Summary The Shitty Stack System - by Truly Trying - Trying Truly tryingtruly.substack.com
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The Shitty Stack System implemented by Microsoft in the early 2000s prioritized competition and fear over collaboration, leading to a toxic work environment and hindering innovation, ultimately emphasizing the importance of positive sum dynamics and fostering a supportive and collaborative work environment.
Slides
Slide Presentation (7 slides)
Key Points
- The Shitty Stack System was a ruthless employee evaluation system implemented by Microsoft in the early 2000s.
- The system relied on instilling fear and competition among employees, leading to sabotage and a toxic work environment.
- The Stack Ranking reform was considered one of the most destructive processes at Microsoft and drove out many employees.
- Microsoft's performance suffered during this period while competitors like Google, Apple, and Facebook experienced growth.
- After abandoning the Stack Ranking system, Microsoft adopted new principles focused on teamwork, collaboration, and personal development.
Summary
160 word summary
The Shitty Stack System, implemented by Microsoft in the early 2000s, was a disastrous employee evaluation system that prioritized competition and fear over collaboration and teamwork. The system used stack ranking, where employees were ranked against each other and the bottom 10% were fired. This created a toxic work environment where employees sabotaged each other to avoid being ranked at the bottom. The system was criticized for driving out talented employees and hindering innovation. Eventually, the system was abandoned in 2013, along with its champion Steve Ballmer. The failure of the Shitty Stack System highlights the importance of positive sum dynamics, where the focus is on collective efforts and collaboration rather than individual rankings. It also emphasizes the need for timely feedback, continuous learning, and flexibility in performance measurement. The case of Microsoft's stack ranking serves as a cautionary tale against relying on fear and competition as motivators and highlights the importance of fostering a supportive and collaborative work environment.