Leading Geeks: How to Manage and Lead People Who Deliver Technology

Chapter 7. Providing Internal Facilitation

Traditionally, hierarchical leaders and subordinates have well-defined roles prescribed by organizationally assigned power and authority. Leaders delegate tasks, power, and authority to their subordinates; monitor their execution; and retain centralized decision-making authority for any matters that have not been explicitly delegated. In addition, leaders are responsible for setting direction and coordinating activities between subordinates.

But in technology groups, this approach rarely works well. The traditional top-down approach to internal management breaks down because of the three key reasons for ...