#45 Francisco Trindade: From Code to Leadership - Mastering the Software Development Lifecycle
Sep 26, 2023
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Francisco Trindade, Director Of Engineering at Braze, discusses tech debt, bug management, interdepartmental communication, problem-solving, and the power of documents in software development with host Leszek Knoll on the Better Tech Leadership podcast.
Prioritizing tech debt and stability is crucial for delivering high-quality software.
Building alignment within teams involves individual feedback, group discussions, and clear documentation.
Strong communication channels with sales and customer support teams enable better product development and user experience.
Deep dives
Evolution of Software Development Perception
Over the years, the perception of software development has evolved. While certain principles remain evergreen, such as focusing on collaboration, short feedback loops, and delivering high-quality software, the challenges and complexity of software development have significantly increased. From dealing with physical servers to navigating complex infrastructure and high-scale systems, the landscape has changed. However, the core principles of teamwork, focus, and simplicity continue to drive success in software development.
Prioritizing Tech Debt and Enhancements
When it comes to prioritizing tech debt and enhancements, the key is to focus on reducing interruptions and improving stability. By monitoring incidents and recurring bugs, teams can identify areas that need improvement and invest in reworking those parts of the codebase to prevent future issues. The goal is to build a stable environment that minimizes disruptions and continuously delivers high-quality software.
Aligning Teams and Building Consensus
Building alignment within teams involves a mix of tactics, including individual feedback and group discussions. By first discussing ideas and concerns with team members individually, you can gather different perspectives and ensure they align with the overall direction. Group meetings can then be used to bring everyone together, allowing people to see that others share their views. Whenever possible, concrete artifacts like documents can be used to capture decisions, ensuring a clear point of reference for the team.
Incorporating Feedback from Sales and Customer Success
To incorporate feedback from sales and customer success teams, it's crucial to establish strong communication channels. Sales teams should have a good understanding of the product roadmap and how it aligns with customer needs, while customer support inquiries should be seen as valuable input for product development. By reviewing support tickets and identifying recurring issues, teams can make informed decisions to fix bugs, improve understanding, or introduce enhancements, resulting in a better user experience.
Advice for Aspiring Tech Leaders and Entrepreneurs
For aspiring tech leaders and entrepreneurs, taking the leap and starting your own company can be an invaluable experience. It teaches you to make decisions, deal with uncertainty, and learn quickly. When it comes to leadership, always focus on the goal of your team, whether it's a business goal or a broader mission. Facilitate efficient delivery and ensure the team works well together. By keeping the team focused and aligned, you can create an environment where everyone can thrive and contribute towards the set goals.
Welcome to the Better Tech Leadership podcast, where we connect with tech leaders from all over the world to share their know-how on bridging the gap between business and tech.
In this episode, host Leszek Knoll, co-founder of software development agency @Brainhubeu, talks with Francisco Trindade, Director Of Engineering at Braze about:
- Tech debt, bug management, and the Toyota production system - a balanced view of both theoretical and practical aspects of software development.
- The complexity of interdepartmental communication, particularly between engineering, sales, and customer support teams, and the importance of acting on customer feedback for product improvement.
- Importance of problem-solving, individual one-on-ones for alignment, and the power of documents for asynchronous decision-making.
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https://www.linkedin.com/in/leszekknoll/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mwarcholinski/
Website:
https://bettertechleadership.com/
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