We continue to share opinion on books from our office library. Today on the review Ad Ketmell and his “Corporation of geniuses”. For a response addressed the CEO of “AVA digital” Nikita.
“Ad Ketmell one of founders of the studio Pixar about which animation movies we are excited for two decades. To whom as not to him to write the book about difficulties of formation of the company, creative crises, disagreements, and most important: how to operate these geniuses?
Answer to the question – in no way. Therefore “to operate” literally this word it won’t turn out. You can’t instruct the designer: “Make me here such a cool project by tomorrow, think up that at all the jaw dropped, immediately sit down and start”. At all respect for employees of the plants and the other industrial enterprises, in creative spheres the methods of mechanized and automated production don’t take root absolutely.
In the book I found a set of conformations of fidelity of the moments which we with team integrated into the working process for a long time. I will list key of them.
Any strict specifications from clients. Place the green button in the left corner, the red pulsing tube in the middle of the page, and here on a floor of the screen write — “WE SELL THE BEST WINDOWS IN SPB WITH DELIVERY” — all this not to us. If the client wrote the specification of the size of Dostoyevsky’s small volume, demands to strictly follow him, controls any retreats, the speech about creativity can’t be. It doesn’t mean that we work as will take in head. We listen to the customer, but when opinions differ, we argue the our point of view. All within decencies, but we will never begin to be engaged in development of the websites from dictation.
Control minimum. The only condition which I ask to observe strictly — terms. We discuss the future website with the designer, responsible for the project. I issue information obtained from the customer, I give basic data, for example: the customer doesn’t accept blue color, wants the slider with a video series, a form without complications, etc. Together we understand, what is the time such work can borrow, we designate the date of the presentation of design and all. It is more than any control. First to me as the head and responsible for the project before the customer, it was difficult. We have a free schedule, and I was irritated that designers seldom appear at the office. Silly suspicions, appear, crept in guys don’t devote themselves to work properly. In other words, the stereotype worked: I see at office, means work, I don’t see — don’t work. The issue was resolved simply. We gathered with designers in the office, I expressed my fears. The answer satisfied me — the design is a creative process. We can sit in the days запершись in the apartment, not do absolutely anything by “hands”, but it will be work too. The office, the schedule and the chief in this case will act as the irritating factor, such supervisors who silently remind you of need to reap buttons and to work. Then the question was asked to me: “Do you like our projects? Are you satisfied with the result?” I answered in the affirmative and doubts vanished. What difference, who, where and how works? The main result, it completely suits me, so everything is remarkable.
Always to be frank with the employees. As well as any other company, we have crisis situations: projects burn, marketing specialists of customers are a prick, the lessor sells office and it is necessary to move down urgently. I share all difficult and joyful situations with the team. Any employee always has to be aware of all affairs. So he understands the participation in development of the company. If I ask to accelerate the development of the project, I will surely explain the reasons. Then the person understands that I did not want the brand new iPhone and money urgently was necessary for me, and the customer decided to receive the desirable quicker as his season began earlier. Such a structure of work is remarkably described in the book on the example of the Toyota plant where each employee, not important, the cleaner or the engineer of the top management, can stop the conveyor of huge production if suspected wrong. The successful company — the uniform organism, and each of the employees has to be involved in the process of her development.
I listed only the basic principles of work of our on-stage performance group – generally much more. I am very glad that to many decisions I found confirmation in this book. I recommend reading it to heads, the highest managers and all who work in on-stage performance groups. The book is useful to heads during the planning and the organization of work so that as much as possible to realize the potential of the employees. To employees — for the best understanding that the company is a huge organism which from different sides external irritants always try to attack therefore the balance between creativity and reasonable restriction is necessary.
Technically the book is read very easily. There is a set of living examples from the life of Pixar studio. In places it is read as the work of art. There is enough water, but all business literature sins with it. Therefore, I recommend the book!”
