In other words, if I get promoted that means what...?

reedme — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 19:59:55 GMT

The way I read these alleged research results, a lottery is just as effective at picking people for promotions as what we’ve been doing for years?

But is there a better way of choosing individuals for promotion? It turns out that there is, say Pluchino and co. Their model shows that two other strategies outperform the conventional method of promotion.

The first is to alternately promote first the most competent and then the least competent individuals. And the second is to promote individuals at random. Both of these methods improve, or at least do not diminish, the efficiency of an organization.
Technology Review: Blogs: arXiv blog: Why Incompetence Spreads through Big Organizations

I think some researchers have been playing The Sims too much lately...

From personal experience, I know that it matters quite a bit to cow-orkers’ morale who gets promoted... and it’ll be hard to convince even an average CEO or HR generalist that promoting people at random results in an organization that’s just as efficient as one produced by experience, interview selection, seniority and/or the good ole boy network connections.

Pick me. Pick me! Heh.

Back when I was an enterprise architect...

reedme — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 23:16:00 GMT

JP Morgenthal put together a brief care-and-feeding guide for managers of enterprise architects for CIO magazine. Back when I was an enterprise architect (or pretending to be one as a consultant), these are all things my management knew. Knew as in: I wish they did more than just be aware that I wanted them to behave this way. They could’ve done more than listen when I explained them (many times). Heh.

Establish clear goals and expectations before day one.
Introduce the EA to the key players at a single meeting, no later than day two.
Run blocker for your EA.
Don't expect your EA to drive the business.
Your EA is not just the über-tech-geek.

Almost always had trouble with #1 and #4, and sometimes with #2 and #5. It’s odd, but #3 reminds me of a funny Trace Adkins song, but it’s an important one that some managers don’t understand. Or maybe I’m just too opinionated, insensitive, arrogant or difficult for my own good. I’m mostly Irish after all. Heh.

Read the full article: Understanding Your Enterprise Architect: A Guide for Managers

Maybe JP will put together a good list of things that an EA is actually supposed to do so that the current crop that I’ve had recent contact with might actually do them?

Reed Me : management

In other words, if I get promoted that means what...?

Back when I was an enterprise architect...