Kisko's Culture Book
Updated on June 23rd 2010
With this experiment we try to map out what is Kisko's Culture. All attendees got and task to describe in their own words what they think is Kisko's Culture. All descriptions are unedited and we published all of them. Original idea is from Zappos. If you want to give your own version please send it to antti (at) kiskolabs.com
Friends, partners, customers
Kiskon kulttuuriin kuuluu mielestäni oleellisesti ketteryys ja nopeus palvella asiakasta. Ainakin meidän projekteissa olen huomannut, että pyynnöt ja toiveet pyritään suorittamaan mahdollisimman nopeasti.
Eli kiteytyksenä ehkä ketteryys ja nopeus.
Antti Vilpponen, ArcticStartup
From my perspective Kisko Labs is a very ambitious company. I think the quality that separates them from other software companies is their drive to do things in a way they themselves enjoy. They aim to please not just the customer but more themselves. And don't be mistaken: this is in no way conflicting the best interest of the client. Quite the opposite. They approach every project as a possibility to challenge themselves to create intuitive and flexible solutions previously unheard. Problems yet unsolved are just a huge motivation to explore new ideas. And naturally, being passionate about what you do also facilitates commitment.
In Kisko Labs, what may seem like a slacker or laid back attitude to some translates into productive and relaxed, highly effective way of working. It's not necessary to wear a suit to generate profit.
Meri Pekkanen, CEO's girlfriend
Sehän nyt on vaan niin, että kun hyvät tyypit tekee hyvää duunia, niin välissä ehtii helposti heittää myös hyvät läpät. Hommat hoituu ja kaikilla on hauskaa. Jätkillä on rehti tekemisen meininki ja se näkyy - ei turhaa mussuttamista, eikä turhaa jäykistelyä.
Herrojen korkea energiataso on myös sopivan tarttuvaa sorttia ja sitä huomaa itsekin saavansa paljon enemmän aikaan, kun istutaan saman pöydän ääressä. Hyvä meininki jatkuu monesti myös työpäivän jälkeen saunan lauteilla, koripallo kädessä tai aina yhtä railakkaan pihvi-illan parissa. Tuottoisa yhteistyö jatkuu osakkuustarjousta odotellessa...
Lauri Ahonen, Bolder Helsinki
Here's my quick top 5 about what kind of "corporate" culture Kisko Labs have:
1) Transparent and open - If people like to be know of things they just have to ask, Kisko doesn't have big secrets or skeletons in the closet.
2) Friendly and understanding. - It's not 9 to 5 working culture, people work when they feel the most productive. Still people work hard and with passion. Attitude is hot, sexy and energetic, It's always pleasure to visit the office.
3) Passion to be better - Some mad power drives them...Kisko Labs people follow what happens, they have the latest books and they arrange geek seminars.
4) It's modern network, not just about Kisko Labs, they work with the bravest ones with the good values and trust.
5) Fearless, is better to try and fail than find out excuses for doing nothing.
Arto Martonen, Another Master of New Economics, Another Company
Kisko Labsin kahvintuoksuinen tekemisen meininki ja suoraviivaistettu prosessi synnyttää konkretiaa tahdilla, joka onnistuu yllättämään lähes ihmeisiin totutetun kohdeyleisönsä kerta toisensa jälkeen. Kiskon helposti lähestyttävä, no-bullshit organisaatio löytää roolinsa projekteissa tuotantopumpusta konsultatiivisempaan tekkipartneriin vaivatta. Näin ketterän ja luotettavan partnerin kanssa myös tiukkojen aikataulujen alla on helpompi hengittää, kun puheiden sijaan keskitytään tekemiseen.
Juha Rouvinen, Satumaa
Kisko employees
We live on the edge of the edgiest community, and, as far as I am aware of, follow no methodologies; and yet, we deliver.
We have little or no project management at all. Instead, we keep a good relationship with customers and trust each other. If it sounds too simple, let me assure you that it is. And that's why it works.
