Now Hiring – GM Software
Posted on January 24th, 2010 by Paul McArdle – 8 CommentsIn long-hand, you will be known as our:
General Manager for Discerning, Developing and Delivering what the Customer Wants
That’s a bit of a mouthful, so we have shortened it to a variety of titles used on this blog and elsewhere:
1) GM Software
2) Chief Software Engineer
3) Director of the Product Development “Factory”
I would stress that all three aspects of the role are important.
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1) Who are we, and where are we headed?
In recent months, we have been using this blog to post a truer (and more complete) picture of who we are and where our bus is headed than is provided on our “boring corporate website”, which we’ll be revamping later in 2010.
In particular, I would like to point out the following posts, which should (I hope?) provide you answers to the questions above:
(a) Our Mission (Why do we exist?)
In simple terms, our purpose is:
… to help the broadest range of people make the most of the opportunities that the electricity market offers them.
I realise that this probably does not mean much to most people (i.e. those who have not spent as long as I have, absorbed in the competitive electricity market).
Hence, I have provided a more detailed answer to this “Why and How?” question.
(b) Our Vision (Where is our bus headed?)
Over the past 10 years, we have grown a business (based in Milton, Brisbane) to the point where we serve more than 100 clients across 4 different continents (but mostly in Australia).
Our Vision for the future is as follows:
Through 2010 and into 2011, we will be building our capacity to enable us to tackle the next stage of our business growth.
Backed by this expanded capability, we will then be able to more rapidly expand the number of clients we delight with the Clarity, Convenience and Cost-Effectiveness of our software.
I have provided a more detailed description of “where our bus is headed” on this linked page.
Of particular interest to you will be how the capability of our team will need to be enhanced as part of this development. You will play a key role in this development.
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2) What are our Expectations of you?
If you are both keen and capable of assisting us in the role of “Chief Software Engineer”, we would like to hear from you!
I have created a separate page on which I have outlined what we would expect of you.
3) What’s in it for you?
I have previously posted about how both extrinsic and intrinsic factors would be important to you in ensuring that you will deliver at your maximum capacity in the areas noted above.
Hence I have addressed both below:
(a) Extrinsic Motivation
As noted on our generic careers page on the “boring website”, we provide all of our employees the opportunity to share in the success we’re building into the business through a combination of:
i. Base salary commensurate with capability;
ii. A share of quarterly cash profit (i.e. commensurate with the actual results of the business); and
iii. A chance to participate in the company through share ownership (i.e. in order that we’re all aligned with the objective of building value for the company over the longer term).For you, all three aspects would be important – and we would be happy to discuss with you at the appropriate time.
(b) Intrinsic Motivation
More importantly, we would like to offer you an opportunity through which you can achieve happiness through all 3 facets highlighted for intrinsic motivation:
Facet 1 = Autonomy
You will be joining an organisation that places Individual Maturity and Self-Responsibility as front-and-centre of the way we do business.
Even moreso in future (if we’re to achieve our growth targets with only a smaller growth in staff numbers) this will be the case.
We’ll provide the support that people ask for, but will expect that everyone has a laser-focus on delivering real value to clients.
There certainly won’t be anywhere for anyone to hide.
Facet 2 = Mastery
I have previously written about my requirement for all employees to develop their own Guru Plans, which are really 10,000-hour projections as to how they can grow into their fullest capability in an area of central importance to our business.
On that note, there’s certainly much I still have to learn if I am to ensure that the business delivers to its potential. The external coaching I have been seeking through the Autopsy 2 process has been part of this.
As a key member of our Leadership Team, we will be expecting that you also sign on to our commitment to Life-Long-Learning (and we’ll be actively supporting you in any way we can).
Facet 3 = Purpose
As noted on my post about our Mission, we believe that our organisation can play an important role in improving the way in which the electricity market delivers benefits to many people, in many different parts of the world.
We understand that you may not have given much thought to electricity before today – though we propose to you that you could, similarly, grow to see what we/you do as of vital interest to a wide range of different people and organisations.
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4) How do you express your interest?
To express interest in hopping onboard our bus to contribute on our journey, please send through your details to the following address:
We look forward to hearing further from you!
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