Processes, Permissions and Authorization
I was reading Web Design magazine (brilliant magazine!) and in the overheard section was:
A company of programmers produces code. A company of managers produces meetings. Tweet from Greg Knauss, Programmer.
It got me thinking about startups. As a startup evolves, I think there are several types of employees that come onboard:
- First come the do’ers. They get things done, regardless.
- Then come the leaders. They help guide the doers and help push the company in the right direction.
- Then come the managers. They instill processes, permissions and authorization.
Step 3 is the disruptive step. The goals of processes, permissions and authorization are to ensure quality and security. However, when it disrupts the creativity and initiative of a growing company, it will bury it. I’ve seen this at every startup I’ve worked at.
Providing a coloring book and crayons to an artist and telling them to stay in the lines is a sure-fire way to ensure that you won’t get a piece of priceless art.