Rebecca Parsons, CTO of Thoughtworks, joins the Culture & Methods editorial team to explore technology trends in 2023. They discuss the impact of the economy on organizations, attracting tech talent, pandemic's effect on hiring, prioritization and innovation, responsible tech development, navigating compliance, and the complexities of remote work.
The global recession has led to a greater emphasis on psychological safety and people care within organizations.
The changing economic landscape has raised questions about effective talent hiring and retention strategies.
Organizations need to foster better collaboration and trade-off conversations between enterprise architects and development teams by aligning architectural decisions with business value.
Deep dives
The impact of the recession on organizations
The global recession has led to significant changes in organizations, including layoffs and a focus on high-performance teams, productivity, and efficiency. The culture within organizations has been affected, with a greater emphasis on psychological safety and understanding the importance of people care. The changing macroeconomic pressures have also shifted the power dynamics in the job market, with potential implications for hiring and retention strategies.
The relationship between economic pressures and software talent
The recession, combined with global events like the war in Ukraine, the pandemic, and extreme weather events, has created a tremendous amount of stress for tech talent. Employers, both technology companies and enterprises looking to enhance their technology competency, have been fighting to attract and retain top talent. Employers have recognized the importance of addressing people care to appeal to potential hires and maintain a positive work environment. However, the economic landscape has raised questions about the ability to hire and retain talent effectively.
The need for a balanced approach in enterprise architecture
The role of enterprise architects and their relationship with software development teams has been a challenge. Historically, enterprise architects operated in a top-down and decree-driven manner, disconnected from the needs and realities of development teams. Bridging this gap requires a shared understanding and context. Organizations need to recognize the value of enterprise architecture in protecting the long-term asset value of the IT estate. By focusing on outcomes and aligning architectural decisions with business value, organizations can foster better collaboration and trade-off conversations between architects and development teams.
The rise of responsible tech and ethical considerations
The responsible tech movement is gaining traction as organizations recognize the negative consequences of technology if not carefully managed. The focus on responsible tech goes beyond compliance and considers the long-term impact on users, communities, and the environment. Organizations are increasingly integrating ethical considerations into their technology development processes, and there is a growing awareness of the need for intentional decision-making that balances business value with social and environmental impacts.
The ongoing shift to hybrid and remote work
The pandemic has accelerated the shift to hybrid and remote work arrangements. Organizations are experimenting with different approaches and finding ways to balance synchronous and asynchronous work. While some organizations are requiring employees to return to the office, many are embracing the flexibility and benefits of remote work. However, challenges remain, such as managing time zones and ensuring effective collaboration. The use of appropriate tools and maintaining a focus on communication, trust, and inclusivity are vital for successfully navigating hybrid and remote work environments.
This is a re-post from March 2023.
In this podcast the whole Culture & Methods editorial team plus Rebecca Parsons, CTO of Thoughtworks, explore the trends they see happening in the technology industry in 2023
Read a transcript of this interview: https://bit.ly/41HNCJE
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