Freshmeat: Nerdherding [managing software developers]

“Hacker culture is filled with the lore and legend of the
Pointy-Haired Boss and the myriad ways management can inhibit or
kill a project. Today, we get a view from the other side as Cal
Evans tells us what it’s like to be the administrative part of a
hacking team.”

“Managing software developers requires a different mindset than
managing other types of employees. By its very nature, software
development is a cross between the rigorous detail of engineering
and the craftsman pursuits like fine carpentry. Because Nerds have
to be equally at home in both halves of the brain, they are
different and must be treated so.”

“I’m going to let you in on 5 secrets that I’ve learned over the
years for managing Nerds. They are not hard and fast rules that you
should follow rigorously. They are suggestions, options that you
can use or modify to your current needs. What they all have in
common is that they have all worked for me when building and
managing Nerd herds.”

Complete
Story