The Engineering Leadership Podcast Speed v. Quality, Measuring Productivity & Cross-Functional Relationships - Tackling the Top 10 Eng Leadership Challenges! #186
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Jul 9, 2024 Richard Wong, an experienced engineering leader, discusses challenges like increasing velocity without sacrificing quality, measuring productivity, and working cross-functionally with other teams. Insights from various eng leaders are shared, emphasizing the importance of aligning team goals with higher-level objectives and focusing on measurable outcomes. The podcast also explores the significance of clear requirements, transitioning responsibilities, and fostering healthy team collaboration.
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Engineering Process as Traffic System
- Richard Wong compares engineering process design to traffic system design that balances speed and safety.
- Early startups prioritize speed with minimal rules, but growing companies must enforce quality and process rigor to avoid major business risks.
Set Result-Focused Sprint Goals
- Set sprint goals that are result-focused and team-oriented rather than individual task completion.
- Prioritize high-impact work and be willing to reallocate resources away from lower priorities during sprints.
Productivity Metrics Must Evolve
- Measuring productivity is more effective when focusing on team collaboration and healthy execution rather than individual ticket counts.
- Combining objective data with subjective surveys reveals insights into team health and value delivery.