Chapter 14: <Planning for the Future>

When Woosung suggested that it was time to go home, Park Junwoo shook his head weakly.

“You should go home. I… I still have more work to do.”

“How about you, Assistant Manager Kim?”

Kim Yonggun was in the same boat as Park Junwoo.

“I… think I also have more to finish.”

“Really? You should go home and just finish tomorrow.”

“N… no, Woosung. You go ahead.”

He sighed and looked at this screen.

-title : HTS Controller Test

-author : woosung.kang

-email :

This was the beginning of Woosung’s code. It was hard to accept that they had to use the newbie’s code. Woosung was better than the assistant manager. He was even better than the manager.

Woosung also said to Yoon Gihwan.

“Well then, General Manager, I will see you tomorrow.”

“O… ok.”

Yoon Gihwan also looked like he was struggling. When Woosung peeked at his screen, he saw that Yoon Gihwan was looking up TDD on the internet.

“Don’t work too hard. Go home early. And General Manager!”

Yoon Gihwan looked up from his computer.

“When you’re done with the report, don’t forget to run it by me.”

“You, bastard….”

Yoon Gihwan exhaled deeply and stopped mid-sentence.

“I just want to chat with you about Kent Beck’s work (One of the original signatories of the Agile Manifesto) and how you feel about it.”

“Argh…”

Yoon Gihwan groaned as Woosung left the office. Woosung lived about an hour of a subway ride from the office. He zoned out as he waited for his ride.

‘Did I get smarter when I traveled back in time?’

It wasn’t just the coding. His ability to write reports, do presentations, and control the situation all improved.

‘Within the last two weeks, I created so many test codes, wrote an impressive report, and created the GUI test plugin. I am so amazing.’

He knew what the future held, but if he didn’t have these skills, it could have been useless, but that wasn’t the case. He was more than capable.

‘At this rate, I will be fluent in English soon too.’

One of the many things Woosung learned was English. He had to read the original report on Bitcoin and the Android specs on the first smartphones.

‘Choi Gichul, you just wait. I will destroy you.’

Woosung was determined. He promised to never waste a day. He was single-minded. He focused on the book.

– Sungmoon’s English Grammar for the Beginners

It was a famous textbook for students learning English. Woosung has never finished this book when he was still in school. Woosung opened the book.

***

3 pm every Friday.

As soon as the market closed, PMs from the outsourcing companies for Nuri Finances gathered around for a meeting. It was to share and discuss all the issues in different departments including the account system, channel system, and the information system. Jo Youngsuk, the head of the Nuri Finances’ IT department, was in charge of this meeting and any final decisions made here.

Jo Youngsuk reprimanded Kwon Hyungeun harshly.

‘Manager Kwon…’

Kwon Hyungeun remained silent.

“It has only been a few days since we had that big problem, and already we have 10 VoCs. 10! Do you think this is normal, Manager Kwon?”

“We just launched a new system so we are still in the adjusting period. We are trying our best.”

“Manager, this isn’t the place to ‘try.’ You need to ‘do’ it right.”

Kwon Hyungeun reddened.

“…I apologize.”

Jo Youngsuk wasn’t finished. He was acting very differently than when he talked to Woosung.

“It has already been days since we launched this program. The adjustment period should be over by now. You need to do better!”

“…”

The room filled with tension. Yoon Gihwan looked nervous, worried that he might be called up next.

‘If General manager Yoon is scared of him… Jo Youngsuk must be really terrifying.’

Jo Youngsuk.

Woosung didn’t know him very well. 10 years ago, he was only a newbie at Daesan System. He was never promoted high enough to ever meet Jo Youngsuk.

“This applies to everyone here. And from now on, it won’t just be words. Starting today, we are implementing a point system for every VoC.”

Point system. Also called the reward and punishment system.

At first glance, it looked like a fair arrangement, but it only worked to destroy morale and increase unnecessary competition among co-workers. Some groaned in fear. Jo Youngsuk continued indifferently.

