Source: Facebook

(ON OUR PRODUCT) THE BUSINESS PRINCIPLE OF EMPLOYEE SOVEREIGNTY

I’m working on business rules today. And in reviewing competing products again, I’m still struck by the employee-as-liar-and-thief nature of most products. Now, I don’t make products for the lower half of society. The upper half wants its sovereignty.

What does that mean?

Basically, we each learn and function by different rules, but those rules describe a spectrum from those who need the MOST supervision and training-by-doing, to those who need the LEAS training-by-doing and supervision, to those who need NO supervision and engage entirely in INDEPENDENT problem solving. The first group has production responsibilities, and a short time horizon, and the last have profit, revenue or cost responsibilities and a long time horizon.

Society is organized, because production is organized, by our ability to rapidly and independently adapt to changing circumstances, given abstract information in the form of prices. THis is why capitalism rewards those who ORGANIZE PRODUCTION not those who PRODUCE. Organization is difficult. Production can be replaced quickly and easily and has little or no differential value.

We are building Oversing for those people who work in organization s where one of the rewards of working there is Sovereignty, sure. But we are trying to push sovereignty down into the organization as far as possible. Because EVERYONE wants to be sovereign if at all possible. And if you give the upper third sovereignty they will act as sovereign individuals on behalf of the organization (family, and team) rather than as exploited serfs.

And I am intentionally leaving out features that deprive people of sovereignty. Because I don’t want customers, or users, who are not sovereign. Because it’s immoral in my view. It’s and immorality is bad business.

It’s not only bad for society. It’s not only bad for the employee. It’s bad business.

Happy, fulfilled, empowered people, make happy customers.

it’s infectious.