[Jester's Trek] Newbies and champions
Newbies and champions
I'm going to make this really, really quick. Tomorrow at this time, I'll know if I'm on CSM8 and chances are I won't feel comfortable writing this post then. So I'm gonna get it out today. If I'm not on CSM8 myself, whomever is on CSM8 is probably going to have to deal with it.
As we've heard, CCP Unifex will be stepping down from his Executive Producer role in about two weeks. In terms of championing the cause of the CSM's stake-holder position, from an outsider's perspective, it feels like the list of people who are doing this within CCP currently -- in order -- are Unifex, then CCP Dolan, then CCP Seagull, then CCP Xhagen, then CCP Ripley, then "everyone else." Now again, this is an outsider's perspective which might be totally wrong, but that's the impression I have right now at CSM8 Day Minus One.
Xhagen is also leaving his current position. Dolan is brand new to his job. Seagull is new to her job. And Ripley is in a project management/personnel management position, not really a game design decision-making position. CSM's champions are looking remarkably like newbies...
The question I have is will the new Executive Producer be a champion of the CSM stake-holder process in the same way that Unifex has become? This single question probably defines the overall chances of success of CSM8 as a whole. The good news is that during several presentations and round-tables on Thursday, the CSM was listed as an input source for the teams involved. The bad news is that sometimes it was pretty low on the list...
Now again, my outsider's perspective might be very wrong. But from a corporate politics perspective, suppose you're Seagull. Your new boss is indifferent to the CSM. Are you going to make the case for them when you're new to your job? Or are you going to go with the flow, support your boss, and protect your new position?
So when CCP finally announces the new Executive Producer, I'm going to be watching very closely what he or she has to say on this subject.
Source: Newbies and champions