Lessons in HR from Tron

At the risk of completely nerding it up, I’m a big Tron fan and have found much insight from the movie. It’s amazing how they apply to the business world.   Enjoy!

Performance Expectations
Sark: Greetings. The Master Control Program has chosen you to serve your system on the Game Grid. Those of you who continue to profess a belief in the Users will receive the standard substandard training which will result in your eventual elimination. Those of you who renounce this superstitious and hysterical belief will be eligible to join the warrior elite of the MCP. You will each receive an identity disc. Everything you do or learn will be imprinted on this disc. If you lose your disc, or fail to follow commands, you will be subject to immediate deresolution. That will be all.

Innovation
Tron: My User has information that could… that could make this a free system again! No, really! You’d have programs lined up just to use this place, and no MCP looking over your shoulder.

Onboarding
Master Control Program: I’ve got a little challenge for you, Sark – a new recruit. He’s a tough case, but I want him treated in the usual manner. Train him for the games… let him hope for a while… and blow him away.

Executive Management

Ram: You really think the users are still there?
Tron: They better be. I don’t wanna bust out of here and find nothing but a lot of cold circuits waiting for me.

Crisis Management

Kevin Flynn: Like the man says, there’s no problems, only solutions.

Strategic Planning
Tron: If you are a user, then everything you’ve done has been according to a plan.
Kevin Flynn: Ha! You wish!

Employee Engagement
Dumont: All that is visible must grow beyond itself and extend into the realm of the invisible.