Article by Russ Mitchell Frans Jingyan Q Matthews Presented & Visualized by Matthews Ricardo Stevie Heru Group 14
Apr 22, 2015
Article by Russ Mitchell
FransJingyan QMatthews
Presented & Visualized by Matthews
RicardoStevie Heru
Group 14
…definition of geeks ……definition of geeks …
Geek: an unfashionable or socially inept person // aperson with an eccentric devotion to a particular interest// Origin late 19th cent.: from the related English dialectgeck “fool”, of Germanic origin; related to Dutchgek´mad, silly” // Oxford American Dictionary
…why geeks are important ?……why geeks are important ?…
•The geeks control limits of the business and drive innovation•The geeks control limits of the business and drive innovation.
•They also help figure which strategies to follow.
•They help find which partnerships to form.
…different type of geeks ……different type of geeks …
Test authority quieter & more subtlerWork on their
Crave their individualityEccentric work styleEnjoy behaving
t i
?Work on their prioritiesHas followers
eccentric Less interactionTend towardUnder achievement
arrogant
Excellent problem
know it all eccentricimpatient
Too brilliant to be
disorganized
Disorganized junks
withdrawn
Excellent problem solving skillsFlout authorityChallenge manageriald i i bli l
told twiceQuick understandingGet bored quicklyNo complainLeave because of
Disorganized junks and chaosDon’t want to spend time on organizing and filing
decisions publicly Leave because of being bored
…you’ve got to have your own geeks ……you ve got to have your own geeks …
Why?Why?
Innovation drives any businessy
you don’t want to outsource your innovation.
Recognize & accept them…
…get to know your geek community …
They form groups that get well, and all of them fights the management together.
Know what each of them needs asIndividuals
They’re antisocial by societal definitionBut social within their own community
They have huge ego´s and enjoy theThey have huge ego s and enjoy the limelight
learn what geeks are looking for…learn what geeks are looking for …
Expect to share in the wealth that they create through their innovations.
They are interested in having an impact
?They are interested in having an impact.
Believe in their ideas
?Like to win
…create new ways to promote your geeks ……create new ways to promote your geeks …
Provide forward career path (without turning them into managers)
Recognition
•More Money
•Awards
•Stocks
•Non financial compensation
•Temporary title (selected by peers)
eithe geeks a e pa t of the sol tion…either geeks are part of the solutionor they are the problem …
They love to solve really hard problems
Tell them what to do, not how to do it
Give a problem or set of objectives
Provide sufficient resource for them to work
Engage them in a dialogue
the best judges of geeks…the best judges of geeksare : other geeks !...
Create peer group pressure within project teams by requiring them toproject teams by requiring them to present each other ( A team approach)
Th l b k d t dThey can also be asked to send progress reports to each other at predetermined intervals along a project. This way teams are not just judging each other but alsonot just judging each other but also supervising each other.
look for natural leader among your geeks…look for natural leader among your geeks …
Not necessarily official project leader
Should be based on, who gets the job done ?
O id tifi dOnce identified;Provide resources and direct access to top management
be prepared for when the geeks hit the fan…be prepared for when the geeks hit the fan …
There are 2 categories of project team:
1. Absolutely brilliant (preferably)2. Strong opinion, but on a wrong trek (their
priorities detached from company´s plans)
too many geeks will spoil the soup…too many geeks will spoil the soup…
Keep the teams small, for more productivityproductivity
Smaller team – a shorter schedules
N t h ld b bi th thNo team should be bigger than the largest conference room.
Create easy – to understandCreate easy to understand communication among team members
…how they react if we give…how they react if we givethem task… a simple task…
l h l …please help me to installthis bulb…
”arrogant” Einstein’s reaction… arrogant Einstein s reaction…
I did not go to
Tole ate a small amo nt
gTUDelft to install light bulbs.
Give me a rocket engineOr something
Tolerate a small amount –doesn’t affect other performance
Listen to them then improve
Listen with intention of doing
”know it all” Einstein’s reaction… know it all Einstein s reaction…
He told me to install this stupid bulb…
This was not in my job description! Next time I description! Next time I
wont do it.
Control them indirectly
Show appreciation
Make them exposed so that they can’t work on their own priority
”impatient” Einstein’s reaction… impatient Einstein s reaction…
… hey…I j t t d t I just wanted you to install this simple
bulb…
Let them do their assigned tasks as long as they are in the expected directions
”eccentric” Einstein’s reaction… eccentric Einstein s reaction…
Encourage healthy expression of eccentricity
… I think this is the most innovative, efficient and easiest
t i t ll b lb
expression of eccentricity
way to install bulb…
”disorganized” Einstein’s reaction… disorganized Einstein s reaction…
Ok and now… Ok … and now..Where the hell is that stupid little bulb ?..
Assign an individual to keep track valuable assets
Be careful with valuableBe careful with valuable assets
Be careful to put them in charge of important assets and informationand information
”withdrawn” Einstein’s reaction… withdrawn Einstein s reaction…
Help them to be more visible and involved
Help them to release their potentialpotential
Overcome resistance
Get them to stick to an action plan that brings out the best in team
QuestionsThe End…