[sokoloff]

Kickstarter's prime competition is Indiegogo. Kickstarter employees who think their competition is against Kickstarter leadership rather than Indiegogo are at risk to seriously suboptimize, IMO. (The same is true for Kickstarter leadership, of course.)

[dagw]

employees who think their competition is against Kickstarter leadership rather than Indiegogo are at risk to seriously suboptimize

Suboptimize what? By what metrics? And why are those the primary metrics I should be using to make extremely important life choices?

[sokoloff]

The overall success and value they are able to create jointly with their colleagues and take home a portion of for themselves and their family. I also find that to be an interesting, motivating, fun, and financially rewarding game to play.

I support your right to use other metrics as you prefer to make your choices, of course.

[dagw]

take home a portion of for themselves and their family

I'm sure there are companies where the portion of value I get to take home is directly related to the value I and my colleagues created, but I've never worked at such a company. Perhaps that is the sort of thing unions could help with?

edit: That being said, I've worked at companies where the primary 'enemy' was either "the bosses at HQ" or rival departments and I agree that it is toxic and a terrible way to run a company. However when the company ends up in that state it is a failure of management and not of the workers.

[sokoloff]

In such a tech company, I’d recommend employees leave rather than unionize. Simpler, faster, more effective, more thorough fix.