Software Engineering Radio - the podcast for professional software developers

SE Radio 601: Han Yuan on Reorganizations

Jan 31, 2024

48:26

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Han Yuan, Chief Product and Technology Officer, discusses reorganizations. They explore reasons for reorgs, organizational behavior, and advice on planning. Topics include Conway's law, theory of constraints, and organizing software teams based on technology or user journeys. Metric measurement and lessons learned are also discussed.

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Quick takeaways

Reorganizations can be driven by various reasons such as operational efficiency, financial health, strategic shifts, M&A, or technological changes.

The closure of research-focused teams during reorganizations can occur when their work is no longer perceived as valuable or aligned with company goals.

Successful reorgs involve clear communication, transparent decision-making, and considering factors such as market success, employee happiness, and team dynamics.

Deep dives

Defining a reorg and its reasons

A reorg is a shuffling of roles and responsibilities that impact more than two groups, often driven by reasons such as operational efficiency, financial health, strategic shifts, M&A, or external changes like technological shifts. For example, companies may reorganize to enhance operational efficiency by rethinking asset organization and reducing costs. They may also undergo reorgs to improve financial health by downsizing and reassigning roles. Strategic shifts like entering new markets or embracing new technologies can also trigger reorgs.

Standardize stack for flexible team allocation

01:13

Transparent Restructuring and Employee Agency

01:09

Introduction

6min

The Impact of Economic Circumstances on Innovation Teams

18min

Combining Product and Engineering Functions: Pros and Cons

3min

Structuring Teams and Entities

13min

Optimal Team Size and the Impact on Managers

2min

Measuring Success in Reorganization

6min

Han Yuan, an accomplished Chief Product and Technology Officer, joins host Priyanka Raghavan to discuss reorganizations. The conversation starts with a broad discussion of reorganizations and reasons that companies choose to undertake them. They then consider organizational behavior and topics such as Conway's law and the theory of constraints. Han offers some advice on key steps to take when planning for a reorg, including how software teams could organize themselves based on technology, frameworks, or user journeys. The episode ends with some discussion of metrics and lessons learned. Brought to you by IEEE Computer Society and IEEE Software magazine.

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