Engineering Culture by InfoQ

Emerson Murphy-Hill on Engineering Productivity, Team Dynamics and Equity

12 snips
May 30, 2025
Guest
Emerson Murphy-Hill
Emerson Murphy-Hill, a research scientist at Microsoft specializing in developer tools and productivity, shares valuable insights from his vast experience at Microsoft and Google. He discusses the complexities of measuring developer productivity, emphasizing the importance of team dynamics and psychological safety. The conversation also highlights systemic biases in engineering, particularly in code reviews, and how AI tools can both aid and hinder equity among engineers. Emerson advocates for inclusivity while navigating the evolving landscape of remote work and AI in the tech industry.
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INSIGHT

Dual Aspects of Productivity

  • Developer productivity involves both the output (code, features, bugs fixed) and the process of work.
  • Self-rated productivity correlates well with actual productivity despite measurement challenges.
INSIGHT

Psych Safety Beats Meeting Load

  • Psychological safety and team dynamics strongly influence developer productivity more than meeting load.
  • Research contradicts the common belief that more meetings reduce productivity.
INSIGHT

Remote Work Effects Complex

  • Remote work impact on productivity is confounded by life upheavals and self-selection.
  • Differences between remote and office workers reflect preferences and roles more than inherent productivity.
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