ADS specializes in using Ruby on Rails to build advanced, scalable, database-backed web sites for organizations of all sizes. Find out more at our website.

It is no wonder that some developers hate the MBA’s that manage the businesses in which they work. In my Organizational Behavior class at Crummer, we had a discussion on blogs. It took all of my willpower not to jump out of my seat and yell at a fellow classmate when he said, “I hate blogs.” If you knew this person, you would know that he is a bit of a control freak. I’ll save those types of folks for other posts. Today, I want to speak briefly on the point of a blog, and why companies fear them.

At ADS, our blog policy is anything goes as long as it not sexist, racist, or any other “ist.” Keep it professional is all we ask of our employees and those posting comments. That’s it! Any why should we need more than that?

From reading other of my posts, you can tell that I think there is a lot of fear and distrust at work in many companies. That is why a lot of companies don’t have, and won’t have, a blog. Fear. Who knows what employees might say?

Well, guess what, they are already talking, on blogs of their own. So, what are you going to do?

The point of a blog is to have a conversation. There are many types of conversations.

For a web development firm such as us, we post a lot of technical content. Those types of posts appeal to other developers, help them learn from our experience, and (hopefully) cause them to share their own experiences on those topics. These types of conversations are candid and factual.

I am starting to write more about ADS, how we operate, and my philosophies on how a business should be run. Those first two posts are generating comments and I hope to see more. My purpose there is to have conversations with our readers and learn from their experiences.

When I told my friends that I was going to graduate school for an MBA they asked me why. When I started ADS more than nine years ago I learned many valuable lessons. I learned that I could not do it by myself. I learned to not spend too much money. I learned to read about everything having to do with my business until my head exploded. I learned that I do not have all the answers, and I damn well better listen to others, as they have something to say that I can learn from. I also learned that I must share what I learned in order to truly master it.

That is the point of a blog. You put what you know and have learned out there to spur others to share their experiences. You share so that you might learn. Conversation in a vacuum is meaningless.

We look forward to learning of your experience. What can we learn from you?

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