Software is a tricky balance between practicality and ideals.
In this example, the older programmer may figure he can meet the real requirements faster and with less risk using technologies he's already familiar with. He might be right!
Unfortunately, there's also a good chance he's being lazy, or political, or etc.
Try to give it a really good objective look to see for yourself which one it is. If the latter, you can try to influence the developer in an ego-friendly way or consider leaving if it becomes unbearable. If your managers have no real technical experience themselves then they are useless in these situations.
Good chance it won't be the last time you have to deal with this sort of thing. (coming from an old-ish dev)
In this example, the older programmer may figure he can meet the real requirements faster and with less risk using technologies he's already familiar with. He might be right!
Unfortunately, there's also a good chance he's being lazy, or political, or etc.
Try to give it a really good objective look to see for yourself which one it is. If the latter, you can try to influence the developer in an ego-friendly way or consider leaving if it becomes unbearable. If your managers have no real technical experience themselves then they are useless in these situations.
Good chance it won't be the last time you have to deal with this sort of thing. (coming from an old-ish dev)