This is a case of where "commander's intent" would have been useful.
"We need to ensure that the site remains up. It would be helpful to know very quickly when it goes down. I need you to write a test suite to do that."
Without the framing of knowing why something is asked for, the risk is that the work will zoom off in unexpected directions, or, just as bad, get stuck on a triviality.
Staff can do their bit by asking for intent, if the corporate culture allows it.
"We need to ensure that the site remains up. It would be helpful to know very quickly when it goes down. I need you to write a test suite to do that."
Without the framing of knowing why something is asked for, the risk is that the work will zoom off in unexpected directions, or, just as bad, get stuck on a triviality.
Staff can do their bit by asking for intent, if the corporate culture allows it.