Companies for Craftsmen

Companies for Craftsmen

Software Craftsmanship North America
November 18-19, 2011

Presenter

Carl Erickson

Slides

PDF

Abstract

Software craftsmanship demands more from people than a mere job. Correspondingly, a company built around craftsmanship looks very different than a conventional company. Companies built around craftsmen need to be shaped by the values of those craftsmen in order to be successful. Innovation services firms are natural homes for craftsmen.

From practical issues like facilities to the core question of ownership, these companies look very different than typical corporate America. This talk will consider issues of compensation, workspace, assignments, governance, evaluation, culture, finances, ownership, sales, marketing, size and growth.

Taking advantage of Atomic Object’s culture of transparency, Carl will share how they are organized and run, mistakes they’ve made, and challenges they continue to face. He will conclude with his thoughts on what it takes for a software development firm to be sustainably successful.