Engineering Culture by InfoQ

Chris Cooney, Head of Developer Relations at Chorologics, shares his insights on the evolving landscape of software engineering. He discusses the growing backlash against Agile practices, emphasizing the need for effective communication and psychological safety through blameless post-mortems. Cooney highlights the critical role of observability in understanding team performance and company health, and he explores strategies for aligning teams while preserving autonomy. His experiences underscore the importance of innovation in metrics and tool adoption in engineering.

Sheri Byrne-Haber, an accessibility expert with a rich background in computer science, law, and business, dives deep into the world of digital accessibility. She emphasizes that accessibility is more than just high-contrast colors; it’s about creating inclusive software experiences for all users. The discussion touches on the importance of integrating accessibility into design processes, the legal risks of non-compliance, and the challenges of AI bias affecting accessibility. Sheri also highlights the need for community engagement to promote awareness and collaboration in this vital area.

This is the Engineering Culture Podcast, from the people behind InfoQ.com and the QCon conferences. In this podcast Shane Hastie, Lead Editor for Culture & Methods spoke to Anders Indset, a Norwegian-born philosopher focusing on the implications of technology for humanity. Read a transcript of this interview: https://bit.ly/3YnDOTG Subscribe to the Software Architects’ Newsletter for your monthly guide to the essential news and experience from industry peers on emerging patterns and technologies: https://www.infoq.com/software-architects-newsletter Upcoming Events: QCon San Francisco (November 18-22, 2024) Get practical inspiration and best practices on emerging software trends directly from senior software developers at early adopter companies. https://qconsf.com/ QCon London (April 7-9, 2025) Discover new ideas and insights from senior practitioners driving change and innovation in software development. https://qconlondon.com/ Save the date: InfoQ Dev Summit Boston (June 9-10, 2025) Actionable insights on today’s critical dev priorities. devsummit.infoq.com/conference/boston2025 The InfoQ Podcasts: Weekly inspiration to drive innovation and build great teams from senior software leaders. Listen to all our podcasts and read interview transcripts: - The InfoQ Podcast https://www.infoq.com/podcasts/ - Engineering Culture Podcast by InfoQ https://www.infoq.com/podcasts/#engineering_culture - Generally AI: https://www.infoq.com/generally-ai-podcast/ Follow InfoQ: - Mastodon: https://techhub.social/@infoq - Twitter: twitter.com/InfoQ - LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/infoq - Facebook: bit.ly/2jmlyG8 - Instagram: @infoqdotcom - Youtube: www.youtube.com/infoq Write for InfoQ: Learn and share the changes and innovations in professional software development. - Join a community of experts. - Increase your visibility. - Grow your career. https://www.infoq.com/write-for-infoq

Lakshmi Uppala, a senior technical program manager at Amazon with over 12 years in product and program management, shares invaluable insights. She discusses the product value curve, emphasizing its importance in customer-centric strategies over traditional methods. Lakshmi explores how value curves enhance engineering processes, enabling better prioritization and collaboration. Additionally, she advocates for community initiatives to empower women in tech, addressing challenges like imposter syndrome and the need for mentorship.

Gojko Adzic, a noted software developer and product manager, dives into the intricacies of enhancing software development. He shares insights on measuring user behavior and challenges traditional success metrics focused on effort. Gojko introduces 'lizard optimization,' tackling the unexpected ways users interact with products. He also tackles the complexities of payment systems in the EU, advocating for simpler user interfaces. Overall, he emphasizes aligning development with genuine user needs to drive product growth.

Adam Kentosh, Field CTO at Digital AI, shares his vast experience in DevOps transformations and large-scale data systems. He discusses the ongoing challenges of DevSecOps, emphasizing the historical context and obstacles to full adoption. The conversation touches on balancing autonomy with standardization, the cognitive load on developers, and the importance of a product-centric approach. Kentosh also explores shifting the focus from speed to customer outcomes, highlighting the role of data unification and AI in improving development efficiency.

Maria Fernandez Guajardo, an expert in product management, dives into the transformation of product development in the age of AI. She emphasizes the crucial need for collaboration among product, engineering, and design teams, introducing the concept of 'entrepreneurial archetypes.' The discussion touches on adapting hiring strategies as startups scale, the importance of self-awareness when presenting ideas, and valuable insights from the challenges of co-authoring a book. Her insights offer a roadmap for fostering synergy in tech-driven environments.

Kent McDonald, an experienced product manager and writer, shares his insights from nearly two decades in corporate software. He discusses the intricate challenges that product managers face in large organizations developing internal software. The importance of strategic decision-making and effective communication is emphasized. McDonald also delves into evolving product operating models and collaboration across diverse skill sets. Key takeaways from Agile 2024 highlight overlooked trends in product management, focusing on discovery and the need for better metrics in corporate environments.

Dustin Thostenson, a seasoned expert in technical debt management, shares impactful strategies for identifying and addressing technical debt in software teams. He emphasizes the need for both technical skills and personal responsibility, highlighting how individual actions can drive team improvement. The conversation also delves into fostering effective communication between technical and non-technical stakeholders. Additionally, the importance of empathy, mentoring, and alignment in overcoming challenges is explored, providing valuable insights for collaborative success.

Declan Whelan, an expert in technical health and agile practices, dives into the nuances of software development. He reframes 'technical debt' as 'technical health,' emphasizing proactive measurements that enhance customer value. The conversation touches on the challenges of agile practices, the evolution of methodologies, and the shift from monoliths to microservices. Whelan also underscores the importance of team culture, advocating for collective code ownership and innovative practices like pair and mob programming to boost collaboration and product quality.