the
programmer is empowered.
CONCLUSION
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A manager can help a programmer to be
empowered by encouraging them to:
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Use their skills
Have adequate resources and information
Have appropriate authority
Be properly motivated
CONTACT INFORMATION
Carey G. Smoak
Roche Molecular Systems, Inc.
[email protected]