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Last Update Date: Thu, 14 Jul 2005 09:41:16 -0500
- http://www.computerworld.com/managementtopics/management/story/0,10801,1044
"IT Workers: You Can't Always Guess What They Want"
Computerworld (09/12/05) P. 52; Horowitz, Alan S.
Fulfilling IT staffers' needs is the secret to high productivity and low
turnover, but there is often a disconnect between what IT managers think
workers want and what they actually want. This is critical in view of the
apparent resurgence of turnover as a result of retiring baby boomers, a
decline in computer science majors graduating from U.S. universities, and
more overseas opportunities that encourage foreign-born IT talent to stay
at home. Many experts say it is folly to assume that money is the chief
desire of IT employees: More important to workers is the feeling that they
are making a meaningful contribution to the company, a feeling reinforced
by recognition and appreciation for their efforts. Other documented wants
of IT professionals include job security; access to new technologies;
reasonable and less stressful work schedules; and more appreciation from
business customers. Managers have a responsibility to ensure that IT's
contributions are esteemed and to relay such recognition to employees.
Humana CTO Brian LeClaire places IT workers in several distinct categories
in terms of motivation: Some employees enjoy their usually
technology-centric work as it is and wish to continue in that vein, while
some prefer new challenges and projects. Still others want to advance
their careers and move into management, a common desire among increasing
numbers of IT workers. The best strategy for determining what IT workers
want is simply to ask them. Such needs can be extracted through
performance reviews, formal surveys, "town hall" meetings, and other
programs.
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Last Update Date: Fri, 20 Aug 2004 15:56:34 -0500
- http://www.acm.org/technews/articles/2004-6/1122m.html#item8
"For Developers, It's Not All Fun and Games"
Video game programmers have started to complain that their employers are
demanding unreasonable work hours, and are clamoring for change. A blog
posting last week implied that the video game industry typically demands
employees to spend 60 hours per week at work, and pays little attention to ...