Tag: strategy

Timeless Leadership Principles from Jocko Podcast 251

An exploration of foundational leadership principles from General Bruce C. Clarke's 'Guidelines for the Leader and Commander', as discussed on the Jocko Podcast.

Understanding the Five Doors of Influence

A framework from Andi Roberts for influencing others by understanding their preferred communication style, from logic to inspiration.

From Code Generation to AI-Native: Insights from the Front Lines

An analysis of a panel discussion with Anthropic, Trae, and Replit, connecting their best practices for AI-native development to the evolving role of the software engineer.

Is AI the Next Microprocessor or the Next Shipping Container?

An analysis of whether AI will create new wealth like the microprocessor or primarily benefit incumbents and customers like shipping containerisation.

Working with AI Wizards and the Need for Explainability

Ethan Mollick's 'wizard' analogy for AI highlights a growing problem: as models become more powerful, their processes become more opaque, creating a critical need for explainability.

The Tension Between Legibility and Efficiency in Software Companies

Exploring the concept of legibility and how large organisations often prioritise it over real efficiency, based on an article by Sean Goedecke.

Frameworks as Mental Handrails for Navigating Complexity

A summary of Mike Fisher's article on frameworks as cognitive tools, with reflections on their application in TOGAF and Systems Engineering.

Where's the Shovelware? The AI Coding Claims Conundrum

An analysis of why AI coding tools haven't led to a surge in software production, despite widespread adoption and bold productivity claims.

Building Reliable AI Agents: Notes on Evaluation and Contracts

A concise look at why evaluating AI agents is essential and how the 'contractor' model can improve their reliability in business.

How Optimising for Short-Term Metrics Causes Long-Term Harm

An analysis of how optimising for short-term engagement metrics through A/B testing can lead to unintended, long-term harm for users and society.

Do the simplest thing that could possibly work

A reflection on Sean Goedecke's article about the power of simplicity in system design, and how this principle applies beyond just code.

Documents: The architect's programming language

An extensive summary of Isaac Lyman's article on how architects use structured documentation to deploy ideas, and my perspective on treating documents like high-quality code.

Entering the probabilistic era of software

A look at Gian Segato's essay on the shift from deterministic to probabilistic software development and its implications for business.

The GenAI divide report: Scrutiny, hype, and the reality of AI adoption

An analysis of the controversial MIT NANDA report on AI ROI, contrasting its claims with critical perspectives and exploring the real challenges of enterprise AI adoption.

GitHub's playbook for an AI-powered workforce

A summary of GitHub's internal playbook for scaling AI adoption, focusing on change management and organisational strategy.

Thinking like a VC when evaluating a startup role

A summary of a framework for evaluating startup job offers with the rigour of a venture capitalist, and a reflection on its use in Europe.

A practical framework for trusting your gut

Phil McKinney offers a three-step framework to turn unreliable gut feelings into a systematic and reliable tool for decision-making.

The bitter lesson for organisations

Ethan Mollick's article on 'The Bitter Lesson' suggests that brute-force AI may outperform human-designed processes, but where do humans still hold the advantage?

Aligned autonomy: from military strategy to engineering teams

An exploration of how the concept of aligned autonomy in business mirrors the effective military doctrine of mission command.

Roger Martin on going on the offensive with creative strategy

A reflection on Roger Martin's argument that creative innovation requires an offensive mindset, challenging the business world's reliance on historical data for future predictions.

Frameworks for measuring developer productivity

A look at the DX frameworks for measuring AI and developer productivity, placed in the context of other models like DORA and SPACE.

From platform engineering to platform democracy

An exploration of the evolution from platform engineering to a more collaborative 'platform democracy', driven by developer needs and efficiency.

From theory to practice: How organisations are adopting AI

A look at a Stack Overflow article showing real-world examples of AI implementation at companies like Cloudflare, GitHub, and Abnormal AI.

Reflecting on AI's real impact on engineering leadership

A look at the 2025 LeadDev report on AI in engineering, and why a clear roadmap is more important than ever for successful adoption.

A practical take on prioritisation

A summary of Jason Cohen's framework for identifying high-impact tasks and managing the consequences of intense focus.

Assessing new technology with Readiness Levels

A practical look at using Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs) and Commercial Readiness Levels (CRLs) to assess new technologies and decide where to invest effort.

The value of the expert generalist

A reflection on a Thoughtworks article about why combining broad skills with deep expertise is crucial for modern technologists.

Shape your work, influence strategy

A practical method for teams to shape their work, influence strategy, and bridge the gap between high-level vision and daily execution.

Finding leverage in the middle: Thoughts on domain engineering

A look at Jack Danger's concept of Domain Engineering and why this often-neglected middle layer is crucial for long-term strategy and scalability.

A practical toolkit for technology strategy

Moving from high-level maps to ground-level execution by combining Wardley Maps, Pace Layering, and structured strategy frameworks.

A clear framework for the build vs. buy decision

A reflection on a simple yet powerful rule for deciding when to build software versus buying it, inspired by an article from Entropic Thoughts.

Smart People Don't Chase Goals - They Create Limits

Exploring how setting boundaries and constraints can be more effective than traditional goal-setting, especially in complex environments like software development.

Moving beyond point-by-point arguments

Sean Goedecke's article on why point-by-point arguments are harmful offers a better approach, aligning well with systems engineering principles.

Navigating the Corporate Maze

Reflecting on an article about driving change in large, bureaucratic organisations, focusing on stakeholder management, role clarity, and aligning with company rhythm.

Actionable strategy: implementing an ML platform in an energy business

A practical guide to applying Will Larson's strategy framework for selecting and deploying a machine learning platform, addressing common organisational challenges.

Decision-making pitfalls for leaders from Chelsea Troy

Chelsea Troy's insights on common decision-making traps in technical leadership.

Inspiring Persons: Will Larson's systems thinking approach to engineering strategy

How Will Larson transforms complex engineering challenges like LLM adoption into structured conversations using simple systems models

More tags: