The creation process of the Technology Radar involves a group of senior technologists curating a list of technology candidates through intense face-to-face discussions, emphasizing the importance of detailed information and evidence for inclusion.
The ThoughtWorks Technology Radar creation process highlights a collaborative and respectful group dynamic within the Technology Advisory Board, emphasizing the value of diverse perspectives and the facilitation skills of the CTO, Rebecca Parsons.
Deep dives
Creation of the ThoughtWorks Technology Radar
The podcast episode provides a behind-the-scenes look at how the ThoughtWorks Technology Radar is created. The creation process involves a group of senior technologists known as the Technology Advisory Board (TAB) who curate a list of technology candidates, known as blips, from across various ThoughtWorks offices worldwide. The blips go through an intense face-to-face session where they are discussed and evaluated, and consensus is reached on which ones should be included in the radar. The process has evolved over time, from using tools like Mingle for tracking and managing the blips to utilizing a Google spreadsheet and other software tools. The episode highlights the importance of detailed information and evidence provided with each blip to increase its chances of being included in the radar. The role of the Technical Assistant (TA) in coordinating and documenting the process is emphasized. The episode also touches upon the collaborative and respectful nature of the TAB and the valuable community aspect that contributes to the success of the radar.
Insights into the Group Dynamics and Decision-Making Process
The podcast episode explores the group dynamics and decision-making process of the TAB during the creation of the ThoughtWorks Technology Radar. It highlights the respect and open-mindedness exhibited by the TAB members, who engage in productive discussions and reach consensus on the inclusion and categorization of blips. The episode emphasizes the value of diverse perspectives and the importance of respecting and considering all voices within the group. Rebecca Parsons, the CTO of ThoughtWorks, is commended for her facilitation skills in steering the group and creating a collaborative environment. The episode also mentions the use of a voting system with color-coded index cards for quick consensus and the visualization of this system through a spreadsheet. The challenges of conducting the meetings and decision-making processes remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic are acknowledged.
Improvements and Experiences of the Technical Assistants
The podcast episode features insights from former and current Technical Assistants (TAs) responsible for facilitating the creation of the ThoughtWorks Technology Radar. The TAs share their experiences and offer advice to their younger selves. They discuss the challenges and pressures they faced in managing the complex process, coordinating various software tools, and ensuring the accuracy and completeness of the radar. The episode highlights the need for continuous improvement and streamlining of the process to reduce stress and enhance efficiency. The use of scripting and automation is mentioned as a potential area for improvement. The TAs also reflect on the importance of taking in the discussions and learning from the rich technical conversations within the TAB. The sense of community and respect among TAB members is emphasized as a key factor contributing to the success of the radar.
Importance of Preparation and Detailed Documentation
The podcast episode underscores the significance of preparation and detailed documentation in the creation of the ThoughtWorks Technology Radar. The TAs stress the importance of well-prepared blips with comprehensive information, including evidence, pros and cons, and usage context, to increase their chances of being accepted during the intense face-to-face discussions. The podcast also highlights the use of software tools like Google Docs and Trello for capturing and managing the information during the remote meetings. It discusses the evolution from using Mingle as the source of truth to GitHub and other tools for tracking and version control. The spreadsheet used for visualizing the blips' status and progress is described as a valuable tool for prioritizing discussions and understanding global perspectives. The episode emphasizes the role of detailed notes and capturing the context to enhance the quality of blips and decision-making in subsequent radars.
The Thoughtworks Technology Radar is a snapshot of technologies and practices that the company believes the industry should be interested in, based on the actual experiences of Thoughtworkers working with clients. With its first edition launched in January 2010, it is now a fixture of the Thoughtworks calendar, released twice a year in the spring and fall.
Although it has been around for more than a decade, we're well aware that people have lots of questions about it. One comes up more than others: how do you actually put it together? Giving a good, short answer is difficult — for those involved, it's a long process involving various stages of writing, debate and deliberation.
However, with the next edition of the Radar — volume 28 — just weeks away, we wanted to give the world an insight into how we put Technology Radar together. In this episode of the Technology Podcast, Marisa Hoenig, Perla Villareal and Camilla Crispim join host Neal Ford to discuss the work that goes into producing it and what the experience is like.
Get the Snipd podcast app
Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode
Save any moment
Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways
Share & Export
Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode