Building fun: how playfulness drives engineering innovation 💡 Meet Theodor.
It's no secret that we’re big on play at the LEGO Group. But for Theodor, play isn't simply about our colourful, iconic bricks, it's woven into the fabric of his work as a Competency Lead in Digital Technology.
"You could define play as experimenting while laughing. In our team we experiment a lot to find better solutions. And we laugh a lot because it’s fun to solve complex problems with people you like. So, we don't view play as something apart from our day-to-day work. It’s intrinsic to what we do and for an atmosphere where people can be themselves.”
Together with a lead engineer, Theodor leads a team that's anything but ordinary. They're responsible for ensuring the smooth operation of the digital networks that connect our global workforce, factories, and stores. It's a complex job, but the playful spirit with which he and his team approach it fuels innovation and creativity.
“Our work requires us to be analytical and precise, but if we get stuck and need a fresh perspective, there’s an area set aside for us to build the latest LEGO® sets. Often, the conversations while building bring new ideas for moving forward with the task.”
This unique blend of technical expertise and playful spirit is something that’s reflected in how Theodor talks about his team:
"Rational. Magical. Invisible. This is how I would describe us and what we do. Rational because we are data and information driven. Magical because, as the quote from Arthur C Clarke goes, ‘Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic’. Invisible because when our users don't notice us, we are a success.”
Using this approach, Theodor and his team have revolutionised network engineering processes, vastly reducing the time for certain tasks from months to minutes, saving the LEGO Group a great deal of time and money.
"Four years ago, it took approximately three months for a requested change to a firewall, and it involved at least one firewall specialist. Today, after the automation we’ve implemented, it takes five minutes. What’s more it’s now managed directly by the people needing the changes."
His own role has evolved too:
"My job has transitioned from being heavily involved in the coding part to being a people leader with a focus on how to help the team do all kinds of cool stuff. Since the people in my team, thankfully, are way smarter than I am, I aim to support and nurture a self-led team – I concentrate on the what and the why while the team decides on the how.”
"This fits with a lifelong interest in supporting people to grow and learn. In our area, the focus is on getting those with domain expertise in networking to add a software developer mindset and toolset on top.”
"It’s amazing what can be achieved in a culture of collaboration with an experimenting mindset. I really enjoy my current role working with people - there’s never a dull moment.”
"I can be myself here. I think, that is possible because we’re a company where play is valued as much as productivity. There’s room for quirky ideas and for creating cool, creative solutions. Just like kids do with the bricks we make.”
Just imagine your LEGO® career.