Comments on: Diversity in Hiring – Mirrortocracy or Meritocracy? http://www.pluggd.in/entrepreneurship/hiring-strategy-for-startups-mirrortocracy-or-meritocracy-3777/ We Heart Startups! Fri, 10 Feb 2012 14:53:02 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Debashish Brahma http://www.pluggd.in/entrepreneurship/hiring-strategy-for-startups-mirrortocracy-or-meritocracy-3777/comment-page-1/#comment-111536 Debashish Brahma Mon, 24 Aug 2009 07:26:28 +0000 http://www.pluggd.in/entrepreneurship/hiring-strategy-for-startups-3777/#comment-111536 Excellent post, nepotism and favouritism is dangerous. With Warm Regards, Excellent post, nepotism and favouritism is dangerous.
With Warm Regards,

]]> By: Mithun http://www.pluggd.in/entrepreneurship/hiring-strategy-for-startups-mirrortocracy-or-meritocracy-3777/comment-page-1/#comment-111378 Mithun Thu, 20 Aug 2009 20:15:41 +0000 http://www.pluggd.in/entrepreneurship/hiring-strategy-for-startups-3777/#comment-111378 It is indeed a post that has left me reiterating my thoughts. I do not know about the rest, but it has struck a dormant chord in me. This was something I was pondering on in a subconscious manner but never got to discuss it with myself. It used to surface and submerge again. Thanks a lot for sharing this. Cheers, Mith It is indeed a post that has left me reiterating my thoughts. I do not know about the rest, but it has struck a dormant chord in me. This was something I was pondering on in a subconscious manner but never got to discuss it with myself. It used to surface and submerge again. Thanks a lot for sharing this.
Cheers,
Mith

]]> By: Kanupriya http://www.pluggd.in/entrepreneurship/hiring-strategy-for-startups-mirrortocracy-or-meritocracy-3777/comment-page-1/#comment-111293 Kanupriya Wed, 19 Aug 2009 08:32:27 +0000 http://www.pluggd.in/entrepreneurship/hiring-strategy-for-startups-3777/#comment-111293 Excellent post! Very true & even I've observed this in some start ups! In fact organizations who are not ready for such diversity fail to notice other angles in all aspects of business! Excellent post! Very true & even I’ve observed this in some start ups! In fact organizations who are not ready for such diversity fail to notice other angles in all aspects of business!

]]> By: Abhaya Agarwal http://www.pluggd.in/entrepreneurship/hiring-strategy-for-startups-mirrortocracy-or-meritocracy-3777/comment-page-1/#comment-111292 Abhaya Agarwal Wed, 19 Aug 2009 08:28:40 +0000 http://www.pluggd.in/entrepreneurship/hiring-strategy-for-startups-3777/#comment-111292 Hi, I think part of it has to do with how hiring happens in startups in India. Since there is a lack of a good technical workforce willing to work in startup conditions available for tapping, a lot of the times, initial hiring happens through mutual contacts. This has the side effect of bringing in people from similar circles. I think as this pool of startup experienced professionals grows, we might see a little more diversity also. Regards, Abhaya Hi,

I think part of it has to do with how hiring happens in startups in India. Since there is a lack of a good technical workforce willing to work in startup conditions available for tapping, a lot of the times, initial hiring happens through mutual contacts. This has the side effect of bringing in people from similar circles. I think as this pool of startup experienced professionals grows, we might see a little more diversity also.

Regards,
Abhaya

]]> By: Sameer http://www.pluggd.in/entrepreneurship/hiring-strategy-for-startups-mirrortocracy-or-meritocracy-3777/comment-page-1/#comment-111288 Sameer Wed, 19 Aug 2009 08:07:57 +0000 http://www.pluggd.in/entrepreneurship/hiring-strategy-for-startups-3777/#comment-111288 True. And its not just about ethnic communities. Coders are comfortable with coders. Engineers, by and large, with others who think like them. Sales people often dismiss anyone who does not see the can-we-sell-now pov. We all have our comfort zones, and when we hire within those, we create whats been referred to as mirrortocracies. Good teams invariably need a diverse range of skills. And while we may not understand some of these, or even be able to see value in them initially, it helps to seek that which is different. Uncomfortable, yes, but that is why its an important skill to practice, and acquire. True. And its not just about ethnic communities.

Coders are comfortable with coders. Engineers, by and large, with others who think like them. Sales people often dismiss anyone who does not see the can-we-sell-now pov.

We all have our comfort zones, and when we hire within those, we create whats been referred to as mirrortocracies. Good teams invariably need a diverse range of skills. And while we may not understand some of these, or even be able to see value in them initially, it helps to seek that which is different. Uncomfortable, yes, but that is why its an important skill to practice, and acquire.

]]> By: asymptote http://www.pluggd.in/entrepreneurship/hiring-strategy-for-startups-mirrortocracy-or-meritocracy-3777/comment-page-1/#comment-105103 asymptote Fri, 06 Mar 2009 15:14:36 +0000 http://www.pluggd.in/entrepreneurship/hiring-strategy-for-startups-3777/#comment-105103 Lovely post, very timely and succinctly put. Lovely post, very timely and succinctly put.

]]> By: Unmesh http://www.pluggd.in/entrepreneurship/hiring-strategy-for-startups-mirrortocracy-or-meritocracy-3777/comment-page-1/#comment-104662 Unmesh Thu, 26 Feb 2009 14:02:07 +0000 http://www.pluggd.in/entrepreneurship/hiring-strategy-for-startups-3777/#comment-104662 Excellent post Sanjay and you have definitely hit the nerve. Having worked in the US for a major part, I have observed that though diversity is seen across the organization, one does tend to see "birds-of-a-feather" behavior in certain groups. e.g. there will be more Chinese folks in a particular sub-group, Indians in others, and whites in some others. I think its a general tendency that people tend to think that they communicate better with their own - there are more common threads of discussions - etc. But I totally agree that this works against meritocracy and could be detrimental to the company. In the Indian service sector itself you can see this trend in some of the big 5's, Satyam being one example as you pointed out. The question is why did the founders of these companies allow this to happen, since its so obvious to spot? Excellent post Sanjay and you have definitely hit the nerve. Having worked in the US for a major part, I have observed that though diversity is seen across the organization, one does tend to see “birds-of-a-feather” behavior in certain groups. e.g. there will be more Chinese folks in a particular sub-group, Indians in others, and whites in some others. I think its a general tendency that people tend to think that they communicate better with their own – there are more common threads of discussions – etc. But I totally agree that this works against meritocracy and could be detrimental to the company. In the Indian service sector itself you can see this trend in some of the big 5′s, Satyam being one example as you pointed out. The question is why did the founders of these companies allow this to happen, since its so obvious to spot?

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