3 ms·

Appears there are two types of people, The 37Signal employees: * Like their field and want to be 'hands-on' * Don't mind staying in the same company for 10X ye

by Murkin 16y ago

Appears there are two types of people, The 37Signal employees: * Like their field and want to be 'hands-on' * Don't mind staying in the same company for 10X years. The supposed norm: * Prefer to advance to other positions vertically * Like moving between companies (for challenge/change). Makes me wonder what is the difference between the two types of personalities and how those affect the organization. For example, is there more or less innovation in 37Signals ? Are people more ready to step up and fix/report problems outside their immediate responsibilities ?

kenjackson 16y ago
I don't think there's really a difference in employees. Everyone reacts to incentives, and it sounds like 37signals has removed titles with pay. Which honestly, I'd much prefer. In many ways titles are a substitute for flat pay. I'd rather have a flat org (and no titles) with wildly different pay (and extreme bonuses, profit sharing, equity grants) -- rather than relatively flat pay and lots of titles (which tends to be the norm in industry).
- Murkin 16y ago
  What they removed is not just meaningless titles but rather all management positions. I, for one, don't want to code my whole life. Something 37signals can't offer me. But there are people who are content to code forever, and I wonder how they differ from people like me.
  - jzimdars 16y ago
    " I, for one, don't want to code my whole life. Something 37signals can't offer me." I'd say it's just the opposite. The lack of organizational hierarchy and title means that people can work outside their normal expertise more easily. Nobody is stuck in a box. Designers pick up programming skills as their interests allow. Programmers with UI ideas can try them out. Both contribute with writing, with workflow ideas, and on customer support. We've even had people completely shift roles from programming to design.

by Murkin 16y ago

kenjackson 16y ago

I don't think there's really a difference in employees. Everyone reacts to incentives, and it sounds like 37signals has removed titles with pay. Which honestly, I'd much prefer. In many ways titles are a substitute for flat pay. I'd rather have a flat org (and no titles) with wildly different pay (and extreme bonuses, profit sharing, equity grants) -- rather than relatively flat pay and lots of titles (which tends to be the norm in industry).

Murkin 16y ago
What they removed is not just meaningless titles but rather all management positions. I, for one, don't want to code my whole life. Something 37signals can't offer me. But there are people who are content to code forever, and I wonder how they differ from people like me.
- jzimdars 16y ago
  " I, for one, don't want to code my whole life. Something 37signals can't offer me." I'd say it's just the opposite. The lack of organizational hierarchy and title means that people can work outside their normal expertise more easily. Nobody is stuck in a box. Designers pick up programming skills as their interests allow. Programmers with UI ideas can try them out. Both contribute with writing, with workflow ideas, and on customer support. We've even had people completely shift roles from programming to design.