In praise of micromanagement

http://www.bbc.com/capital/story/20131003-in-praise-of-micromanagement

by mayutana • 13 years ago

10 9 13 years ago

mathattack• 13 years ago

Seems like it's really about praising selective micromanagement: leaders going very deep into what they are very good at, and what's more important, and letting others focus on the rest.

integraton• 13 years ago

One key: micromanagers must be experts.

Don't forget that. If you aren't an expert, cut that micromanagement nonsense out, step aside, and let the experts do their jobs.

Eiwatah4• 13 years ago

You should also reevaluate whether you truly are an expert as time goes by. If you were an expert 20 years ago, that doesn't mean you're still one.

beauzero• 13 years ago

micromanagement != QA

buckbova2• 13 years ago

What this article describes is not micormanagement. It is more about company leaders imposing their will on the company's products.

From my experience, this is false:

"There is a natural limit to when micromanagement makes sense. Once a job, or a company, becomes too complex or too big, it becomes that much harder to gain the visibility and time you need to stay expert. This is a real danger zone for would-be micromanagers. You just don’t have enough time in the day, or energy in the belly, to keep up at the pace that is necessary. Either you embrace the principle of selective micromanagement, or you go down trying to do what cannot be done."

Of course there is no limit, just add another layer of management. They now micromanage their subordinates.

This is why there is a CTO, then a Software Director, then managers of different groups, and then technical leads. In my experience a completely flat structure doesn't last.

Promotions are necessary to maintain talent and ensure employees are held accountable.

My feeling is the majority of company success is from top down leadership and vision.

A company needs a vision and goals and the employees need to own a piece of that success or failure.

gregd• 13 years ago

Maybe we need to come up with a different word all together. I propose macromanager

Micromanager has a negative connotation for good reason. Nobody wants to be micromanaged. Nobody wants someone managing the minutiae of their everyday jobs.

simonswords82• 13 years ago

Very annoying that because I live in the UK I can't access this article :/

noir_lord• 13 years ago

http://www.uswebproxy.com/index.php?q=aHR0cDovL3d3dy5iYmMuY2...

;), also viable use hidemyass, use a vpn with an exit point in the US, tunnel over SSH.

Region locking content is just idiotic.

buckbova2• 13 years ago

Funny how this is a regurgitation of this similar article:

http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2012-10-11/in-praise-of...

In praise of micromanagement

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