Comments on: Why Business Needs More Geeks

By: Sanjay Kumar

Sanjay Kumar — Sat, 04 Nov 2006 01:56:40 +0000

There really is something to be said for geeks... they tinker and ultimately, tinkerers are innovative and innovators make great entrepreneurs. Great post. http://www.simplifythis.com

By: Shig Odani

Shig Odani — Fri, 12 May 2006 22:19:04 +0000

Rob, some great thoughts there. I’m in an industry (advertising), where some people tend to be geeky (designers, copywriters, programmers) and some are not (account management, media planners). I consider myself to be a geek, but somehow I ended up in account management. I will also add that many account managers are execution-oriented and reactionary – perhaps good characteristics for project managers, but not, in my opinion for client service / account mgmt.

Anyway, the question I’d like to pose is, how does one move that needle? I have some of my own principles I go by:
- Ask ‘why’ we’re doing something rather than just going along with it
- Don’t be reactionary
- Be efficient; don’t send unnecessary e-mails, don’t invite people to meetings who don’t need to be there
- Output the best work I can (time allowing). If there isn’t enough time, make it known that you did the best with the time given
- Question the status quo

Maybe these points aren’t really characteristic of geek culture, but how do we get people around us to start thinking like we do, or perhaps accept us more?

By: Rob

Rob — Mon, 08 May 2006 21:05:31 +0000

Kate,
That makes more sense, but I do want to clarify that I’m not saying geeks should go into business. I’m saying business should import the geek mindset.

By: Bill Waddell

Bill Waddell — Mon, 08 May 2006 15:26:34 +0000

I think maybe everyone must be a bit of a geek in order to succeed in business. The problem is one of what they are geeky about. The geeks you described are ones obsessed with products and processes – things of value to customers. The senior folks are just as geeky when you get on the right topic. Many of them can get downright orgasmic when they start talking about derivatives and stock options. A new spin on DuPont’s ROI formula can make them delirious. The problem, of course, is that their numbers obsession serves no one but themselves and Wall Street, and is typically harmful to the rest of the stakeholders, like customers and employees.

By: Eric Arias

Eric Arias — Sun, 07 May 2006 03:55:23 +0000

Hey Rob, I loved this article! I’m a geek myself. I’ve silently held the conviction that geeks were just the most awesome people to hang around. Another point you made briefly is one that has bothered me lately. That is, viewing employees as an expense, as overhead. I feel passionate about treating employees well and recognizing the value they bring to any company. Why not write up payroll under the asset column?

By: Alexander Kjerulf

Alexander Kjerulf — Sat, 06 May 2006 20:00:03 +0000

As an ex-geek, I agree.

So how do you avoid driving off the best geeks? Here’s my list of the top 10 mistakes managers of geeks make:
http://positivesharing.com/2006/03/how-not-to-lead-geeks/

By: Razib Ahmed

Razib Ahmed — Sat, 06 May 2006 02:13:41 +0000

“Over time, as business has taken a turn for the worse, it has attracted the wrong people. When I was at the University of Kentucky, business school was a refuge for people that couldn’t cut it in engineering school, or students from the party crowd that wanted an easy degree. These people get into the working world and it easily corrupts them because it is a corrupt place.”
Very very nice observation. I not only agree with you fully but also like to add that this problem is now everywhere not just in USA. People care for short term things and thus in our age we cannot see many legends in business.

By: David Foster

David Foster — Fri, 05 May 2006 23:19:50 +0000

Rob…the “regarding your point #4″ comment, above, was me.

By: Kate

Kate — Fri, 05 May 2006 22:49:53 +0000

If business were actually defined as “providing value to a consumer” then it certainly would need more geeks, especially talented geeks, to find the most efficient way of meeting whatever specific objectives related to consumer fulfillment.

Business insofar as the modern office establishment has absolutely nothing to do with efficiency. I think your article points to an understanding that its current set up is “managing people to meet productive ends” without really examining whether making a real product is good for overall profit.

My argument mostly distills down to the fact that you can’t expect people who studied QCD or CS in college to function well when dropped into the business world, as it is hierarchical and not necessarily based on actually creating innovations or doing science or any of that stuff geeks are interested in doing. I don’t see how not assuming that business is based on efficiency indicates a lack of education.

By: Rob

Rob — Fri, 05 May 2006 19:45:05 +0000

Katie,
Are you sure you read the post in full? Dissenting opinions are always welcome here, but your comments are so incoherent and illogical I’m not sure if I should respond or consider them spam.

Your point about PhDs seems irrelevant. I don’t see a PhD glut and I don’t see PhDs in many middle management positions. And anyway, the idea that your job growth is limited because of your lack of education doesn’t seem to me to be a primary reason work sucks.

Your social hierarchy comments just re-affirm my position that we need more business geeks. In my experience, geek culture is more of a meritocracy than the normal business culture.