Our team culture is weirdly diverse. From duct tape programmers to opinionated perfectionists, you see a blend that somehow works. I know I really can't speak for the other end, but we sure as hell do the best job.
At Kisko we make the impossible happen, and we do it often. The amount of determination and persistence I see whenever someone is struggling to make it is inspiring.
The one part I feel we need improvement on is open-source involvement. We breath it every day, but haven't given enough back. My challenge to Kisko Labs for the next one year period is to get people excited about the newest and greatest project available at http://github.com/kiskolabs
Recently I heard that our reputation follows us. I don't know what the word out there is, but it felt good.
Joao Carlos, Rails developer at Kisko Labs
At Kisko Labs we have a great environment for little thoughts to grow into big ideas and profitable business. No thought has left unsaid in the fear of getting laughed at. My knowledge of IT-work and business is so little that when there is a collision between my world and a rubyist of ours, you'd think there be more laughing and patting on my head. But no, that's not the case here at Kisko Labs.
No matter who you are and what you do, your thoughts matter.
With all my little thoughts and oh-so-great ideas, it sometimes feels like there's not enough time. And I don't mean my time, I mean time of those, who can tell me how silly or potential my ongoing thought is. That's the only minus I give for our guys -sometimes you're just too busy. Or maybe I'm just too polite when I see you working on something and I just don't have the balls to come over and babble about what's on my mind today.
Still I dare to nag about receipts and other daily things that are my responsibility. There´s no wall between us, no matter who you are and what you do in our company. I will nag to you. Respectingly though.
Working in Kisko Labs is easy. When you do what you´re required, you get to do it freely. Flexible work means more options for your free time. And for me that equals more happiness.
I wish Kisko Labs could offer that to all. A job where you can do that what you are good at and thrive on new things too.
Anu Akonniemi, Office manager at Kisko Labs
The Kisko Labs ethos can be, in my mind, expressed as "just get it done". Meaning that little or no emphasis is based on the process, methods, or tools used to get to the final product or result.
I think this is a working solution at Kisko large because nobody there does their job just because they have to, for the sake of putting bread on the table. Everyone at Kisko is atleast somewhat passionate about what they do, how they do it, what what tools they use.
Nobody at Kisko works with Rails because they were told to do so by some higher power (unless you consider DHH to be a divine deity); each person at Kisko has chosen they tools they use based on their personal likes, dislikes, and interests. This is not a company where some IT department or CTO dictates what technology, IDE or desktop background you should be using.
Such a laissez-faire attitude to the work process is only possible in an environment where people trust each other and where each person is passionate about their work and strives to be all they can be. I believe that everyone at Kisko enjoys being at the very forefront of the newest technology on the block, even if that sometimes comes at a cost. This is something that I believe translates into always using the best tools available in the right situations and places.
Matias Korhonen, Rails developer at Kisko Labs
The culture of Kisko Labs is all about working with great people in interesting projects. We have consciously moved away from body leasing to large corporate projects and focused on developing stuff that both we and the client can be excited about.
We've been heavily inspired by Ricardo Semler and the ideas 37signals have put forward when it comes to working methods, environments and so on. We believe people can manage themselves and let them find the way of working that best suits them.
We're often pushing boundaries of technology and business in a sense that we're not afraid to try out new things, new methodologies, new software, etc. We often have strong opinions about the establishment and push to change that both in business and in technology. We call out outdated business models and methodologies if we believe there are better and often more honest alternatives.
We strive for and should always try to improve on "falling in love with the client and her business". And on delivering Excellence. Always.
One fellow recently commented that "our reputation precedes us". People in the industry are beginning to know who we are and what's the Kisko Way. I think we have managed to incubate something great and let's keep on building!
Lauri Jutila, Partner at Kisko Labs
We are honest and open. We like to learn and try new things. We appreciate hard work, but we also have fun. We believe nothing is impossible. We like working with good people that we can trust. We are not afraid to share our ideas or opinions. We constantly think how we can create more value and better service for our customers.
I'm really proud of us.
Antti Akonniemi, CEO at Kisko Labs
