Comments on: Twitter: A model for a people focused business strategy?

By: Jetson

Jetson — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 04:10:51 +0000

zRX5Me That’s way the bestest answer so far!

By: The immense value of “slop time” | Retail: Shaken Not Stirred

The immense value of “slop time” | Retail: Shaken Not Stirred — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 00:58:49 +0000

[...] with accountability? Are decision makers aware of their boundaries? Are the boundaries appropriate? Is the business strategy correct and clearly communicated? Are we working towards the right objectives? Should I consider a different approach when working [...]

By: Kevin Ertell

Kevin Ertell — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 20:47:34 +0000

Thanks for your comment, Jay. I was using the API comment as a metaphor for the Accountability and Authority point, but your comments tie in nicely. Clear and well-thought-out strategies can apply to software as well as overall business strategies, and the value of allowing people closest to the product, service or business to have a significant amount of input on the end result is equally powerful.

By: Kevin Ertell

Kevin Ertell — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 20:15:34 +0000

Thanks for your comment, Gino. I’ll have to check out Kogi BBQ. I agree that Dell is doing a very nice job. I just saw a presentation from Dell’s Liana Frey on the topic at eTail East yesterday, and it was very impressive.

By: Jay Konigsberg

Jay Konigsberg — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 17:19:06 +0000

The writing of API’s has a very long and proud, if tattered history that ties in with the Open Source movement and modular programming (something difficult even today). While you seem to have only brought it up to highlight your point about matching Accountability and Authority, it is really no more than an interesting byproduct of what is clearly well thought out and implemented software.
Such software can only be created one of two ways: when it is a labor of love (such as the initial releases of gnu C, or Linux), or when management actually understands how software is meant to interact with the world and provides their developers with the vision and authority necessary to do the job. In the case of Twitter, I suspect it is both, which is a rare and beautiful thing.