As per Robert Half Technologies survey of CIO's (from June 1, 2008, CIO Magazine), here are the couple of key tools for employee retention. Increased Compensation (27%), Training & Professional development (21%), Flexible Schedules (18%), Extra Paid Time Off( 6%), Telecommuting(7%). The rest is comprised of "other", stock options etc...
In my experience, there is another important one that kind of falls in professional development (but inexpensive in terms of direct $$$ spent) which always worked for me: I make sure each of my team members works on at least one project in parallel to what is expected of their normal responsibilities. This project should be of more interest to him\her but at the same time should also help the organization to move forward by at least an inch and often will have a relaxed schedule. It is kind of a Google model but made to fit within the walls of a smaller organization.
This strategy has helped me in more than one occasion to keep things interesting among team members and thus increasing retention and loyalty.
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GigiJK, A Techie for life.
http://gigijk.com/.
http://www.linkedin.com/in/gigijk
Sunday, June 8, 2008
Saturday, June 7, 2008
Software Developers & Left Brain vs Right Brain
A small observation from my own life experiences as a developer and a manager in the software development industry. How can you stand above the crowd as a developer even if your left brain (logical side) is not that great? Exercise the skills of your right brain(creative side,especially usability side of the application)!. And you do not have to be good at UI (User Interface) and its aesthetics to achieve this either. After you exercise the left brain and develop a solution, take a deep breath and look at your solution from a user's point of view. Yeah, forget about every thing you did so far and use the application\feature as if you are using it as a user. It is a bit hard to develop in the beginning, but practicing will make it easy.
Even though, it is a simple,not new concept, I think it is an important one. I see the lack of it in many software developers who I have been working with through many years. I can definitely say that the geeks who have it make me happy as a project owner in every case since these guys tend produce what I am looking for exactly or so close to it.
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Gigi J Kizhakkechethipuzha, A Techie for life
http://www.linkedin.com/in/gigijk
Free Legal Research
Even though, it is a simple,not new concept, I think it is an important one. I see the lack of it in many software developers who I have been working with through many years. I can definitely say that the geeks who have it make me happy as a project owner in every case since these guys tend produce what I am looking for exactly or so close to it.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gigi J Kizhakkechethipuzha, A Techie for life
http://www.linkedin.com/in/gigijk
Free Legal Research
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