Transition to Shape Up and Project Planning

In this chapter, they discuss the transition to a new project management methodology called shape up and how their engineering team works in terms of project planning and timelines.

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In today’s episode, Andrew and Julie dive into the topic of onboarding onto new teams. Julie discusses her latest venture of switching teams, and Andrew sheds light on the innovative “Shape Up” method by Basecamp that’s shaking things up in the project management world, and why he prefers this over Agile. There’s talk of the dreaded technical debt, and how to keep it in check, plus the perks of pair programming and the need for a solid support system at work. Besides tackling these workplace issues, they also touch on the challenge of maintaining personal relationships in a remote working environment, keeping old team ties strong, and why asking questions is key to professional growth. Press download now to hear more!

[00:01:45] Julie gives us an update on the changes at her work, transitioning from a consumer team to a platform team. She mentions that her old team is shifting from two-week sprints to a new process called “Shape Up,” which Andrew explains it as a product/project management philosophy from Basecamp, focusing on a six-week cycle.

[00:03:08] Andrew details the process of shaping a feature, setting boundaries, identifying risks, and then pitching it.

[00:04:25] Julie inquires about the involvement of engineers in the shaping and betting processes, and Andrew describes how it works at Podia, and how they used Flipper.

[00:06:33] Andrew discusses the “cool down” period after a project cycle, which at Podia involves monitoring for bugs and wrapping up the project details rather than no scheduled work.

[00:07:42] The topic of technical debt is addressed, with Andrew acknowledging its inevitability and the importance of staying on top of it through practices like support weeks.

[00:10:54] Andrew expresses preference for the Shape Up process over Agile, appreciating the longer time frames, collaborative problem-solving with designers, and a less stressful experience with more planned projects.

[00:12:14] Julie shares her transition to a new team and the challenges of ramping up, contrasting it with her experience from two years ago and feeling the pressure to not ask basic questions due to her years of experience.

[00:13:53] Julie discusses the pressure she feels to ramp up quickly on her new team, acknowledging its self-imposed. Andrew and Julie talks about the onboarding process, where Julie notes the benefit of scheduled pair programming sessions with teammates as a key part of her learning.

[00:15:44] Andrew shares Podia’s onboarding method, which involves acting like a user of the application to understand its various parts. Julie reflects on the complexity of her new team’s codebase and the challenge of understanding how services interact.

[00:17:51] Andrew suggest creating a service diagram to visualize service interactions, something he found useful in previous jobs. Julie considers the idea and mentions the potential benefits of a detailed visual representation of the service interactions for her understanding.

[00:19:48] Julie and Andrew discuss the social dynamics of joining a new team with established relationships and the extra challenge of doing it so remotely. Andrew shares similar experiences and the importance of being inclusive to new team members.

[00:21:59] Andrew shares how he’s an introvert by nature, and Julie and Andrew both agree on the importance of asking questions and having supportive seniors and leaders who encourage a culture of inquiry.

[00:26:05] Julie talks about maintaining relationships with her old team and the value of keeping professional connections active, even after moving to a new team or company.

Panelists:

Andrew Mason

Julie J.

Sponsors:

Honeybadger

GoRails

Links:

Andrew Mason X/Twitter

Andrew Mason Website

Julie J. X/Twitter

Julie J. Website
Shape Up

Flipper