Curious Rami

Google has a rule that allows developers (programmers, designers and engineers) to spend 10% of their time working on a mini-project of their choice given that their managers approve the projects.

I believe this 10% rule is very economical to implement and comes with many advantages; these advantages include:

1. Innovation: A company will not advance and distinguish itself from the rest of the market without innovation. The best innovative ideas usually don’t come from managers but rather from developers. The outcome of the 10% rule will include many innovative ideas with working demos. The company can then move on to produce the innovative ideas into final products.

2. Opportunity cost of wasted time: Most developers will waste 10% of their time anyways; browsing the net, checking their personal email and talking to other employees around the water cooler and the coffee machine. Why? Because developers need a break from their normal tasks. Well; with the 10% rule; developers can use that wasted time to work on their mini-projects; so practically; developers are improving their efficiency and thus benefiting their companies.

3. Job satisfaction: This ranks high, in many cases over salary, vacation time and perks. Full time developers spend 35-50% of their day at work, so if they are not happy, they will move on to another job. The 10% rule allows developers to work on their own mini-project and thus providing them with job satisfaction and hence they will stay with their current company.

Leave a comment if you have any thought on this topic.