Joseph Haydn wrote over a hundred symphonies. He pretty much defined and perfected the form of the symphony, as within it he wrote so many, so well loved. Beethoven, a generation later, wrote only nine symphonies. Few – and yet each one is different and unique, each one redefined the structure in a new way.
As a developer, are you a Haydn or a Beethoven? Excellent software, a process defined and followed to great productivity? Or excellent software, a process altered with great originality? Both are masters. Haydn was prolific in his output, while Beethoven was prolific in his innovation.
Which does your company need more of now? And how would we hire for each?
Source: How to listen to and understand great music, a course by Prof Greenberg. Lecture 29 or 30.