Tactics for Tech Leadership (TTL)

This is the third in a multi-part series that will explore the various stages of scaling a company using a hypothetical startup scenario inspired by ride-sharing services. In this episode, Mon-Chaio and Andy pick up from where they left off in part two, exploring the transition of a company post-Series B funding, now boasting around 100 engineers. The conversation covers the importance of structur...

This is the second in a multi-part series that will explore the various stages of scaling a company using a hypothetical startup scenario inspired by ride-sharing services.  Andy and Mon-Chaio continue the discussion on scaling engineering teams, focusing on the transition from a small, scrappy startup to preparing for a Series-A funding round. They examine how to prioritize KPIs, organize teams f...

This is the first in a multi-part series that will explore the various stages of scaling a company using a hypothetical startup scenario inspired by ride-sharing services. In this episode, Mon-Chaio and Andy discuss how to scale a tech startup from its inception stage. They reflect on past experiences, emphasizing the importance of validating market hypotheses before investing heavily in technolog...

 Andy and Mon-Chaio tackle the intriguing question: 'Are we friends?' in this episode of the TTL podcast. They explore the significance of workplace friendships, discussing how these relationships impact job satisfaction, organizational performance, and employee behavior. The hosts look into the role of physical proximity and shared experiences in fostering interdependence, and even touch on the p...

In this VacationCast episode, Mon-Chaio tackles a listener's question inspired by "Does Your Software Methodology Matter?" about effectively scaling an engineering organization to 120 engineers. Dispelling the notion that scaling is about simple multiplication, he delves into key tactics, including the creation of autonomous, accountable teams with independent KPIs, and the importance of technical...

In this engaging episode, Mon-Chaio and Andy dive deep into the topic of peer code reviews. They begin by providing historical context, tracing back code review practices to IBM's research in the 70s and 80s, and examine the efficacy of modern-day peer reviews. The hosts debate the true benefits of code reviews, discussing whether they genuinely enhance quality or merely serve as a process ritual....

Andy and Mon-Chaio question the true impact of various software development methodologies on team performance. They look into whether the research gives any clues about how methodology choice affects team happiness, quality, and speed. The hosts critique the state of software engineering research, discuss effective team dynamics, and highlight the importance of adaptability and interdisciplinary r...

Andy and Mon-Chaio explore the concept of growth and improvement, focusing on technical leadership. They learn about deliberate practice and discuss its role in enhancing skills for leaders. Scrabble players help them identify practices that lead to skill improvements and contrasting methods that don't, such as casual reading or working. The discussion wanders to how these findings relate to NBA c...

What is technical strategy? Is it a document explaining how to extend your data platform? A set of wiki articles on how you're tackling technical debt? A forward-looking treatise on how you will integrate generative AI into your tech stack? In this episode, Mon-Chaio and Andy dive into the intricacies of creating a tech strategy for engineering leaders. They explore why having a guiding doctrine i...

 Andy and Mon-Chaio challenge the traditional notions of root cause analysis and incident reviews within complex systems. They examine how the framing of ensuring errors 'never happen again' can be counterproductive, suggesting a shift towards faster recovery and continuous learning instead. Drawing parallels with After Action Reviews in the military and Netflix's Chaos Monkey, they advocate for e...

Morale: a topic that impacts every team. But how does morale influence organizational effectiveness? And what really makes a morale event impactful? Through humorous banter and thoughtful discussion, Andy and Mon-Chaio offer actionable insights and challenge conventional wisdom. They share personal anecdotes, explore research-backed definitions, and tackle the complexities of boosting team morale...

Is remote work a burnout trap or a path to freedom? There are good reasons to suspect that remote work may be highly correlated to increased burnout and many may be reinforced by our own experiences or that of our friends and colleagues. But is this hypothesis supported by research and, if so, what does it mean for designing human-centric remote work policies? Join co-hosts Andy and Mon-Chaio as t...

