Wednesday November 12, 2008

Waiter... My Kool-Aid Tastes Funny

by Johnny Pitts in Article

2 comments

They say Information Technology is boring. Java this…
.Net that…
Exchange migrations here…
Sharepoint implementations there…
Blah, blah, blah.

You get the idea. And I have to admit, taken at face value it is kind of boring. However, if you get to the root of the REASON these things are taking place then you find the good stuff. The stuff that makes consulting fun.

The good stuff is the purpose for my blog. I’m not a UX guy (although I played one on TV), but I do secretly want to be a 404-er. I’d love to be able to create something that grabs you visually, while effectively communicating the message to you.

I can’t do that.

But , what I do know how to do is make that talent work to the advantage of our business. The good stuff, the business driver causing the client to involve consultants like us, is the perfect reason UX is a key component to our ability to win business. That differentiator is how you make the application usable for those that really use it. Time and time again I have seen the work that the 404 guys do absolutely blow our clients away. That is the reason I stay in consulting. The WOW factor.

So, I have taken some other things from the 404 team. As the guy who has his neck in the noose everyday in terms of owning the success of the business unit, it is important to me that our team want and enjoy being a part of EMC. It became clear to me a few months back that a large number of our staff missed the “culture” we had as a small, entrepreneurial business. The loudest voices, not surprisingly, came from the room known as 404.

Alright… I’m listening.

OK, I get it. Not only do I get it, but I agree with it. We need to establish a culture that represents what we are as a business unit, an office, a group. So I recruited some team members to drive an effort that would get us started down the path of addressing the things that make us want to stay together as a team. Consulting is a people business and our people have to want to work together and drive towards a common goal. That goal seemed to be missing.

I think we found it.

I see in one of the short bios of one of the 404-ers that he is deeply suspicious of the Kool-Aid. Who can blame him? So was I, until this exercise showed me that if I don’t like the Kool-Aid all I have to do is change drinks.

Waiter, I’d like to change my drink order now.

That goal, it seems is very simple. Most of us in this business just want to work in a place with smart people, work on projects that stretch them professionally and enjoy the environment they occupy. The effort, known around our office as Project Moxie, gave us many things to think about in terms of what we want our little slice of EMC to be. We’re not trying to chart the course or set the direction for a multi-billion dollar corporation, we’re merely trying to infuse into our little world the things that make us happier. I think we have a great start. Thanks to all the team members who contributed and will carry forward the effort to make this a great place to work. A bigger thanks to the guys in 404 who wouldn’t let me forget how important these things are.

And I got a really cool T-Shirt too.

Comments on “Waiter... My Kool-Aid Tastes Funny”

1. Girish said:

   Ha! Welcome to the blogosphere, JP!

2. T.Scott Stromberg said:

   Nice post! It’s about time we got some fresh blood participating. Keep it up! Maybe we can convince others to post….brush out the cobwebs in the site :)