Talks
Speakers
Events
Topics
Sign in
Home
Talks
Speakers
Events
Topics
Leaderboard
Use
Analytics
Sign in
Suggest modification to this talk
Title
Description
Engineering Engineering: More than the sum of our parts by Vietor Davis Applying the tried and true answers of “It depends.”, “Maybe?”, and “It works for me, what if you try …” to our engineering organizations themselves turns out to work better than trying to find the One True Way. We all know that every engineering project is full of trade-offs, caveats, surprising complexities, and hidden depths; so it should be no surprise that we, the engineers who build such systems, are at least as complicated. This is a sponsored talk by Procore.
Date
Summarized using AI?
If this talk's summary was generated by AI, please check this box. A "Summarized using AI" badge will be displayed in the summary tab to indicate that the summary was generated using AI.
Show "Summarized using AI" badge on summary page
Summary
Markdown supported
In the talk "Engineering Engineering: More than the sum of our parts," Vietor Davis addresses the complexities and intricacies inherent in engineering organizations, proposing a nuanced approach to managing them. Rather than seeking a one-size-fits-all solution, Davis emphasizes the importance of context in navigating the challenges engineers face. Here are the key points discussed throughout the talk: - **Engineering Complexity**: Engineering is defined as both an art and a skill. The field is laden with complexities, such as scope creep and unknowns, which complicate the management of engineering organizations. - **People Management**: The speaker highlights the complexity of individuals within teams, emphasizing that understanding each person's background and motivations is essential for successful engineering management. - **Contextual Solutions**: Davis stresses that there is no single correct way to manage engineering teams. Success depends on the specific context, including team composition, products, and organizational culture. - **Structure vs. Execution**: The right amount of organizational structure varies; while it can support novices, overly rigid structures can become hindrances once teams mature. - **Trade-offs in Engineering**: The challenges engineers face require balancing structure and productivity, with the recognition that different teams might benefit from varying degrees of oversight and freedom. - **Organizational Pathologies**: Common dysfunctions in organizations, such as excessive outsourcing, death marches, and stack ranking, are rooted in short-term pressures that yield immediate benefits but ultimately harm long-term health and productivity. - **Framework for Understanding**: Davis proposes a toolkit for addressing these issues by identifying root causes and pressures that lead to negative outcomes, encouraging proactive measures rather than reactive fixes. - **Building Trust**: The crux of effective engineering management lies in fostering trust within teams, enabling individuals to make decisions and execute effectively without constant oversight. - **Long-term Vision**: Addressing these challenges requires not just immediate actions but a sustained commitment to building healthier organizational practices and structures. In conclusion, successful engineering management requires a flexible, context-sensitive approach. Davis encourages engineering leaders to be aware of the nuances at play in their organizations and to work towards creating environments that empower engineers to thrive. By understanding the roots of organizational challenges and taking a holistic view, teams can move beyond mere survival to effective achievement and innovation in their practices.
Suggest modifications
Cancel
