Does Steve Jobs Build Supermen?

It is easy to follow the news and get the impression that Steve Jobs is a super genius, working in a secret location, like Tony Stark, working late into the night to create the next blockbuster product that will change the world.  This, of course, is nothing like the truth.  He is just one man, he could not possibly be responsible for creating, designing, programing, every product that has come out of Apple.  For a more accurate picture of the way Apple works, you have to imagine that he is in charge of around 15,000 workers, and on a day to day basis only contacts about 100 people within the organization.  Of course Steve Jobs is incredibly important to the company, but it is not he who creates these wonderful products but rather it is his team and organization.  You may ask yourself, if Steve Jobs is not the super genius, that you thought he is, then he must have a super intelligent staff of Supermen or Superwomen that invent and create for him.  Before we jump to conclusions lets examine further how Apples organization produces super results.

If you had the chance to as Steve Jobs what type of people he hires you might think, "of course, the smartest".  Now you would be right in thinking this.  Steve Jobs hires very smart people, and according to our major predictors of job performance General Mental Abilities is the most important factors affecting Job Performance.  However, Steve Jobs hires from a pool of intelligent people.  The difference between getting a job at Apple and not getting the job, among similar smart people would be love for Apple. Yes, Love!  Steve job consistently hires people who are in love or are capable of falling in love with Apple. Steve Jobs himself is very much in love with Apple.

So, how does love relate to organizational behavior and creating wonderful products?  First of all, employees who love what they do are motivated by intrinsic motivation not extrinsic motivation.  They are not working because of money, or a longer vacation.  Something that exists inside themselves motivates them and that makes all the difference.  According to Frederick Herzberg's two factor theory, at Apple a workers Hygne Factors are met by a good salary and working conditions, but more importantly his Motivating Factors are met by interesting and important work.

The most important reason Apple is able to attract exceptional workers is that at Apple they control their own Hardware, Operating System, and Software.  Only at Apple are those things under one roof and the best workers come to Apple because only at Apple can they make great products that can be streamlined.  You could say that according to Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs the programers and engineers can try to fulfill the two highest of needs on the pyramid.  Esteem is satisfied in the fact that they work for hottest and desirable, and well know companies in the world. 

More importantly they are trying to fulfill the need of self actualization.  These programers and engineers are trying to create something more important than themselves.  Steve Jobs has repeatedly said that death is a very important motivating factor at his company.  He is aware of death and our limited time here on earth and therefore he demands that they should create the best products they can while they are still alive. 

Steve Jobs has created a culture recognizing Love and Death.  These factors go beyond salary, vacation time, and status.  This is how Apple has created products that have a cult like following.  This is also, how Steve Jobs has been able to motivate employees to the highest of their abilities.  And therefore Steve Jobs creates Supermen and Superwomen by being able to recruit the best employees and motivate them by appealing to the highest needs of self actualization.




By, Brodie M.