I came across the video below from the guys at 6Wunderkinder, a Berlin-based startup who produce the Wunderlist/Wunderkind range of apps.
The message is simple: if your programmers love their job, you can free them to produce even better work for you. You won’t need to manage them at all, as not only will the work get done – it will be their best work.
Some companies already do this – Github and Valve are two I know of. I’d be interested in any more examples, and what happens as a result of giving programmers freedom.
Enjoy the talk.