"But in the last ten, twenty years young, highly educated professional people went into those places, who did not simply preach to people about what to do, but who introduced experience and professionalism. And fun, because intelligent people don't feel like getting beaten up all day long by the boss. The hierarchical enterprise has definitely become untrendy. In Silicon Valley, they don't wear suits anymore."
I've worked in Sillicon Valley for the last twenty years. What this guy is saying is totally and completely WRONG. SV is every bit as hierarchical as any other capitalist enterprise I have ever worked for.
"Yeah, okay, there is a certain form of hierarchy, but it is based purely on real leadership, and not on arbitrary power structures. Unfortunately, if you look at Shell Corporation or the ABN Amro, they still stick to the old formalistic style. But in those small fast companies that sort of thing is long gone, a thing of the past."
Wrong, wrong, wrong. Hi tech companies DO depend upon a very small core of very bright, capable, and sometimes enthusiastic technical people, but these people, for the most part are simply bid to "implement" the ideas and programmes of the marketing/sales folks. For example, at the last small/great company I worked for the best paid engineer made $150,000/year. The best paid salesman made $2,000,000/year. Nuff said?
" They are fantastic companies to work for, because it is actually pleasant to work for them. We are talking about people who originate from ordinary backgrounds, and who assume their own responsibilities. When I see how well many young companies function, then I have the nerve to say "well that is the socialist ideal"."
The best hi tech company (Forte) I every worked for WAS definitely fun. The company actually made a practical/useful product and the folks I worked with were intelligent and fun to spend time with. We had a weekly bridge game, I read through Thucydides' "Peloponnesian War" with one of the engineers and, all in all, the atmosphere was relaxed/collegial and very, very unhierarchical. That's one company in 20 years. The other companies were from helland double hell. Forte itself was ultimately bought out and its employees were slowly let go by the new/big company who did not have clue one about the quality of these people's work. In general, I would say that the hi-tech world is the most exploitative of all the capitalist domains in which I have worked.
Joanna
