Kevin Anderson’s Post

Hey guys! I’ve been exploring how Netflix does things, their culture, and it’s pretty interesting. I found this part about their work style – they have a good way of doing things that helps people get more done and a bad way that just makes everyone's life harder. The good way is all about letting people know what's happening and not making them go through a bunch of steps to get simple things done. The bad way is like having to ask for permission for every little thing – sounds annoying, right? I’m attaching a picture of a slide from their presentation. It really shows how they think about work. I'll share more cool stuff about Netflix with you soon. What do you think about this? Let me know! Recommend to read the book: Powerful: Building a Culture of Freedom and Responsibility Hardcover by Patty McCord (Author) And presentation of Netflix culture here: https://lnkd.in/esSrEu3x OR here: https://lnkd.in/eWRjs5FX #Netflix #WorkSmart #SimpleIsBetter

Netflix has become one of the staples of modern culture, and it is hard to find someone who is not at least vaguely familiar with that name. It is a go-to for people when they feel bored, upset, or just plain neutral. After all, what is more fulfilling than cozying up on the couch, watching your favorite show after a long day at work or school? Or, what is more exciting than finally getting around to watching that show that your colleagues have been blabbering about for the past month-and-a-half? Netflix is present in more than 190 countries, bragging over 220 million active users. This begs the question: how does Netflix manage to stay on top of its game and, more crucially, how does it handle this tremendous increase in its size? Of course, there is no single secret ingredient to this Netflix success, but there is one that certainly stands out – HR and culture. So, in this blog, we will discuss the key HR and cultural approaches that have made Netflix what it is today. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/gPYZwmpH

For folks across Africa where Netflix is overemphasized... Changes at the top can have major ripple effects down the entire chain. So, consider what Lin's emphasis on fewer films, less spending, less risk, and an analytical approach might mean for Netflix's Africa strategy going forward, especially after Amazon's quick exit. Note: I'm not suggesting a Netflix exit is on the horizon. Just raising general awareness. Top executives set the overall direction. Lin's priorities will influence what kinds of projects move forward and one has to assume that some of this shift will be felt down the chain. Time will tell...

Netflix famously has a culture of trust but I wonder if the cracks are beginning to show. The overriding mandate is “act in the best interest of Netflix”. What happens when what’s in the best interests of Netflix isn’t in the best interests of employees and society? Or the writers and actors they partner with to create their content? Recent disputes about the larger societal impact of harmful content has eroded trust. The actor and writer strikes have highlighted how little Netflix and other studios are paying in streaming royalties. The proposed use of AI is further eroding trust that most actors and writers can make a living wage. Your product doesn’t exist without people. While actors and writers are not Netflix employees, and while many of these issues are the reality of the industry and not just Netflix, employees have to wonder if the way that external third parties are treated is fair and just. The other simple but rather brutal guideline at Netflix is “how hard would your manager fight to keep you?” If you answer is “not hard”, you should pack up your things and go. Is this why leadership isn’t necessarily in favour of remote work? Because this guideline seems designed so that proximity bias is a feature, not a bug. How does this impact diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging? I’m interested to see how the future unfolds for Netflix in regards to trust. #trust #organizationalculture

I have always wondered how Netflix comes up with those 3-word descriptors under each title. I have used them to decide on a new title to watch more often than I can remember (besides my own research, which primarily leads me to IMDb). Here's an excellent piece in The New York Times that explains how Netflix works on these 3-word descriptors! https://lnkd.in/gFFHFneN I love the level of detailing in this effort and the constant thinking by Netflix to make people click but with context and purpose! Crux: 1. "The words are selected by about 30 employees — so-called taggers". 2. "Imagine magazines that have no cover lines, and there were just photographs on them. Tags make as much of a difference as a cover line in that snap ‘this is for me’ decision.” —Allan Donald, director of product at Netflix. 3. "On average, if you haven’t gotten someone to hit play within 53 seconds, the likelihood goes down precipitously that the person will watch anything" —Eunice Kim, Netflix’s chief product officer. 4. There are more than 3,000 tags, and their selection and creation are the subject of vigorous debate. The most-used tags are “romantic,” “exciting” and “suspenseful.” The least used? “Occupation: farmhand.” 5. When Netflix interviews prospective taggers, they give the "cocktail party test": How would they describe a film to a person they had just met at a cocktail party? #netflix #tagging #content #media #streaming #OTT 

