The Unspoken Truth About Managing Geeks (2009)

http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/print/9137708/Opinion_The_unspoken_truth_about_managing_geeks?taxonomyName=Management&taxonomyId=14

by legacy2013 • 12 years ago

17 4 12 years ago

computerworld.com

PaulHoule• 12 years ago

I find "managing geeks" to be about as offensive as an 1850 book about "managing niggers".

"geek" is a term that is used to suggest that technical people are somewhat subhuman and of course inferior to managers.

simon• 12 years ago

I do not see the negative connotations that you do with the word "geek". I describe myself as a geek or geeky.

That aside, the article is a good one and I have read it several times before and feel that it gets much right.

crpatino• 12 years ago

The term has evolved over time, but it definitively had negative connotations, at least at the beginning.

From the Wikipedia article> This word comes from English dialect geek or geck (meaning a "fool" or "freak"; from Middle Low German Geck)... In 19th century North America, the term geek referred to a performer in a geek show in a circus, traveling carnival or travelling funfair sideshows (see also freak show).

danelectro• 12 years ago

I call it "herding cats".

Definitely an uncommon skill, and the top 1% are not even good enough.

The Unspoken Truth About Managing Geeks (2009)

Related Stories