| Authors | Kimmerly, P. |
| Source | CrossTalk: The Journal of Defence Software Engineering (2008) |
| URL | http://www.stsc.hill.af.mil/crosstalk/2008/08/0808Kimmerly.html |
| Keywords | Human Resources, Process Improvement, Hero, Risk Management |
| Abstract | Every organization has key performers that it depends on for its success. Organizations often cast them as heroes that ride in to save the day. These heroes play an important role in getting their organizations through difficult situations, getting products out the door, and keeping customers happy. However, reliance on heroes can create problems just as big as the ones the heroes help resolve. Organizations must recognize the double-edged sword that heroes bring with them. There are ways an organization can leverage the good qualities that heroes bring and minimize the negative ones. |
Notes:
This article talks about the impact that "heroes" have on projects and an organisation. A "hero" in this context is the person(s) who know most about a particular system, and without whom the system cannot operate properly. A system in this case is a software system, but the principle applies to other areas too. Heroes often have knowledge learned through experience that is not written down, and is applied implicitly by the hero in their day to day work. People without this knowledge are not able to perform the tasks of the hero, increasing the dependence upon the hero.
Having heroes is a risk to an organisation because they can become choke points to getting work done. Organisations that rely on heroes are often severely impacted when the hero is unable to work (for whatever reason). The article cites examples where heroes have actually caused significant problems for an organisation.
The article then discusses options for reducing the dependence upon heroes by leveraging their knowledge to implement appropriate processes. Capturing the hero's implicit knowledge and teaching it to others, allows the heroes to focus on things that they are good at, and allows others to take over some of their responsibilities.