 In this episode of the TTL podcast, Andy and Mon-Chaio answer a listener's question regarding the Peter Principle and how to avoid its effects. They explore the origins of the Peter Principle from the 1969 book by Lawrence J. Peter and Raymond Hull, discussing its implications for organizational hierarchies. The hosts examine various examples and research findings that both support and challe...

 Andy discusses the importance of iteration and feedback in the development process. He emphasizes the difference between iteration and incremental progress, sharing a story from Kent Beck's 'Extreme Programming Explained' to illustrate the concept. Mon-Chaio returns next week when they will discuss the Peter Principle. Stay tuned! References Extreme Programming Explained - https://arc...

Burnout transcends mere feelings of being overwhelmed; it's a profound state that can drastically affect personal well-being and the productivity of organizations. Despite its significance to individuals and their workplaces, it remains a concept often enshrouded in mystery and misinformation. Leveraging validated academic research and personal insights, Andy and Mon-Chaio present practical st...

In this episode of the Tactics for Tech Leadership podcast, the hosts, Andy and Mon-Chaio, explore the concept of removing punishment from organizations. They discuss the implications of eliminating punishment, the role of corporate culture in employee motivation, and the potential obstacles such as untrainable employees and economic downturns. Through a philosophical lens and practical frameworks...

In episode 29, Andy and Mon-Chaio explored Grint's taxonomy of tame, critical, and wicked problems and how different problem categories required different leadership tactics. However, Grint had a lot more to say about the tactics necessary to adequately address wicked problems. In this episode, our hosts delve deeper into Grint's paper and introduce his concept of elegant and clumsy soluti...

 With Mon-Chaio travelling from Taiwan to Seattle, Andy provides an overview of the podcast's stats. He shares insights into listener demographics, reveals the most popular episodes, and discusses the community engagement they've experienced. Tune in for some interesting statistics and a heartfelt thank you to the audience. References Analysing a team situation using BART - https://spotify...

 In this episode of the TTL podcast, the hosts, Andy and Mon Chiao, discuss the concept of 'Management Experience' and its distinction from 'Employee Experience.' They explore the importance of management surveys, the challenges of delegation, and ethical implications in a hierarchical setting. They debate the effectiveness of the proposed four pillars for Management Experience and...

One way of categorizing problems faced by engineering organizations is Keith Grint’s framework of wicked, tame, and critical problems. These problem types, each with their unique characteristics and challenges, require distinct approaches to effectively address them. Join Andy and Mon-Chaio as they provide practical insights and real-world examples to illustrate how engineering leaders can effecti...

 In this episode of the TTL podcast, the hosts welcome Ed Morgan, founder of Gordian Knot, to discuss enhancing the hiring process for software engineers. Ed highlights the concept of 'sensemaking' and its impact on interview outcomes, stressing the importance of structured versus unstructured interviews. The trio touches on creating effective rubrics, the surprising resistance to change i...

It's something that all companies do and yet it's still a very misunderstood topic: evaluating the performance of people managers. The majority of methods regularly used for measuring managers rely heavily on superficial metrics and outdated practices that fail to capture the true essence of effective leadership. Join Andy and Mon-Chaio as they explore the complexities of leadership evalua...

 In this episode of the Tactics for Tech Leadership podcast, hosts Andy and Mon-Chaio explore where leaders should spend their time, touching on the importance of signaling dedication, performance, identity, and power through time management. They discuss the contrast between crisis, wartime leadership, and peacetime stability, emphasizing the Eisenhower Matrix as a tool to prioritize urgent and i...

While Andy is away, Mon-Chaio shares anecdotes and stories from his time at the Plato Elevate conference, snippets that didn't make their way into the prevous episode.

 In this episode of the TTL podcast, Mon-Chaio and Andy review the recent Plato Elevate Conference in San Francisco. As a unique gathering focused on engineering leadership, Mon-Chaio shares his key takeaways from sessions on effective reorgs, experiments in culture engineering, and the innovative EngOS. The duo also explores the broader value of conferences, particularly the networking opportunit...