Making the Unknown Manageable

Congrats! You’ve just started out on your new role of Engineering Manager. It’s now the end of the quarter, and your team has not achieved its goals. You’re tasked with improving performance for the next quarter. This was my situation last October! I’ll share how I learned to use data to evaluate our state, identify opportunities for improvement, drive change and ultimately increase our delivery performance by 50%. You will leave this talk with practical tips on how to tackle new and unfamiliar challenges by using qualitative and quantitative data to understand your problem, propose changes and help your team navigate them successfully, ensuring those changes are having the desired impact!

Transcript

1. Making the Unknown Manageable Alexandra Paredes Head of Engineering @ Code Climate
2. About Me Twitter // @ale7714 Calibrate 2019 Head of Engineering Born and raised in Caracas, Venezuela Co-founder Over 10 years of technical experience
3. Actionable Metrics for Engineering Leaders
4. Twitter // @ale7714 Calibrate 2019
5. We need to increase performance, achieve business goals and, ultimately, deliver value to our customers. Challenge Twitter // @ale7714 Calibrate 2019 In the next 90 days!
6. Twitter // @ale7714 Calibrate 2019
7. Framework Twitter // @ale7714 Calibrate 2019 1. Acknowledge your feelings and emotions 2. Gather the data 3. Discuss and execute a plan
8. 1Acknowledge your feelings and emotions Twitter // @ale7714 Calibrate 2019
9. Acknowledge your feelings and emotions Twitter // @ale7714 Calibrate 2019
10. Twitter // @ale7714 Calibrate 2019 Acknowledge your feelings and emotions
11. Twitter // @ale7714 Calibrate 2019 • Dig deeper and understand the cause of those emotions/feelings • Identify areas of concern and gaps on your knowledge/experience Acknowledge your feelings and emotions
12. Twitter // @ale7714 Calibrate 2019 Acknowledge your feelings and emotions
13. Twitter // @ale7714 Calibrate 2019 Resources: ISBN-13: 978-0525533832 Acknowledge your feelings and emotions
14. Twitter // @ale7714 Calibrate 2019 Gather the data 2
15. Quantitative Data Twitter // @ale7714 Calibrate 2019
16. Quantitative Data Twitter // @ale7714 Calibrate 2019 Cycle Time
17. Rework Quantitative Data Twitter // @ale7714 Calibrate 2019
18. Deploys Quantitative Data Twitter // @ale7714 Calibrate 2019
19. Quantitative Data Twitter // @ale7714 Calibrate 2019 • Leverage analytics tools to get better visibility • Use metrics to understand changes over time • Enhance your conversation by including objective data
20. Qualitative Data Twitter // @ale7714 Calibrate 2019
21. Feedback from engineers Qualitative Data Twitter // @ale7714 Calibrate 2019 Meetings are often way too long. There are too many participants and projects to keep track of. “ I don’t feel like I’m growing as much as I could. “ Features often need significant post release work. How can we be aware of new information/feedback sooner? “
22. Qualitative Data Twitter // @ale7714 Calibrate 2019 A note on receiving feedback
23. Gather the Data Twitter // @ale7714 Calibrate 2019 • Leverage 1:1 conversations and retros • Practice active listening • Make feedback a habit
24. Discuss and Execute the plan 3 Twitter // @ale7714 Calibrate 2019
25. Discuss and Execute the plan Twitter // @ale7714 Calibrate 2019
26. Discuss and Execute the plan Twitter // @ale7714 Calibrate 2019
27. Twitter // @ale7714 Calibrate 2019 Discuss and Execute the plan • Discuss possible solutions with your team/ organization • Get feedback from an outside perspective • Commit to a plan
28. Team Structure + Iteration Process need change What’s the data telling us? Twitter // @ale7714 Calibrate 2019
29. Twitter // @ale7714 Calibrate 2019 Discuss and Execute the plan • Keep an eye on the metrics • Proactively seek feedback • Iterate on your plan as you receive new information
30. We did it! Twitter // @ale7714 Calibrate 2019
31. We did it! Twitter // @ale7714 Calibrate 2019
32. Twitter // @ale7714 Calibrate 2019 • Acknowledge your feelings and identify the areas/ issues you’re most concerned about • Gather qualitative and quantitative data to better prepare yourself • Communicate your plan and proactively iterate on it as you learn new information Takeaways
33. Twitter // @ale7714 Calibrate 2019
34. Twitter // @ale7714 Calibrate 2019 Ale Paredes — @ale7714 Questions?