Packaged in the basic acronym T5Ts (short for Top-5 Things), this management method has long been a hallmark of NVIDIA employees, something they always remember and use as an integral part of their work.
Every morning, NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang opens his inbox and reads 100 of the day's most important emails. And on Sunday evening, he pours himself a glass of wine and reads even more emails.
According to the Wall Street Journal , for decades, NVIDIA employees have been sending notes known as T5Ts – things they're working on, things they're thinking about, things they've noticed and learned along the way. For decades, Jensen Huang has read them all. “Just send it, and I’ll read it,” shared the founder of one of the world’s most valuable companies.
All NVIDIA employees, including senior leaders and engineers, participate in the T5Ts system. This system requires each individual to regularly record and share the five most important things they are working on. While these updates share a similar structure, the content is diverse, and teams remain aligned with company goals and adapt to changing priorities.
Image source: by Pritam Bordoloi
CEO Jensen Huang reads these notes to grasp the pulse of the company, because this detailed information might never reach him in any other way.
He had been doing this even before NVIDIA became a trillion-dollar company selling chips that powered the AI revolution. He also introduced this system as a way to maintain deep connections with employees and to ensure the company remained agile and efficient. The T5Ts approach helps NVIDIA maintain a flat organizational structure, minimize cumbersome bureaucracy, and foster a culture of ownership and rapid execution.
5 key values of Top-5 Things
Emphasizing personal responsibility : Employees will list the five most important things by writing them down, thereby fostering a sense of ownership and accountability. This approach minimizes the need for micromanagement, as employees are empowered to drive their own projects.
Direct communication with leadership : CEO Jensen Huang reads numerous T5T updates, including those from lower-level employees, keeping him connected to most of the developments happening within the company. This allows employees to share concerns, challenges, and opinions directly with leadership without going through unnecessary middle management layers. As a result, T5T fosters a culture where every voice counts, regardless of rank.
Solving problems flexibly and promptly : Because employees are constantly updated on trends and priorities, NVIDIA can quickly adapt to changes in the market or technology.
If a problem arises, leaders can identify and address it early before it becomes serious. The system will ensure that no important tasks or ideas are "lost" in the complexity of the organization.
Internal cohesion : Teams can see what other teams are doing, improving coordination between different departments. If two teams have overlapping goals, they can collaborate instead of repeating efforts. This transparency ensures that NVIDIA moves forward as a unified company, rather than as fragmented teams.
Continuous learning and improvement : The T5Ts system encourages employees to reflect on their progress, identify areas for improvement, and adjust priorities. Over time, employees improve their ability to prioritize goals and execute more effectively. Leaders can track trends in T5Ts updates, identifying opportunities for strategic investments or changes.
T5Ts are NVIDIA's 'magic formula'.
Instead of using project management tools like many other companies, NVIDIA uses T5Ts as a human-centered approach, rather than a rigid administrative process.
These memos and emails enable bottom-up innovation, where employees at all levels can influence overall decisions. This keeps NVIDIA agile and adaptable—a crucial factor in the rapidly evolving AI and computing industries. By operating T5Ts daily, NVIDIA ensures the company remains focused, innovative, and efficient, providing a competitive edge in an industry where speed and flexibility are key.
Source:https://chungta.vn/nguoi-fpt/fpt-co-the-hoc-hoi-bi-kip-thanh-cong-cua-nvidia-1139568.html






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