“It’s not just punishment. Remember the reward part. If you make a good suggestion or apply new ideas effectively and quickly, you can gain positive points to offset any negative points. Renewing outsourcing contracts will depend on these points. This system starts today and Kwak Jungwook will explain the details to you.”

Jo Youngsuk left the room angrily. Kwon Hyungeun breathed deeply and sat silently.

After the meeting, Yoon Gihwan went to talk to Park Junwoo.

“Manager Park, how did you do with the VoC on our end?”

“I am done with all of them from last week.”

“How about this week?”

“I had a lot to do this week so…I took care of only the Monday’s VoC so far.”

Yoon Gihwan sighed and replied.

“… Manager Park, didn’t I tell you that you need to take care of all VoCs as quickly as possible?”

He was about to explode. Park Junwoo stiffened.

“But I just don’t have the time… I need more time to run tests.”

He then glanced at Woosung. Because of Woosung, there was more to do now. He had to make test codes and also study Agile software development. He had more work to do within the same amount of time. He had to prioritize, and one of the things he skipped was taking care of the VoC. Park Junwoo felt resentful for a moment, but not for long.

“They said at the meeting that whatever we missed so far will be forgiven. We are given a fresh start so we’re ok. And even if we don’t complete it, don’t worry about it.”

Yoon Gihwan murmured skeptically.

“Will you take responsibility if our company doesn’t get its contract renewed with Nuri Finances next year?”

“That depends on you, General Manager. I am referring to the reward points that was mentioned earlier. Jo Youngsuk said that anyone coming up with and implementing good ideas will gain reward points.”

“So?”

“We’ll focus on those points.”

Woosung was from the future.

He knew how HTS was going to improve in the future. He planned to use what he knew. Park Junwoo and Kim Yonggun began to worry at what Woosung was suggesting.

“W… Woosung. We are already overwhelmed with making the test codes and taking care of the VoC. If you try to start any new project, we won’t be able to keep up. Let’s just finish what we started first.”

Park Junwoo nodded in agreement. Even Yoon Gihwan felt the same.

“If you are just being overconfident, you should stop now. We know you are talented, but there is always a limit to everything.”

There were already four things Woosung oversaw.

Agile software development consulting.

Processing VoC.

GUI Test Tool.

Test codes.

GUI Test Tool alone would take over a month to complete. Test codes and VoC were being taken cared off by Park Junwoo and Kim Yonggun, but Woosung also helped out whenever he could. At this point, Woosung’s hope to make improvements on HTS was an impossible dream. But Woosung felt differently.

‘This is a good way to test how far I can go.’

He had to know his limit to make an accurate plan for the future. He wanted to see how much he could accomplish. There was only one solution.

“I can do it by myself.”

Yoon Gihwan couldn’t help but roar.

“Hey! Didn’t you hear a word I said?”

“Worries and concerns are the bugs that eat away the future. Recklessness and persistence can allow you to grow. These are famous sayings from the future.”

Yoon Gihwan realized he couldn’t change Woosung’s mind.

“Well, you never listen so whatever. Do whatever you want.”

“Then I would like to have another meeting with the server team.”

“… Do you already know what you will do?”

He already knew how HTS would change in the future, but he needed to remember the specifics.

“Well, I know the big picture. I can do parts of it myself but some of it requires new API. If you can arrange a meeting, I will let you know.”

Yoon Gihwan pointed behind Woosung.

“There is no need. You can tell him yourself.”

Kwon Hyungeun was just coming in with the server developer Nam Kyungsang. They were whispering but Woosung could hear them clearly.

“I’m sure the problem is on the channel system. I checked the server codes several times. This isn’t the first time we got blamed because of the HTS problem. We need to nip this in the bud.”

Woosung remembered this situation. 10 years ago, this was how he got to know Kwon Hyungeun well and also offered a job at ST Data System.

‘Things will turn out differently this time, Manager Nam.’

Woosung smiled and greeted the two.