Leading Geeks: How to Manage and Lead the People Who Deliver Technology

In today's business climate, technology drives productivity and competitiveness and "geeks" drive technology. More than ever Geeks-those people who research, develop, design, build, test, install, and support technology-are a critical factor in every organization's success. 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 upon whom they have become so dependent. This much-needed book-written in non-technical 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. Leading Geeks clarifies the responsibilities and tasks of the geek leader and contrasts them with conventional approaches to leadership. Glen also shows you how to:

• Motivate geeks to be productive
• Facilitate productivity within technical groups
• Represent geeks to the world outside the lab and cubicle
• Manage ambiguity to create an environment in which geeks and leaders thrive
• Structure groups of geeks to support an organization

Leading Geeks gives managers the tools they need to transform the chaos of the creative workplace into a coherent and compelling place for geeks to work.

Author(s): Paul Glen  

ISBN 10: 0787961485
ISBN 13: 9780787961480
Pages: 288