Peopleware Papers: Notes on the Human Side of Software, The

Chapter 12. Chaos Manners

I have some good news for all the coding “cowboys” and “cowgirls” out there. There is a kind of organization that not only tolerates but depends for its vitality on utilizing the talents of true independents.

It may come as a shock to some old-timers or young hard-liners, but neither hierarchy nor authority are necessary for groups of people to work together effectively. Indeed, a worldwide management revolution may be taking place, as more and more companies in numerous industries discover the advantages of self-directed teams, autonomous work groups, and managing without managers. One of the big problems with the traditional management pyramid is that it is so dense in the middle—in more than one sense of the phrase. ...