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@andrewabest
Last active February 6, 2018 03:33
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What motivates developers?

A pyramid, much like Maslow's heirarchy of needs

Peak: Impact and Purpose

  • Seeing the results of the physical and emotional investment in our work, regularly
  • Realizing our visions
  • Validation of the efforts we expended and decisions we made with autonomy
  • Quantifying and celebrating the impact we have had on peoples lives via our work
  • Recieving reward, praise, or other kind of recognition for our accomplishments
  • Outcomes over output

Middle: Progress, Competence, Self-Actualization

  • Enabling and encouraging continuous improvement
  • Seeking fulfillment through the mastery of our tools and problem space
  • Enabling people to accomplish their ambitions, fulfill their self-visions, self-actualize, grow
  • ...

Base: Autonomy

  • Being able to decide how we accomplish goals and deliver outcomes
  • All decisions are of our own volition
  • Delivering within parameters, requirements, and drivers, not obeying commands
  • Having appropriate purchasing and provisioning delegation - being able to buy our own tools, provision our own infrastructure
  • Involved deeply across software delivery from paddock to plate, and being able to impact any area
  • Supporting strategic initiatives, not always prioritising for tactical short term wins
  • Masters of our own destiny, makers of our own rope
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