Introduction

You can't live with 'em and you can't live without 'em. No, I'm not talking about the opposite sex. I'm talking about geeks, a.k.a. nerds, computer jockeys, or knowledge workers—the people who design, build, test, install, and support computer technology from mighty mainframes in their climate-controlled glass citadels to the humble PCs on every desktop. In the knowledge-driven, hyper-competitive, 24-7 economy, geeks are a key weapon in a business's arsenal. As technology continues to drive business productivity and competitiveness, the role of the geek becomes increasingly critical. Some think that whichever organization attracts and retains the best geeks wins in this environment. They're only half right.

Just getting the best geeks ...

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