Rating: 
Summary: Herding cats
Review: The 'geeks' Paul Glen talks about in 'Leading Geeks' are those employees involved in the 'creation, maintenance, or support of high technology' from help desk technician to system designer to CIO. I can sympathize with technical people who resent the term "geek". I don't like it applied to myself -- but I understand the harsh reality that books need eye-catching titles. If you can get past the title, the contents are sane and sensible. Glen's point is that the general management techniques enforced by most corporations are nearly always wildly inappropriate and self-defeating when used on technical staff. As obvious as that might sound to most technical workers, companies continue to teach a command and control approach using 'bribes' to coerce staff into certain behaviors. As Glenn says, what is usually a magnificently effective technique for dealing with salespeople, is nearly always a disaster when applied to the introspective personalities common in IT. If you've ever delivered a morale-raising talk to developers and received only sniggers and eye-rolling in return, Paul Glen's book will explain why. Also recommended:
Peopleware by: Tom DeMarco & Timothy Lister published by Dorset House Publishing ISBN: 0-932633-05-6
Rating:
Summary: A+ Resource to Improve One's Management Skills
Review: The �geeks� Paul Glen talks about in �Leading Geeks� are those employees involved in the �creation, maintenance, or support of high technology� from help desk technician to system designer to CIO. I can sympathize with technical people who resent the term "geek". I don't like it applied to myself -- but I understand the harsh reality that books need eye-catching titles. If you can get past the title, the contents are sane and sensible. Glen�s point is that the general management techniques enforced by most corporations are nearly always wildly inappropriate and self-defeating when used on technical staff. As obvious as that might sound to most technical workers, companies continue to teach a command and control approach using �bribes� to coerce staff into certain behaviors. As Glenn says, what is usually a magnificently effective technique for dealing with salespeople, is nearly always a disaster when applied to the introspective personalities common in IT. If you�ve ever delivered a morale-raising talk to developers and received only sniggers and eye-rolling in return, Paul Glen�s book will explain why. Also recommended:
Peopleware by: Tom DeMarco & Timothy Lister published by Dorset House Publishing ISBN: 0-932633-05-6
Rating: 
Summary: Useful tips on leading, poor sections on management
Review: There's excellent advice and concrete suggestions for a lot of the important things about leadership, particularly for those at the top of the hierarchy. Everything from the concrete pieces such of the work environment like the office space to the fuzzy pieces like the vision, mission, and keeping the team working well together are dead-on. The management sections (chapters 10 and 11) delve deeper into management and organizational practices but aren't effective. IT describes methodologies at a high level ("waterfall" is usually bad, "RAD" is usually good), but goes into enough detail that you start to get lost in the descriptions of them and miss out on what is trying to be conveyed about what makes a good or bad methodology for a team. A similar thing happens when "project roles" are mentioned. There's also a pretty nasty technical error -- it describes the Microsoft Solutions Framework, then states that it's used internally at Microsoft. If so, I've never seen it, and it's not identical to our best practices. Still, don't let that get you down. The first nine chapters make this well worth reading.
Rating:
Summary: Where was this book when I needed it?
Review: This book hits the nail right on the head. I have seen too many otherwise-excellent managers fail miserably to motivate technical teams. It is all the more depressing since 'Geeks', as Paul Glen calls them, are very low maintenance people once you figure out how to deal with them. What more, they are more and more central to our organizations' competitiveness. Glen's easy-flowing style makes it possible to get to the essential points quickly. I would recommend this book to anyone whose organization has to deal with technology - now-a-days, that's everyone.
Rating:
Summary: Awesome Information!
Review: This is an excellent read. For any of us out there who need to understand the "make up" of the IT professional and how to lead them, then this book is for you. Paul Glen does a terrific job in helping us understand motivating, managing, communicating, and uniting key resources that have often been "mis-understood." Without question, this book is very insightful and long overdue. Glen nails it!
Rating:
Summary: Awesome Information!
Review: This is an excellent read. For any of us out there who need to understand the "make up" of the IT professional and how to lead them, then this book is for you. Paul Glen does a terrific job in helping us understand motivating, managing, communicating, and uniting key resources that have often been "mis-understood." Without question, this book is very insightful and long overdue. Glen nails it!
Rating:
Summary: A+ Resource to Improve One's Management Skills
Review: This was a clear, concise book illustrating a number of simple concepts in managing scientists and engineers- also known as Geeks. The book clearly illustrates- through narrative and example- that beliefs, values , work and motivation of Geeks is unique, and what techniques work and don't work in motivating these creators of technology and innovation. This book should be read by both new and seasoned managers and supervisors that have or will be managing technologists, scientist and engineers. Leading Geeks has clearly illustrated why I have succeeded/ failed in managing geeks in the past and given me new insight into what makes them tick. (Each chapter is concluded with a summary and Key Ideas. Read these first for a Chapter Road map.)
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