Self-Governing Online Worker Communities

Carl Bialik from the WSJ writes "Oil-services company Schlumberger is doing something unusual for a big corporation: fostering the creation of online groups of employees with similar interests and allowing these communities to govern themselves and choose their leaders. Wall Street Journal columnist David Wessel talks to John Afilaka, a geological engineer who was elected to lead the company's rock-characterization community. 'Mr. Afilaka campaigned to increase technical professionals' influence on top management's research-and-development priorities and to forge better links among various communities. He claims progress on both.' Richard McDermott, a consultant, tells Wessel such a management structure is unusual: 'People...see it as a real democratic institution in what is otherwise an authoritarian institution, a business.' Wessel notes: 'Other companies, apparently, are scared of that.'"

mine too

[jafac]

My company, , is also doing this - establishing "communities of interest".

I figure, they'd rather I spent my time blogging with other employees than jerks like you. :)

Re:Voting Your Shares

[MightyMartian]

The Wall Street Journal, voted best newspaper to wipe your ass with by the Homeless Stock Crash Victims Association six years running.

Chill-out Radres...

[turtleAJ]

Ok, this story wasn't posted by CmdrTaco...
In addition, I suggest you chill out... if provoked, there have been rumors of CmdrTaco commanding attacks towards his blasphemous underlings.
You see, phase 1 of the attack would see to it that your eMails and IP #s are posted on /.
Phase 2 would see your DSL connection burst in flames to the ground as eMail just pours in from all over the world... heck! You've got your computer sending you eMail!
By his all-mighty /. powers, Taco will then cause an attack on your different communications mediums... By using a combination of Java/WAP, your phone will also explode into a trillion fragments... All this by a direct attack on the open ports of your system (DNS, TCP and many, many other funny acronyms)...
By the same token, your cable/TV connection will receive an quantum encrypted channel 13 video feed... This will cause your TV's CRT beams to converge on a dedicated spot, which will, obviously melt the front glass an cause all sorts of mortal electron beam reflections throughout your house.
After extensive research, I've found out that when Taco is on a run, he's unstopabble...
After commanding any and all electronic devices that contain an electronic gate within (hell, a light switch will do!), Taco will use secret HTML/XML and some RSS feeds to jump onto your house's X10 electrical network.
Ultimately, he'll be able to broadcast massive InfraRed codes into your neighborgh's homes... Such IR codes will hi-jack your Jetta's stereo system and cause it to run-off in the middle of the night! This, using google Maps and some clever C# programming in unison with the feedback obtained from your town's traffic system.

In conclusion, chill out Radres... chill out.
and don't tune into channel 13

This is a Soviet plot to destroy capitalism

[Anonymous Coward]

The House Un-American Activities Committee should investigate them.

Re:Strangely Familiar

[Scooter]

It doesn't even have to be the first line.....

"It's only a model..."
"What's yer favourite colour?"
"it's only a flesh wound!"
"Where? Behind the rabbit?"
"...and they had to eat Robin's troubadours.."
"4 shalt thou not count"

btw - wasn't it "...I'm being oppressed!"??