Motivating and keeping software developers

Author

Whitaker, Ken

Author_Institution

USDATA Corp., USA

Volume

30

Issue

1

fYear

1997

fDate

1/1/1997 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

126

Lastpage

128

Abstract

Addresses the needs of those who are responsible for managing or leading computing professionals. This article is about motivating and rewarding software developers. This is especially difficult in a competitive job market that emphasizes high salaries and multiple opportunities for each software developer. Two important issues you need to handle are: making certain that developers understand their roles; and keeping developers happy, using either rewards or incentives. Management usually reacts to a wave of departing developers rather than proactively doing the right things to make certain that developers don´t even think about leaving. Do the right thing now. To motivate and keep developers: (1) define a product delivery process and clear roles; (2) reward-don´t use incentives; (3) set goals and make career plans on a regular basis; and (4) compensate to keep people

Keywords

human resource management; personnel; professional aspects; software development management; DP management; career plans; compensation; competitive job market; computing professionals; goal setting; incentives; motivation; multiple opportunities; product delivery process; rewards; roles; salaries; software developers; staff loss; Documentation; Engineering management; Marketing and sales; Marketing management; Production; Project management; Quality management; Scheduling; US Department of Agriculture; Vehicle crash testing;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Computer

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0018-9162

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/2.562935

Filename

562935