As technology continues to drive business productivity and infiltrates every area (e.g. sales, marketing, operations, HR, etc.), the role of “geeks” – knowledge workers with titles such as project manager, product manager, engineer, programmer, or software developer – becomes more critical. Success requires not just having good geeks, but leading them effectively. Unfortunately, these workers are notoriously difficult to manage and lead. Their work is frequently difficult to understand, their demands for funds seem insatiable, and their deliverables are often late. Perhaps most frustrating, they rarely respond to traditional methods of command and control. And they are not easily replaced, so managers must figure out how to work with them. Leading Geeks will help executives and managers in charge of these workers understand why geeks are so difficult to manage, discover which leadership methods really work, organize and structure work so that geeks achieve better results, and deliver technology initiatives effectively.
Book Details:
- Author: Paul Glen
- ISBN: 9780470328422
- Year Published: 2002
- Pages: 288
- BISAC: BUS071000, BUSINESS & ECONOMICS/Leadership
About the Book and Topic:
As technology continues to drive business productivity and infiltrates every area (e.g. sales, marketing, operations, HR, etc.), the role of “geeks” – knowledge workers with titles such as project manager, product manager, engineer, programmer, or software developer – becomes more critical. Success requires not just having good geeks, but leading them effectively. Unfortunately, these workers are notoriously difficult to manage and lead. Their work is frequently difficult to understand, their demands for funds seem insatiable, and their deliverables are often late. Perhaps most frustrating, they rarely respond to traditional methods of command and control. And they are not easily replaced, so managers must figure out how to work with them. Leading Geeks will help executives and managers in charge of these workers understand why geeks are so difficult to manage, discover which leadership methods really work, organize and structure work so that geeks achieve better results, and deliver technology initiatives effectively.
This book fits nicely into our leadership publishing agenda. It is cleverly conceived and well-written, it fills a market need, and the author is well regarded and well connected. Businesses invest tremendous amount of money in information technology and the people who deliver it, making productivity a top priority.
A hands-on guide for managers who must manage knowledge workers. * Offers strategies for leading workers who rarely respond to traditional methods of command and control. * A fresh and original approach to a difficult topic. * Written by an information technology expert who has worked with leading corporations such as McDonalds, Motorola, Capital Group Companies and SSA.
About the Author
Paul Glen is a management consultant who helps clients build effective technology organizations. For more than fifteen years he has advised clients in the United States, Europe, and Asia. He has also served as an adjunct faculty member in the MBA programs at the University of Southern California’s Marshall School of Business and Loyola Marymount University. Prior to founding C2 Consulting, he was western regional manager for SEI Information Technology, a national IT consultancy. And, yes, he is a geek.