# Performers have mixed feelings about DARPA
This is relevant for the [[PARPA rebranding exercise]] — signals a break.
* Programs can drastically change direction when a new PM takes over a program. In large part this is because they’ve encoded the time limit for PMs into the rules. PMs taking over a new program occasionally cut some performers for reasons unrelated to their performance or just neglect pieces of the program.
* (The same thing happens at an organizational level when a new director takes over)
* [[Ways an ARPA-riff could improve on Things about DARPA that can be improved]]
* DARPA PMs often push performers to do things they don’t think are possible. In addition to maybe not having their full hearts in it, it creates a situation where there’s an understanding that
* [[Selectively enforced rules are a double-edged sword]]
* DARPA does push performers to work on things they wouldn’t normally work on and work on
* Maybe [[Directly acknowledging alignment and misalignment can be powerful]] is another for the list of [[Ways an ARPA-riff could improve on Things about DARPA that can be improved]]