viper64

Who spoke the most (and least):

1: Kate --------------- 15
2: Cyra -- 2
3: Catherine ----------------- 17
4: Charles -------------- 13

Order
313434241431431313414343141414313234314313134131

Can anyone explain why Cyra wasn't as included in this conversation? I don't want to reach the wrong conclusions.

jsampsonPC wrote:



viper64 wrote: ... This effect I'm describing is subtle but very common when you are not white at Microsoft. Arti is professional and should be commended for her poise. She is not the cause of the switch of team dynamics. ...

You gotta be kidding? You really think Microsoft doesn't embrace diversity? I - not too long ago - posted a comment about how the vast majority of C9 videos are interviewing amazing programmers who have extremely difficult-to-understand accents, because so many of them come from some other country.

If anything, Microsoft hires more foreigners than locals it seems. And that isn't a bad thing, diversity is good - besides, those foreigners are hella-smart!

You can't really be serious that Microsoft has a problem with diversity, seriously. I am amazed when I see more than 2 americans in a single c9 interview (not counting Charles!).

But it doesn't bother me; these people are friggin brains!

I'm not kidding. All the points you make are correct. But, those points are not my point. Diversity is, as you state somewhat improperly, beneficial despite language and cultural differences (I can only imagine it's not easy to converse fluently in a second language.) So, the better we are at collaboration with people of different backgrounds, the greater win-win benefit it is to Microsoft, the welcomed employees with other backgrounds, and even you win when we beat Google because of it. No, my point is there is a subtle social clich at Microsoft that other races are rarely a part of (in my observation). And, it is naive to think that you truly embrace diversity when these social exclusions are common.

Btw, the Developer Solutions Team
http://channel9.msdn.com/Showpost.aspx?postid=177200
is diverse and seems to have the proper team dynamics.

Charles,

Please don't take this the wrong way.

I believe everyone on this team at microsoft is intelligent. One of the wonderful things about the concept of channel 9, is that it is informal. The informal nature of this presentation means that it closely simulates how everyone interacts in real life. (On United Airlines, you can hear most communication, but if they are having a serious problem, I would not be surprised if they are able to cut the channel 9 feed, so I consider the channel 9 concept a simulation.) That being said, I believe this particular channel 9 entry closely simulates this teams' social interactions.

What I want to point out is a general observation. Microsoft suffers from a very weak concept of diversity. It is apparently subtle, but very common.

If you watch this video you will notice that each team member's demeanor is sort of equal. E.g., When they provide comments to Charles, they don't have to double check with anyone else about what they are saying. They each can confidently just say what they want to say. E.g., John didn't need to check with Leah about what he wanted to say.

However, when Arti finally has a chance to talk, intelligently, about what she's working on, unfortunately, the opposite team dynamics seem to go into effect. What I mean is, I noticed that only Arti had to double check with everyone else if she can say what she wanted to talk about.

This effect I'm describing is subtle but very common when you are not white at Microsoft. Arti is professional and should be commended for her poise. She is not the cause of the switch of team dynamics.

So Microsoft, don't take it the wrong way, just improve please.