Coders are no longer the high-flying stars of Big Tech - and it's making them grumpy | China just recalled 3 panda bears from DC's National Zoo, ending 50 years of history | What Makes a Great Corporate Purpose Statement | 3 Ways to Successfully Manage Large-Scale R&D Projects

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Coders are no longer the high-flying stars of Big Tech — and it's making them grumpy - Business Insider

For the first time in a long time, tech workers are in a funk.

The industry of innovation was long an outlier when it came to employee satisfaction. Sure, the business goals were ambitious and the deadlines were daunting, but the allure of building the future drew eager, educated young people into tech — not to mention the high salaries, potential for stock-market riches, laid-back dress codes, and gleaming offices with meals and gyms. This rare combination of generous compensation and a reasonable work-life balance kept tech workers happier than employees in other industries. Before the pandemic, over 80% of tech workers routinely said they would recommend their company to a friend, according to Glassdoor company reviews, higher than almost every other industry we tracked.

All that changed in 2023: Employee satisfaction among tech workers has plummeted, falling in line with workers in finance and consulting — industries that often compete for the same pool of highly educated and in-demand talent. The growing angst among the tech class is palpable in anonymous online communities like Glassdoor's Fishbowl, in work-focused social media like Linkedin, and even in internal Slack groups. Reading through the anonymous and semi-anonymous woes and tips from the Glassdoor community, it's clear that many laid-off techies and new STEM grads are struggling to find work, applying to more open roles, and in some cases, lowering their expectations for pay and job satisfaction.

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China just recalled 3 panda bears from DC's National Zoo, ending 50 years of history - Fortune

The National Zoo’s three giant pandas, Mei Xiang, Tian Tian and their cub Xiao Qi Ji. on Wednesday began their long trip to China, leaving behind an empty panda exhibit with no certainty that pandas ever would again take up residence there.

“It is a moment with some heartbreak in it,” said National Zoo Director Brandie Smith. “But it is also a moment of joy because we are celebrating the success of the world’s longest running conservation program for a single species.”

The pandas had been loaded into large white crates away from the public view. Forklifts took them to waiting trucks — along with several bushels of bamboo for road snacks. Their faces were occasionally visible through a small window at the side of the crates. Zoo personnel walked alongside them.

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What Makes a Great Corporate Purpose Statement - Harvard Business Review

Having a well-crafted purpose statement really matters. Not only does it represent the organization’s aspirations, it also sends signals to employees about what the company stands for. It is the vital first step on the road to actually embedding and activating an authentic purpose. Yet leaders often struggle to articulate an appropriate and inspiring purpose statement due to a lack of guidance concerning the focus, scope, and form of expression they should aim for. The authors conducted a detailed analysis of purpose statements from leading organizations around the world and developed a diagnostic framework leaders can use to help craft the best purpose statement for their specific situation.

Organizations in all sectors are increasingly required by their investors, customers, employees, and wider stakeholders to articulate a clear statement of corporate purpose. Purpose isn’t about profit maximization; it’s the reason the organization exists.

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3 Ways to Successfully Manage Large-Scale R&D Projects - Harvard Business Review

Managing extended R&D projects comes with its unique challenges, with even the popular agile method struggling in such contexts. Drawing from a recent significant build at Lattice, an HR software startup, three key factors emerge as essential for success in managing large projects. First, securing executive commitment ensures risk acceptance and a flexible budgeting approach. Second, setting expectations, especially in R&D, calls for transparent communication regarding delivery timelines, and fostering a culture centered on learning and adaptability. Lastly, true leadership and project success hinge on owning the outcome, promoting bold decision-making and ensuring teams focus on tasks without fear of blame. By integrating these principles, organizations can navigate even the most complex projects with confidence and resilience.

In project management, challenges tend to grow as projects — especially those centered on research and development — extend over time. It becomes harder to manage deadlines and allocate resources over lengthy horizons. The most popular method for managing projects flexibly, known as agile, struggles when applied to extended ventures. This is mainly because long-running innovative endeavors, such as skunkworks, often lack regular feedback from end-users, which is essential for the agile approach.

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