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#Engineering-Leadership

Better Alternatives to Performance Reviews

2024-12-07  |   8 minutes

This article critiques traditional performance reviews and advocates for alternative approaches that enhance employee feedback and engagement. It discusses the negative impact of outdated review systems on motivation and performance, proposing continuous feedback mechanisms that prioritize timely communication. By addressing key organizational needs—such as effective feedback, fair salary decisions, and clear direction—the article offers strategies for fostering a more collaborative and transparent workplace culture, ultimately empowering individuals and teams for better organizational outcomes.
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Performance Reviews Considered Harmful

2024-11-02  |   5 minutes

Performance reviews are widely accepted in software companies, yet they often foster unhealthy competition and overlook the importance of teamwork. By emphasizing individual achievements over collective success, these evaluations can undermine collaboration and lead to biased assessments. Exploring alternative approaches like continuous feedback and peer evaluations can help create a more inclusive and productive workplace culture.
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Value-Stream-Oriented Kanban

2024-04-20  |   15 minutes

Discover how value-stream-oriented Kanban can transform your software development process. This blog post explores how Kanban helps you see the big picture—from initial ideas to final delivery—ensuring every step adds real value for customers and your business. Find out how to set up a Kanban board that truly captures your products lifecycle, pinpoints bottlenecks, and smooths out your team's workflow for better productivity.
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11 Aspects Most Startups Get Wrong About OKRs and How to Fix it

2024-02-24  |   10 minutes

Discover the top mistakes startups make with OKRs and how to correct them for better team alignment and goal achievement. This article provides straightforward advice on setting realistic objectives, improving focus, and enhancing teamwork to ensure your startup uses OKRs effectively for growth and success.
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Self-organizing companies don’t need managers but coaches

2024-01-20  |   15 minutes

This article advocates for self-organizing companies where coaches replace traditional managers, emphasizing the benefits of adaptability, resilience, and a collaborative culture over hierarchical structures, and invites discussion on the evolving role of leadership in modern organizations.
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Why We Need to Stop Measuring (Developer) Productivity — Part 2

2023-09-23  |   8 minutes

Measuring developer productivity is a flawed endeavor; it often replaces uncertain realities with misleading certainties. While metrics can offer insights, they cannot directly quantify productivity. Instead of seeking elusive measures, focus on understanding and eliminating barriers to engineers' best work. After all, nurturing an environment for outstanding work is a more valid approach to enhancing productivity.
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Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs — DevEx Edition

2023-07-08  |   6 minutes

This article applies Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs to developer experience (DevEx), emphasizing prioritizing developers' basic needs like psychological safety before higher needs like challenging work. It presents a tailored Maslow's pyramid for developers and underscores the impact of superior DevEx on productivity and business success.
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