Karthik, what I like even better is the ability to dissect and find your sub-genres(Netflix Codes). I mean who wouldn't want to have the choice to choose their thrillers? Action - 43048 Classic - 46588 Crime - 10499 Foreign - 10306 Gangster - 31851 Independent - 3269 Mysteries - 9994 Political - 10504 Psychological - 5505 Spy - 9147 Steamy - 972 Netflix also uses natural language processing (NLP) to analyze online articles, blogs and reviews about the titles, and generate dynamic lists of top terms for each one. Talking about streaming giants, my personal favorite would easily be Spotify. I have two reasons for this. First, I am biased (I would prefer listening to a song over watching a movie). But if you can see through my bias, SPOTIFY is a musical adventure. Where else would you find genres like:- Brostep Catstep Bubble Trance Mongolian Throat Music (A must listen) Deep Discofox Gauze Pop Martial Industrial Nerd Core (This is what I am talking about) Stomp and Whittle It goes on and on and on... (Let me know if you have encountered some intriguing genres) Spotify has a huge amount of data from its 50 million songs and 4 billion playlists, producing more than 600 gigabytes of data every day (harvard.edu). The code behind Spotify’s recommendation systems is secret and not publicly available, so we can only guess how it works. However, it's believed that Spotify uses two main methods to create personalized playlists and mixes that keep users hooked – exploration and exploitation. Spotify is known for making music recommendation systems popular and profitable based on what users like. They use two secret algorithms for this purpose. Exploitative content uses the user’s past choices and the choices of similar users to recommend more songs. Explorative or content-based filtering examines the song’s structure to suggest a song. Exploration means suggesting content that is based on uncertain user engagement, while exploitation means suggesting content that is based on previous user behavior. A combination of the two methods lets the user enjoy their “comfort zone” and also helps them discover new music gradually. If you are interested in exploring more. Below are two articles that talk in-depth about this. Article by Stanford https://lnkd.in/dWHcNQzg Article by Manipal University https://lnkd.in/dqhig8Jd If you are more exploitative than an explorer person, you can sit back, relax, Netflix, and chill. #content #netflix #spotify #nlp #userexperience #streamingservices

Thanks to the post below, I stumbled upon a captivating article today. Isn't it fascinating how the smallest details can make or break a product in today's attention-deficient world? Take Netflix, for instance – catering to a user base with fleeting attention spans is no small feat. Unlike traditional loyalty, Netflix users won't stick around for a movie just because they started it. The first 2 minutes are make or break. That's where the genius of those 3-word descriptors comes in. Each Netflix tile now boasts a catchy visual and a concise 3-word tag, giving users a quick, compelling reason to stay beyond the initial glance. In a world where more words can mean losing a user's interest, this strategy is pure brilliance. So, it seems Netflix isn't just in the business of streaming content; it's in the art of crafting an experience that not only captures attention but keeps it hooked. 🎥✨ #netflix #tagging #content #media #streaming #OTT #uxdesign #uxwriting

The Power of 3. As a designer, even I find Netflix's approach to three-word descriptions utterly fascinating. They skillfully harness the power of concise communication, blending psychology with design strategy. Take "Stranger Things," for instance. With "supernatural, suspenseful, nostalgic," I see how they paint a vivid picture, evoking emotion and intrigue with just a few carefully chosen words. It's like weaving a tapestry of imagination, where every thread contributes to the captivating narrative. This method isn't just about words; it's a testament to the artistry of design thinking, where simplicity becomes the hallmark of profound storytelling. Thanks for sharing Karthik Srinivasan. #DesignThing #UX #psychology #netflix

2011: Studios yank content, Netflix faces mass exodus. Panic? No sir! Netflix flipped the script, mastering risk with a 3-pronged strategy: 1. Content Creation: From borrower to builder, Netflix poured billions into originals like "Stranger Things," creating a unique value proposition. 2. Global Ambitions: Thinking beyond Hollywood, they embraced international hits like "Money Heist," diversifying their library and tapping a global audience. 3. User Experience: Personalized recommendations and features like "Continue Watching" kept viewers glued, solidifying loyalty. Outcome: A streaming empire forged in risk. Netflix didn't just weather the storm, they rode it to the top, proving that proactive risk management can turn challenges into defining moments. Remember: Don't fear risks, embrace them as opportunities. Share your thoughts! How has risk management helped your business overcome challenges?

The Ingenious Simplicity Behind Netflix's Success Have you ever heard the story of how Netflix revolutionised its DVD delivery system with a stroke of simple genius? In their DVD-by-mail era, Netflix faced a challenge with DVDs getting lost or damaged during returns. Amid discussions of complex solutions, an intern's humorous suggestion sparked an "Aha!" moment - why not print the return address directly on the DVD itself? Laughter ensued, but then came the realization: This was brilliantly simple! 🤯 Implementing this idea not only cut costs but also streamlined their entire return process. It’s a classic example of how sometimes the simplest ideas can lead to groundbreaking improvements. Lesson: Don't underestimate the power of simplicity and a fresh perspective, no matter how unconventional it may seem at first. #Netflix #Innovation #SimplicityInTech #BusinessStrategy #CreativeSolutions