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Self-Governing Online Worker Communities

Posted by CowboyNeal on from the talk-amongst-yourselves dept.

Carl Bialik from the WSJ writes "Oil-services company Schlumberger is doing something unusual for a big corporation: fostering the creation of online groups of employees with similar interests and allowing these communities to govern themselves and choose their leaders. Wall Street Journal columnist David Wessel talks to John Afilaka, a geological engineer who was elected to lead the company's rock-characterization community. 'Mr. Afilaka campaigned to increase technical professionals' influence on top management's research-and-development priorities and to forge better links among various communities. He claims progress on both.' Richard McDermott, a consultant, tells Wessel such a management structure is unusual: 'People...see it as a real democratic institution in what is otherwise an authoritarian institution, a business.' Wessel notes: 'Other companies, apparently, are scared of that.'"

4 of 139 comments (clear)

  1. Wessels by lilrowdy18 · · Score: 1, Offtopic

    Walter Koenig: When we woke up, we had these bodies.
    Fry: Say it in Russian.
    Walter Koenig: [groans] Ven we voke up, we had these wodies.
    Fry: [delighted] Wheeee. Now say "nuclear wessels".
    Walter Koenig: NO.

  2. Linus' Management Structure is Unusual Too by Supp0rtLinux · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    ... but it works... PDA & Smartphone Optimized Sites

  3. Re:Voting Your Shares by Doc+Ruby · · Score: 1, Offtopic

    I'll take your specious question seriously: Because the South was in danger of becoming one of our enemies, and associating with them to our mutual destruction. Though, with your take on the Union, I suspect that you're still fighting that war down in Dixie, and think the Confederacy would still be whistlin' today. Along with its INvoluntary association of black people to chains.

    --

    --
    make install -not war

  4. Re:WSJ written article and it shows by chris_eineke · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    Isn't this what they call "anectodal evidence"? Just because this Jimmy Carter guy was a POTUS and a nuclear engineer doesn't mean that we have to fall on our knees and chant:

    "NUUUUUUUUUUUKUUUUUUUUUUUULAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAR!"

    Would GWB be considered anectodal evidence for the POTUS being a chimp?

    --
    "All you have to do is be fragile and grateful. So stay the underdog." Chuck Palahniuk, Choke