Comments on: The Haphazard Development of People in Early Stage High Tech Organizations http://www.pjmconsult.com/index.php/2007/06/haphazard-development-of-people-in.html General Management and Marketing Advice for Software and Tech Companies Sat, 11 Feb 2012 23:42:20 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Giles Farrow http://www.pjmconsult.com/index.php/2007/06/haphazard-development-of-people-in.html/comment-page-1#comment-9658 Giles Farrow Wed, 30 Nov 2011 09:40:58 +0000 http://www.pjmconsult.com/wordpress/?p=39#comment-9658 Flexibility is the key for any startup. Everyone needs to jump in sleeves rolled up. Spending lots of time on long-term planning does not make much sense if you're still exploring which business model, product, market... Hiring decisions tend to be postponed as long as possible to keep costs down. It can be a false economy, but it's human nature when faced with uncertainty. So you end up with no time to train. Consultants can bridge the gap: - quick to on-board - no fixed overhead - experience - flexibility - external ideas and best practices But beware charlatans. Look for experience, flexibility, and real willingness to transfer knowledge Flexibility is the key for any startup. Everyone needs to jump in sleeves rolled up. Spending lots of time on long-term planning does not make much sense if you’re still exploring which business model, product, market…

Hiring decisions tend to be postponed as long as possible to keep costs down. It can be a false economy, but it’s human nature when faced with uncertainty. So you end up with no time to train.

Consultants can bridge the gap:
- quick to on-board
- no fixed overhead
- experience
- flexibility
- external ideas and best practices

But beware charlatans. Look for experience, flexibility, and real willingness to transfer knowledge

]]> By: Ron Wright http://www.pjmconsult.com/index.php/2007/06/haphazard-development-of-people-in.html/comment-page-1#comment-114 Ron Wright Wed, 28 Apr 2010 04:06:10 +0000 http://www.pjmconsult.com/wordpress/?p=39#comment-114 Phil, After having worked for a major company for over 32 years, this is not just a problem for small start-up companies. I think it is far more widespread than that. In large companies, one of the first thing to disappear when times get tough is training. It is also difficult to get opportunities in new areas within the company. Employees need to learn the basic idea that you are responsible for your career development. Don't depend on others (including your management) to do it for you. Your discussion struck a chord with me. I think it's a fairly universal problem. Regards, Ron Wright Phil,
After having worked for a major company for over 32 years, this is not just a problem for small start-up companies. I think it is far more widespread than that. In large companies, one of the first thing to disappear when times get tough is training. It is also difficult to get opportunities in new areas within the company. Employees need to learn the basic idea that you are responsible for your career development. Don’t depend on others (including your management) to do it for you.

Your discussion struck a chord with me. I think it’s a fairly universal problem.

Regards,
Ron Wright

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