Daily Image
21-06-2009
The ASTRON kaboutertjes
| Submitter: | Madroon E.J. |
| Description: | Real-world companies and consultants have always been puzzled how an organization like ASTRON could presume to embark on a highly ambitious program of instrument-building (LOFAR, Apertif, SKA, ...) with a ridiculously small team, and relatively few layers of management. The secret is (at least) threefold: 1) Tradition. We have always pulled it off, so why not this time? Even the youngest employee is keenly aware of, and highly stimlated by, the glorious past. 2) Inclusiveness. We are particularly good at getting people from other institutes to work with us, thereby greatly enlarging our team. 3) Kaboutertjes. The image shows a rare glimpse of one of the Little People who live hidden in the woods around ASTRON, and secretly work on our projects while we sit in meetings. Of course there are other reasons as well, but these are the most important ones. There is no danger in revealing them, because they are not easiliy emulated. After all, tradition takes a long time to build, inclusiveness requires an unusual generosity of spirit, and kaboutertjes cannot be planned. |
| Copyright: | NORSTA |
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