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Leading Geeks
How to Manage and Lead the People Who Deliver Technology
"Managing technology talent is more critical today than ever before. This book brings an insightful and delightful perspective." "In this provocative book, Paul Glen provides excellent advice for managing 'geeks' the computer nerds and other high-tech gurus of the 21st century. But his insights apply equally well to the challenge of leading any group of specialists for whom esoteric knowledge is more important than power, and expertise more determinative of social dominance than bureaucratic hierarchy, including actors, athletes, university faculty, musicians, doctors, and bond traders." "With an uncanny perception, Leading Geeks provides rare insight into managing often confusing and complex IT professionals. Whether you have minimal or extensive experience managing technologists, you will be inspired by this book." "Highly talented technical people are a separate breed, and managing them is a delicate art. Paul Glen's new book, Leading Geeks, is essential reading for any manager facing the difficult challenge of leading, motivating, and rewarding technical contributors. Paul has done the improbable he's taken his experience and knowledge of technical leadership and produced a funny, engaging, and valuable work that is a treasure trove of wisdom for technical managers." "We ought to stop complaining about technical wizards and learn how to utilize their considerable talents. Paul Glen helps us to do that better than I ever dreamed possible." "I identify with geeks and, therefore, recommend this book not only for those who manage, work, and live with geeks, but also for geeks. It helps us to get to know ourselves better. Read it once for fun and once for meaning, then keep it and expect to refer back to it."
— James Champy, chairman of consulting, Perot Systems Corporation
— Steven Sample, president, University of Southern California
— Craig McLeod, director of information technology, San Diego City Schools
— Rick Freedman, author, The IT Consultant
— Alan Weiss, author, The Ultimate Consultant Series
— Dolph Santello, principal consultant, Microsoft Corporation
Paul Glen (Author)
9780787961480, Wiley
Hardback, published 7 January 2003
288 pages
23.1 x 15.5 x 2.8 cm, 0.476 kg
Technology has so clearly woven itself into the fabric of business culture that publishing Glen's book on how to manage the people who produce high tech makes perfect sense. The author, founder of a consulting firm specializing in IT organizations, assumes that "geeks" are not everyday people, and draws on his experience to present clear and simple techniques for employers to not just get what they need out of tech workers but to become the kind of managers who will mesh well with this new kind of employee. Glen's insight is to treat high technology as a creative product produced by temperamental people who are a cross between artists and professionals. This view stems from the ambiguity of "geekwork" and the fact that geeks usually know more about what they do than do their managers. Though Glen doesn't advocate turning the factories over to the workers, his aim is to make managers more effective by teaching them about the people they lead, not by giving them tools to bend employees to their will. He does an excellent job of enumerating geek characteristics and the context in which geekwork takes place, providing ample material on what works with geeks and what doesn't, such as "intrinsic" or "extrinsic" motivators, and valuable advice, like "never underestimate the power of free food." Though it doesn't contain much new material, Glen's easily readable book will prove exceptionally useful for managers who feel left behind by the pace of technology or bosses seeking to better understand their information age employees. (Nov.) (Publishers Weekly, October 21, 2002) "Winner of the 2003 Financial Times Germany and getAbstract Award for best book on business leadership"
Winner of the 2003 Financial Times Germany/getAbstract Business & Finance Book Award Leading Geeks challenges the conventional wisdom that leadership methods are universal and gives executives and managers the understanding they need to manage and lead the technologists on whom they have become so dependent. This much-needed book? written in nontechnical language by Paul Glen, a highly acclaimed management consultant? gives clear directions on how to effectively lead these brilliant yet notoriously resistant-to-being-managed knowledge workers. Glen not only provides proven management strategies but also background on why traditional approaches often don't work with geeks. Leading Geeks describes the beliefs and behavior of geeks, their group dynamics, and the unique nature of technical work. It also offers a unique twelve-part model that explains how knowledge workers deliver value to an organization.
Editor’s Note xi Foreword xiii Introduction xv Acknowledgments xxi Overview: The Challenge of Geeks 1 1. Geeks, Leadership, and Geek Leadership 3 Part One: The Context of Geek Leadership 19 2. The Essential Geek 27 3. Groups of Geeks 44 4. The Nature of Geekwork 57 5. Performing Geekwork 74 Part Two: The Content of Geek Leadership 97 6. Nurturing Motivation 103 7. Providing Internal Facilitation 122 8. Furnishing External Representation 142 9. Managing Ambiguity 158 10. Selecting and Organizing Geekwork 179 11. Uniting Geeks and Geekwork 197 Conclusion: Harmonizing Context and Content 219 12. How Geek Leaders Lead 221 Appendix: Models and Lists 235 Notes 241 References 243 The Author 247 Index 249
Warren Bennis
David H. Maister
Subject Areas: Business & management [KJ]
