Ask HN: What does culture mean in tech companies?

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=33205335

by galoisscobi • 4 years ago

3 3 4 years ago

news.ycombinator.com

There has been discussion on how to shape culture within companies, how to redefine it, how to not lose culture etc. My question is what does culture mean in tech companies?

sergiotapia• 4 years ago

You'll get a ton of different answers. In my experience what gets to the crux of it is:

What gets rewarded and what gets punished?

That will clearly define what the company culture is.

Comevius• 4 years ago

It should be about motivation, and most people are best motivated by being paid adequately, not being harassed and being able to maintain a work-life balance. It doesn't hurt if you feel that you are making a difference at work either.

Now in most culture-obsessed companies this is not how it works, instead you are being gaslighted into sacrificing yourself for the company.

daoist_shaman• 4 years ago

I fully agree. Some other observations I’ve noticed as a mid career engineer:

- Boot on the ground doing the most work getting rewarded with the most labor

- Promotions are used strategically to entice people into toxic assignments nobody else wants or to appease flight risks

Ask HN: What does culture mean in tech companies?

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