hedgehoglab

I object to naming a department “human resources”; there is nothing human about them. Maybe “rules, policies and procedures department” is an apt name for the roles and responsibility of those that claim to be in HR. More often than not, HR exists in organisations to write policies that make no sense and stifle the right of employees to enjoy their job (I am sorry; any good deeds that you can provide as examples are purely accidental and down to good management than HR).

This is especially the case when it comes to a software/technology company. But the problem here is not just HR but management in general. Why is it that people who run technology companies are the least qualified to do so? For every good example of a CEO or MD of a technology company, I can give you 10 that are bad. Where lies the problem?

In my experience, the problem lies in the all-too-obvious disconnect between leadership and workforce in the way they think, work and live. Too often, technology companies are led by charming, well-suited businessmen (read salespeople) who have no appreciation of the real concerns or mindset of the programmers they manage.

I know this well. For a few years now, I have worked in these companies; that show utter and total disregard to technologists and deal with them as necessary evil. These are the frustrations that have led me to throw down the gauntlet and challenge myself to start a company that values and respects it’s technical staff. hedgehog lab is a company for geeks, by geeks. All our directors are keen technologists and self-confessed geeks. Many will say that idealism is all good and fine but the realities of running a company are hard. Well, we shall see! You can always turn a skilled geek into a good businessman but I have yet to see a good businessman turned into a skilled geek.

To make hedgehog lab a developer-friendly company, we have started to think about everything from our appraisal process to work hours and working days.

How many technology companies do you know of in the UK that work a four day week (oh yes! we will still be sustainable; in your face overtime!)? Gone are the days when productivity was measured by when you clock-in and when you clock-out! Developer productivity is not measured in minutes, hours or days anymore.

You don’t need to innovate to build a developer-friendly company; just stick to the basics and listen to your developers when they speak. That can’t be hard can it?

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