The people who write your paychecks and give your department money to buy new stuff. Their needs are often closely allied with those of the
GoldUsers -- I am almost certain that
GoldUser was a part of XP in the past. It's been refactored out.
Also, a (somewhat derogatory) term for
MonitorEvaluator accountancy types of person more generally. Is is an unfortunate accident of history that bean counters in this sense have become the defining example of "professionalism" as used by too many middle-managers.
I know
bean counter is is meant to apply
to accounting types who, stereotypically, are
more concerned about the numbers adding up
than what they represent. But the term can
apply to anyone who can't see the forest
for the trees.
I worked (thankfully briefly) for a company
that had project managers whose sole
contribution to design meetings was, "And
how long will it take to do it that way?",
every time someone brought up a possible
implementation. Not just once, but like
a broken record. Dilbert wan't funny
during that stretch. PERT-chart city.
--BobBockholt