Certification Magazine - January 2008 - (Page 30)

INTERFACE Solstice Consulting: Agility as a Hiring Model BEN BRADLEY An agile organization is different. An employee who flourishes in an agile organization is different. The techniques for finding and retaining agile employees are different. But what is agility? It, as a software development methodology, is based on a belief that it is impossible to demand certainty in the face of uncertainty. There are many forms of agile development. Scrum, extreme programming and other agile methodologies are characterized by continuous adaptation to changing market realities and solutions that become clearer over time. Agile software development teams typically are small and empowered to create high-quality work without command and control oversight. An agile team cycles rapidly, adapts to new realities and acts quickly to exploit a given situation. Companies that embrace agility as a software development methodology find that agile philosophies often trickle into other areas of the business. “You attract a different type of employee when you macromanage instead of micromanage,” said Kelly Manthey, partner in Solstice Consulting, a Chicagobased technology and management consulting firm. “Agile leadership sets clear direction and trusts people to figure out the best way to meet organizational goals. Agility is built on the idea that goals encourage innovation — micromanagement does not. So, we need people who can handle that level of responsibility.” Because many of Solstice’s areas of expertise, such as change management, are both technology- and client-focused, consultants are expected to have honed soft skills, as well as technical expertise. “Soft skills and project management skills are both extremely important,” Manthey said. “To deliver positive change, our consultants need to have the people skills required to influence others. No two clients are the same, so it is imperative that our consultants have the know-how to take what they know and develop a solution that considers a client’s environment. Our solutions are not one-size-fits-all.” An IT professional’s level of success at other companies won’t necessarily guarantee he or she will perform well at Solstice — it’s more important that the individual is a good fit for the corporate culture. “No matter how good a person was in a previous experience, they may not fit the mold here,” Manthey said. “Superstars in one company do not always translate to superstars in another atmosphere. How they fit into the new environment seems to outweigh their skill set, even if it’s perfect. If they don’t play nice, it’s a deal breaker every time.” Although many companies seek technical ability, Solstice emphasizes talent and technical agility. Rather than hiring to fill specific positions, Solstice employs people who have the aptitude to grow and learn in many different positions and across domains. “It’s really the entire package that matters, not one specific characteristic about a person,” Manthey said. “We have found that the right skill set, training and professional experience carry as much weight as a person having the right soft skills to fit within the culture and environment of a particular client.” Even Solstice’s internal team members are hired for their ability to manage change. “For example, our director of operations is really wearing a lot of hats right now,” Manthey said. “She’s doing accounting, invoicing and filling in to support the partners. As we evolve, more things are being passed on to her. But we’re involved in where she wants her career to go, and we listen to the recommendations she has for us.” 30 CERTIFICATION MAGAZINE January 2008

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Certification Magazine - January 2008

Certification - January 2008 Editor's Letter Contents Data Stream Tech Careers Academic Connection Dear Techie Virtual Village Making the IT Leap: How to Move Into the Industry Inside Certification Phoning It In: Telecommuting Systems and Networks Engineer Interface Band of Brothers: Why You Should Join an IT Association Ad Index Endtag

Certification Magazine - January 2008

For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.