There's no such thing as a perfect company - any enterprise consisting of more than one person is going to have issues (and to be sure, there are single-person enterprises that have major issues).

Frequently, the larger the organization, the more likely one or more of the following is going to be true. Note that there is a difference between an event or incident and an actual pattern. Incidents can sometimes be explained (everyone has bad days); patterns are worth noting.

Here, then, are the top ten patterns that could convince you to pack your bags: ⇒ Read more

Here are some ways that sociopathy and psychopathy can manifest themselves in the workplace.

The Sociopathic/Psychopathic Corporation

Some have likened the corporation to a sociopath or psychopath - because a corporation has no conscience beyond that of the people in it, even though it has a legal status and rights on its own -- it has some of the status of a "person" in the eyes of the law, but no conscience of its own. ⇒ Read more

The Sociopathic/Psychopathic Manager

Psychopath. Sociopath.

The terms strike fear in the hearts and minds of normal, conscientious, caring people. The media use these terms when describing vicious murderers or torturers. But what do the words really mean? Are all who can be labeled 'psychopath' or 'sociopath' prone to violence and physical abuse? Or are there other, more subtle, yet just as serious ways that these personality types manifest themselves in our daily lives?

Learning to identify and deal with psychopaths and sociopaths in the workplace is an important skill, even though they may represent only a small part of the population. ⇒ Read more

The Sociopath Next Door author: Martha Stout asin: 0767915828

Without Conscience: The Disturbing World of the Psychopaths Among Us author: Robert D. Hare asin: 1572304510

(Cartoon courtesy of gapingvoid.com)

This is one of my favorite resources from a few years back. Hugh MacLeod of gapingvoid.com offers his insights into some of the ways the modern organization fails to accommodate the human needs of the people in them. And he talks about ways to retain or regain your creativity and humanity. ⇒ Read more

I've worked up a list of mismanagement behavior patterns - common personalities and/or misbehaviors found in the workplace.

The pages that follow will present the behavior pattern (the 'archetype' if you will) followed by a fantasy response from the mismanager's staff.

Please revisit this page from time to time - we will be expanding the list as time goes on. Feel free to comment - we'd love to hear what you think! ⇒ Read more

Problemboss presents a collection of articles and other management-related resources.

What

Staffing is the most time-consuming and critical function of any company, and is especially crucial for start-ups and small companies. Staffing of technical functions in software development companies requires careful planning encompassing skill sets, ratios between functions, transferable skills and other fit factors, and speed of hiring. ⇒ Read more

Why

What

All companies must use some variety of process to run their businesses. In early-stage start-ups, processes are usually lightweight and are often ad-hoc – which means that, while flexible, they are not repeatable. For a business to run efficiently, processes should be at least minimally defined. A balance is needed between the flexibility required to maneuver and the predictability required to produce a product on schedule, at cost, and at the right level of quality. ⇒ Read more

What

What

Every software company needs to be able to tell where they are in a development cycle. Understanding progress and being able to make decisions quickly and accurately are key to bringing a product to market in the right timeframe at the right level of quality. For small projects or small teams, it is often possible to accomplish this type of tracking without a professional project manager and with very simple tools. ⇒ Read more