Marin Andrews is the founder and CEO at Cogent – a software business in Melbourne. Since 2007, Cogent has been an ongoing successful experiment in running an open, values driven business. They use skills in strategy, design and development to help customers build useful products. Cogent is also a place where Marty helps create his own new startups and invests in others. Recently Marty, discussed the concept of Open Salaries at the Spark the Change Melbourne 2015 Conference. He shares some of his experiences in running a values-based business, with reference to the example of open salaries and commentary on the attitudes towards it in the industry.
What would happen if everyone in a company knew everyone else’s salaries?
I find this an interesting concept and remember it is not an experiment, it is past that point. As Marty emphasizes in this discussion, without an emphasis on Values this may not and probably not work. I find when I work with a company that has an emphasis on values it creates a very clear understanding of the other parts of the business. Since I spend most of my time in the Sales and Marketing area, have a clear set of values really does create clarity in how we want to go to market and the tools we want to use. When I question certain tactics, the how and what we want to do, a clear set of values would not just guide but answer any question that exist. I might even say that the clear set of values would give the majority of customer facing, sales and support, interaction a clear understanding of how to act. Open salaries to me is not challenging if the values are right. what about you?
Lean Engagement Team (More Info): The ability to share and create knowledge with your customer is the strongest marketing tool possible.