employee incentives vs contractor incentives

Employee devs want to keep their jobs.

Contractor devs want to get paid.

It’s a subtle difference that inverts the incentive structure.

Contractors (good ones who do it for a living) prioritize getting paid above all else. That means managing the scope of work, doing work that meets the standard set out in the scope of work, and generally speaking, avoiding the perception of being deferential.

Employees, on the other hand, know they’re going to get paid - they want to keep getting paid. That means doing the work defined in the ticket, or adjusting the backlog to a new strategic direction. It means, generally speaking, being deferential.

So when you’re deciding between hiring an employee or engaging a contractor, consider whether you need the scope-managing professionalism of a contractor or the flexible cooperation of an employee.