3 ms·

> Code really is a liability, even from the high-level view in the boardroom. The asset is functionality. The programmers who understand and maintain the code

> Code really is a liability, even from the high-level view in the boardroom. The asset is functionality. The programmers who understand and maintain the code are the real assets; everything else is a liability. Without those programmers, those programs will quickly rot because change is always happening and sticking a random programmer in there will over time degrade the program. Smart companies know this, it's what talent acquisitions are all about. You want the goose that lays the golden egg, not the egg. The egg has some short term value, but it depreciates quickly, the goose is the real asset.

hyc_symas 11y ago
Exactly. Intellectual property is worthless. The only thing of value is intellect.
- vinceguidry 11y ago
  If intellectual property was worthless then Disney's workforce would consist entirely of live performers.
  - meric 11y ago
    In an ideal world as specified by the 1900 US Congress, even Disney's intellectual property would depreciate over time, and the assets would be the animators who create new intellectual property.
  - riskable 11y ago
    ...or their workforce would merely have a lot more animators, musicians, producers, etc and would necessarily produce more content more regularly than simply sitting on a mountain of IP and merely re-marketing it every few years with lots of lawsuits and lobbying mixed in to "protect" said mountain of IP. They would also be able to re-use and remix the content of others (e.g. competitors) more regularly and the public at large would be able to do the same. Resulting in more content for everyone to enjoy.
williamcotton 11y ago
Please see: double entry accounting.
- gnaritas 11y ago
  Please see: context, we are obviously not talking about accounting nor using the words asset and liability in the accounting sense, nor was the article.
gaius 11y ago
The programmers who understand and maintain the code are the real assets; Not one in one hundred organizations believes this or operates as if they do.

hyc_symas 11y ago

Exactly. Intellectual property is worthless. The only thing of value is intellect.

vinceguidry 11y ago
If intellectual property was worthless then Disney's workforce would consist entirely of live performers.
- meric 11y ago
  In an ideal world as specified by the 1900 US Congress, even Disney's intellectual property would depreciate over time, and the assets would be the animators who create new intellectual property.
- riskable 11y ago
  ...or their workforce would merely have a lot more animators, musicians, producers, etc and would necessarily produce more content more regularly than simply sitting on a mountain of IP and merely re-marketing it every few years with lots of lawsuits and lobbying mixed in to "protect" said mountain of IP. They would also be able to re-use and remix the content of others (e.g. competitors) more regularly and the public at large would be able to do the same. Resulting in more content for everyone to enjoy.

williamcotton 11y ago

Please see: double entry accounting.

gnaritas 11y ago
Please see: context, we are obviously not talking about accounting nor using the words asset and liability in the accounting sense, nor was the article.

gaius 11y ago

The programmers who understand and maintain the code are the real assets; Not one in one hundred organizations believes this or operates as if they do.