Article by Russ Mitchell

FransJingyan QMatthews

Presented & Visualized by Matthews

RicardoStevie Heru

Group 14

…definition of geeks ……definition of geeks …

Geek: an unfashionable or socially inept person // aperson with an eccentric devotion to a particular interest// Origin late 19th cent.: from the related English dialectgeck “fool”, of Germanic origin; related to Dutchgek´mad, silly” // Oxford American Dictionary

…why geeks are important ?……why geeks are important ?…

•The geeks control limits of the business and drive innovation•The geeks control limits of the business and drive innovation.

•They also help figure which strategies to follow.

•They help find which partnerships to form.

…different type of geeks ……different type of geeks …

Test authority quieter & more subtlerWork on their

Crave their individualityEccentric work styleEnjoy behaving

t i

?Work on their prioritiesHas followers

eccentric Less interactionTend towardUnder achievement

arrogant

Excellent problem

know it all eccentricimpatient

Too brilliant to be

disorganized

Disorganized junks

withdrawn

Excellent problem solving skillsFlout authorityChallenge manageriald i i bli l

told twiceQuick understandingGet bored quicklyNo complainLeave because of

Disorganized junks and chaosDon’t want to spend time on organizing and filing

decisions publicly Leave because of being bored

…you’ve got to have your own geeks ……you ve got to have your own geeks …

Why?Why?

Innovation drives any businessy

you don’t want to outsource your innovation.

Recognize & accept them…

…get to know your geek community …

They form groups that get well, and all of them fights the management together.

Know what each of them needs asIndividuals

They’re antisocial by societal definitionBut social within their own community

They have huge ego´s and enjoy theThey have huge ego s and enjoy the limelight

learn what geeks are looking for…learn what geeks are looking for …

Expect to share in the wealth that they create through their innovations.

They are interested in having an impact

?They are interested in having an impact.

Believe in their ideas

?Like to win

…create new ways to promote your geeks ……create new ways to promote your geeks …

Provide forward career path (without turning them into managers)

Recognition

•More Money

•Awards

•Stocks

•Non financial compensation

•Temporary title (selected by peers)

eithe geeks a e pa t of the sol tion…either geeks are part of the solutionor they are the problem …

They love to solve really hard problems

Tell them what to do, not how to do it

Give a problem or set of objectives

Provide sufficient resource for them to work

Engage them in a dialogue

the best judges of geeks…the best judges of geeksare : other geeks !...

Create peer group pressure within project teams by requiring them toproject teams by requiring them to present each other ( A team approach)

Th l b k d t dThey can also be asked to send progress reports to each other at predetermined intervals along a project. This way teams are not just judging each other but alsonot just judging each other but also supervising each other.

look for natural leader among your geeks…look for natural leader among your geeks …

Not necessarily official project leader

Should be based on, who gets the job done ?

O id tifi dOnce identified;Provide resources and direct access to top management

be prepared for when the geeks hit the fan…be prepared for when the geeks hit the fan …

There are 2 categories of project team:

1. Absolutely brilliant (preferably)2. Strong opinion, but on a wrong trek (their

priorities detached from company´s plans)

too many geeks will spoil the soup…too many geeks will spoil the soup…

Keep the teams small, for more productivityproductivity

Smaller team – a shorter schedules

N t h ld b bi th thNo team should be bigger than the largest conference room.

Create easy – to understandCreate easy to understand communication among team members

…how they react if we give…how they react if we givethem task… a simple task…

l h l …please help me to installthis bulb…

”arrogant” Einstein’s reaction… arrogant Einstein s reaction…

I did not go to

Tole ate a small amo nt

gTUDelft to install light bulbs.

Give me a rocket engineOr something

Tolerate a small amount –doesn’t affect other performance

Listen to them then improve

Listen with intention of doing

”know it all” Einstein’s reaction… know it all Einstein s reaction…

He told me to install this stupid bulb…

This was not in my job description! Next time I description! Next time I

wont do it.

Control them indirectly

Show appreciation

Make them exposed so that they can’t work on their own priority

”impatient” Einstein’s reaction… impatient Einstein s reaction…

… hey…I j t t d t I just wanted you to install this simple

bulb…

Let them do their assigned tasks as long as they are in the expected directions

”eccentric” Einstein’s reaction… eccentric Einstein s reaction…

Encourage healthy expression of eccentricity

… I think this is the most innovative, efficient and easiest

t i t ll b lb

expression of eccentricity

way to install bulb…

”disorganized” Einstein’s reaction… disorganized Einstein s reaction…

Ok and now… Ok … and now..Where the hell is that stupid little bulb ?..

Assign an individual to keep track valuable assets

Be careful with valuableBe careful with valuable assets

Be careful to put them in charge of important assets and informationand information

”withdrawn” Einstein’s reaction… withdrawn Einstein s reaction…

Help them to be more visible and involved

Help them to release their potentialpotential

Overcome resistance

Get them to stick to an action plan that brings out the best in team

QuestionsThe End…