Is Your Engineer Working On Product Or Project?

Why do we have two different words Project and Product? I know, all you smart people can give me lot of answers for this one. I want to keep things simple and thus for me they are different in one thing and that is big enough to overshadow everything else.

When I work on a product I have unknowns and when I work on a project I have clear goals.

What does that mean?

I will infer few things from - Having Unknowns:

1. I have started early and I am eager to dive in.
2. I passionate for the success and I still have my thinking cap on.
3. I just do not want to complete the work assigned (by myself or someone else), I want it to be Our best work.
4. I do not want success for only myself, I want it for everyone associated to it.
5. I am not doing my work only for my pay check and appraisal. I believe in it.
6. I am continuously reading and trying to be better.
7. I do not hate processes which are for betterment.
8. I am not a mute listener, I do have my points.

In short I love what I am doing and I want it to be successful.

On the other hand when I work on a project:

1. I need clear requirements and appropriate timeline.
2. I may fill few requirement gaps but I do not feel that I am responsible for doing that.
3. Responsibility is distributed and I want to play safe.
4. I am working to be successful individually.
5. I am working for my pay check and appraisal.
6. I am concerned about the work assigned to me.
7. I crib about processes and I am mute at times.

The change

As India is moving towards becoming the next startup hub, challenge for startup founders, investors, managers and all associated with leadership is to introduce the engineer with product. India has long being doing a good job in delivering projects. Now, it is time to build some products or say startups. Even if you are a service based startup you need a innovative leadership style. If not you, your client is getting a product build.

Learning and Innovation is something which need to be imbibed into the engineers and not forced on to them. Make your engineers to work for you, make them believe in you and be true to them.

What we do today and can think of changing?

Organizations believe in giving good packages, stock options, providing a nice office and cool perks to get the best talent. When it come to leadership, we still keep lot of information, roadmaps, vision etc with management only. It is time to distribute the ownership, providing the information to everyone breaking the hierarchy and making things as flexible as possible. Last but not the least we should accept changes, as it is all about unknowns (right from the starting).

Build a team not followers. Happy building!!!