There is an odd relationship between the ideas of bounty hunting and law enforcement. In the old west there seemed to be an idea that offering a reward for the dead or alive capture of a wanted criminal was a perfectly acceptable way to get things done across a vast territory lacking in sherrifs or marshalls. In more modern times the idea of retrieving someone who skipped out on a bail bond (in parts of the USA anyway) remains an actual thing with those people making a living out of bounty hunting keeping that gray area between the law and lawlessness populated. In the world of IT the term “bounty” has taken on a different meaning, though they are still hunted and, despite their seemingly obvious advantages, remain a hotly debated subject.
The term Bounty Programme is sometimes applied to an incentive scheme designed to encourage members of the team to learn a specific skill or technology and prove they’ve done so by sitting the relevant certification exam. I have seen three such programmes in effect over my career so far and have become something of an advovate for them for a couple of reasons.
Continue reading “Bounty Programmes”
Martin Minnock 