Comments on: In Search of the Motivated http://www.pavley.com/2010/01/31/in-search-of-the-motivated/ “A great leap in the dark” – Thomas Hobbes Mon, 17 May 2010 19:27:50 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: pav http://www.pavley.com/2010/01/31/in-search-of-the-motivated/comment-page-1/#comment-408 pav Wed, 28 Apr 2010 15:45:05 +0000 http://www.pavley.com/?p=189#comment-408 Absolutely correct Vlad! Great software comes from happy engineers. There is a misguided management principle that says you have to keep people under pressure (unhappy) to get good productivity. This may be true for assembly line workers (actually it's not) but engineers are like artists. They need tools, space, and inspiration to do their best work. Team culture is all about creating a great environment where people can do their best work. Thanks for your comment! Absolutely correct Vlad! Great software comes from happy engineers. There is a misguided management principle that says you have to keep people under pressure (unhappy) to get good productivity. This may be true for assembly line workers (actually it’s not) but engineers are like artists. They need tools, space, and inspiration to do their best work. Team culture is all about creating a great environment where people can do their best work. Thanks for your comment!

]]> By: Vlad Hrabrov http://www.pavley.com/2010/01/31/in-search-of-the-motivated/comment-page-1/#comment-267 Vlad Hrabrov Thu, 11 Feb 2010 13:20:47 +0000 http://www.pavley.com/?p=189#comment-267 How to find the "motivated"? And will they stay motivated after you hired them? The team culture is very important and works well when it embraces an individual and let him/her flourish. When individuals see their goals as a part of the team goal -- motivation is always there. Let me share my own contribution to the scrum's pigs and chickens characters: a "happy cow". Remember the California cheese commercial? "Great cheese comes from happy cows", make your pigs happy and they will make you a very happy chicken :^) How to find the “motivated”? And will they stay motivated after you hired them?
The team culture is very important and works well when it embraces an individual and let him/her flourish. When individuals see their goals as a part of the team goal — motivation is always there.
Let me share my own contribution to the scrum’s pigs and chickens characters: a “happy cow”. Remember the California cheese commercial? “Great cheese comes from happy cows”, make your pigs happy and they will make you a very happy chicken :^)

]]> By: pav http://www.pavley.com/2010/01/31/in-search-of-the-motivated/comment-page-1/#comment-245 pav Mon, 01 Feb 2010 20:44:48 +0000 http://www.pavley.com/?p=189#comment-245 Patrick brings up another good point: If the motivated don't have the skills to pull it off their working software ceases to work down the road. Very true. But that is why they invented refactoring! This is a big topic worthy of a blog post. Even the most skilled among us don't know everything. We used to say at DoubleClick: If you want accurate specs write them after you deliver the software. Patrick brings up another good point: If the motivated don’t have the skills to pull it off their working software ceases to work down the road. Very true. But that is why they invented refactoring! This is a big topic worthy of a blog post. Even the most skilled among us don’t know everything. We used to say at DoubleClick: If you want accurate specs write them after you deliver the software.

]]> By: pav http://www.pavley.com/2010/01/31/in-search-of-the-motivated/comment-page-1/#comment-244 pav Mon, 01 Feb 2010 20:39:10 +0000 http://www.pavley.com/?p=189#comment-244 Thanks for your comments Alex and Patrick. Unfortunately the Agile Manifesto does not tell us where to find the motivated. That's why when you find one you should hang onto him or her! I think the best way to keep the motivated motivated is what Patrick says in his comment: provide a great environment. Clearly the Agile Manifesto doesn't say enough about the conditions required for great software development. Patrick is 100% correct that if the team feels unappreciated, underpaid, or simply confused about the value of the mission then motivation jumps out the window. (Along with some of the better team members!) My job, as a big chicken, is to work with the other execs to in providing a healthy environment for the team. If it's not healthy I blame myself! Thanks for your comments Alex and Patrick. Unfortunately the Agile Manifesto does not tell us where to find the motivated. That’s why when you find one you should hang onto him or her! I think the best way to keep the motivated motivated is what Patrick says in his comment: provide a great environment. Clearly the Agile Manifesto doesn’t say enough about the conditions required for great software development. Patrick is 100% correct that if the team feels unappreciated, underpaid, or simply confused about the value of the mission then motivation jumps out the window. (Along with some of the better team members!) My job, as a big chicken, is to work with the other execs to in providing a healthy environment for the team. If it’s not healthy I blame myself!

]]> By: Patrick Delfert http://www.pavley.com/2010/01/31/in-search-of-the-motivated/comment-page-1/#comment-241 Patrick Delfert Sun, 31 Jan 2010 23:32:57 +0000 http://www.pavley.com/?p=189#comment-241 When the Agile Manifesto says, "Build projects around motivated individuals. Give them the environment and support they need," it misses the fact that the environment is itself one of the greatest factors affecting motivation. If people are working extra hard "for the good of the company" without seeing any benefit for themselves, motivation is bound to suffer. Motivation is key (and underrated), but the problem with motivated, unskilled people is that they get plenty done, but not the right thing or not in the right way, and everything falls apart later on. When the Agile Manifesto says, “Build projects around motivated individuals. Give them the environment and support they need,” it misses the fact that the environment is itself one of the greatest factors affecting motivation. If people are working extra hard “for the good of the company” without seeing any benefit for themselves, motivation is bound to suffer.

Motivation is key (and underrated), but the problem with motivated, unskilled people is that they get plenty done, but not the right thing or not in the right way, and everything falls apart later on.

]]> By: Alex http://www.pavley.com/2010/01/31/in-search-of-the-motivated/comment-page-1/#comment-240 Alex Sun, 31 Jan 2010 22:04:44 +0000 http://www.pavley.com/?p=189#comment-240 Good point :) But how to find those guys? those mystical motivated people?.. even more important how to keep them motivated?.. Good point :) But how to find those guys? those mystical motivated people?.. even more important how to keep them motivated?..

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