Comments on: Growing Teams http://pliantalliance.org/2006/08/31/growing-teams/ Think. Evaluate. Change. Tue, 06 Jan 2009 04:57:32 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: Dave Nicolette http://pliantalliance.org/2006/08/31/growing-teams/comment-page-1/#comment-246 Dave Nicolette Mon, 23 Oct 2006 22:43:47 +0000 http://pliantalliance.org/?p=47#comment-246 The most effective organizations I've seen in person do just what you suggest - they leave time for technical staff to explore, experiment, and learn. It's one of the things I like about my new employer. I don't work at Google, but I've heard the same thing from several who do. Apparently they are encouraged to spend a certain amount of 8-5 time doing "just about anything" other than their assigned tasks. It's a great investment. Really, really cheap for the company, with significant payback (even if it's hard to quantify directly). The most effective organizations I’ve seen in person do just what you suggest - they leave time for technical staff to explore, experiment, and learn. It’s one of the things I like about my new employer.

I don’t work at Google, but I’ve heard the same thing from several who do. Apparently they are encouraged to spend a certain amount of 8-5 time doing “just about anything” other than their assigned tasks. It’s a great investment. Really, really cheap for the company, with significant payback (even if it’s hard to quantify directly).

]]> By: Tim King http://pliantalliance.org/2006/08/31/growing-teams/comment-page-1/#comment-170 Tim King Thu, 31 Aug 2006 19:51:50 +0000 http://pliantalliance.org/?p=47#comment-170 You're right that too many companies focus on the short term and push off the long term. That's something I'm even wrestling with currently. Even when the company says they want to invest more in the future, it's so difficult to change current practice to reflect that goal. One of the best examples I've heard of investing in the future: It's said that at Google, everyone gets a whole day every week to experiment. Sometimes I wish I worked at Google. (Does anyone here work at Google? Is this true?) -TimK You’re right that too many companies focus on the short term and push off the long term. That’s something I’m even wrestling with currently. Even when the company says they want to invest more in the future, it’s so difficult to change current practice to reflect that goal.

One of the best examples I’ve heard of investing in the future: It’s said that at Google, everyone gets a whole day every week to experiment. Sometimes I wish I worked at Google.

(Does anyone here work at Google? Is this true?)

-TimK

]]> By: Chris Shorrock http://pliantalliance.org/2006/08/31/growing-teams/comment-page-1/#comment-169 Chris Shorrock Thu, 31 Aug 2006 15:00:23 +0000 http://pliantalliance.org/?p=47#comment-169 Great post, this is something that isn't done often enough. I always try to build in some time for these types of activities, as not only will it result in a better skillset amongst your team, programmers generally love to tinker and alloting them time to do so will only increase their moral. A happy programmer is a good programmer. Great post, this is something that isn’t done often enough. I always try to build in some time for these types of activities, as not only will it result in a better skillset amongst your team, programmers generally love to tinker and alloting them time to do so will only increase their moral. A happy programmer is a good programmer.

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