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Originally Posted by Cocoanut Koala  However, everything else I've ever read from any of the Lindens - including the words of the new CEO - indicates that does not happen. |
With respect to the new CEO, are you perhaps referring to this quote from the Reuters story?
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Kingdon added that he plans to “magnify the very best” of Linden Lab’s quirky corporate culture, which currently allows employees to choose which projects they want to work on.
“But, I also believe that in highly creative, innovative cultures, that people have to be voluntarily aligned with a direction. As much as possible it’s essential that they choose their focus,” he said.
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First, note that the reporter's take on the Tao is similar to mine - employees can choose projects. Once part of a project though (which probably involves 2-15 people or so), in all organizations I've been part of, you do what needs to be done. There may be negotiations ("OK, I will do shit work for 6-8 months, but then I'd like to work on something new"), but overall engineers on a project do what they're asked to do.
And I interpret Kingdon's statement as backing down somewhat from the Tao. Obviously, if you want to engage people's creative energies (and even in bug fixing there is creativity, ask Nicholaz), they have to agree with the overall direction. "As much as possible" is, in my book, an equivocation - if I worked at LL, I'd be prepared for more concrete role assignment under Kingdon's watch.