Autonomy, is that what we really want? @ Rockstar valley

There has been a focus on autonomy in information technology; From autonomy in code, autonomy while coding, autonomous systems with microservices to autonomous high-performing teams. When you read Daniel Pink's research in the book Drive, it makes sense; autonomy is one of the three things that motivate us; it is the ability of the person to make his or her own decisions. However, often autonomy can lead to isolation and disconnect from the rest of the code, team, or organisation. So how can we balance the individual needs while staying connected to the team/organisation to stay autonomous?

In this talk, we will go through all the levels we deal with in IT, from code to organisation collaboration. We will go into autonomy at each level and explain how we often confuse autonomy with individual needs. These individual needs can turn into isolation and disconnect from the code, team and organisation. Through examples, we will show how our compulsiveness towards autonomy gives us both downsides of being isolated and coupled in the code, within the team and organisation. You will leave the talk knowing how polarity management can help you manage this paradox between the individual and the team/organisation and get the benefits from the whole and the individual to be balanced.

Transcript

1. @kenny_baas @kenny_baas@mastodon.social Autonomy, is that what we really want? What we really really want? @EvelynvanKelle
2. @kenny_baas @kenny_baas@mastodon.social @EvelynvanKelle
3. @kenny_baas @kenny_baas@mastodon.social Autonomy, as described by Mr. Pink, is the urge to direct one's own life. Without the ability to control what, when, and how we work, and who we work with, we'll never be completely motivated to complete a task @EvelynvanKelle
4. @kenny_baas @kenny_baas@mastodon.social “Man is born free, but one of the first things he learns is to do as he is told and he spends the rest of his life doing that. Thus his first enslavement is to his parents. He follows their instructions forevermore, retaining only in some cases, the right to choose his own methods and consoling himself with an illusion of autonomy.” — Eric Berne @EvelynvanKelle
5. @kenny_baas @kenny_baas@mastodon.social Definition of autonomy The quality or state of being self-​ governing especially : the right of self-​ government The territory was granted autonomy. Self-​ directing freedom and especially moral independence personal autonomy A self-​ governing state Autonomy Has Origins in Law Since nomos is Greek for "law", something autonomous makes its own laws. The amount of autonomy enjoyed by French-​ speaking Quebec, or of Palestinians in certain towns in Israel, or of independent-​ minded regions of Russia, have become major issues. The autonomy of individual states in the United States has posed serious constitutional questions for two centuries. The autonomy of children is almost always limited by their parents. But when those parents are elderly and begin driving poorly and getting confused about their finances, their children may see the need to limit their autonomy in much the same way. 1. 2. 3. Source: https://www.merriam-​ webster.com/dictionary/autonomy @EvelynvanKelle
6. @kenny_baas @kenny_baas@mastodon.social http://ueberproduct.de/ep-22-​ jabe-​ bloom-​ marc-​ burgauer-​ designing-​ systems-​ pt-​ ii/ “I hate the word autonomy. ... I think autonomy is individuating. ... The way I hear the word and I think other people hear it – and I might be wrong and other people hear it differently – but the way I hear it is “I have the right to make my own decisions. I have the right to make my own rules.” — Jabe Bloom @EvelynvanKelle
7. @kenny_baas @kenny_baas@mastodon.social Autonomy can be compulsive Photo by Viktor Mui on Flckr @EvelynvanKelle
8. @kenny_baas @kenny_baas@mastodon.social Photo by Etienne Girardet on Unsplash @EvelynvanKelle
9. @kenny_baas @kenny_baas@mastodon.social Positive effect from 100% side L Positive effect from 100% side R Negative effect from 100% side R Negative effect from 100% side L Conformism Autonomy Polarity map - based on Barry Johnsons work Uniqueness Connectedness Sameness Isolation @EvelynvanKelle
10. @kenny_baas @kenny_baas@mastodon.social Photo by Martin Rancourt on Unsplash Autonomy on several levels of scope > Code > Within teams > Between teams > Organisational @EvelynvanKelle
11. @kenny_baas @kenny_baas@mastodon.social Autonomy in code No silver bullets and golden hammers Photo by James Harrison on Unsplash @EvelynvanKelle
12. @kenny_baas @kenny_baas@mastodon.social @EvelynvanKelle
13. @kenny_baas @kenny_baas@mastodon.social https://martinfowler.com/articles/2021-​ test-​ shapes.html @EvelynvanKelle
14. @kenny_baas @kenny_baas@mastodon.social @EvelynvanKelle
15. @kenny_baas @kenny_baas@mastodon.social Users and stakeholders Code Stream-​Aligned Team Tests Domain Model Other people possibly involved in designing and building software Managers Architects User researcher ..... @EvelynvanKelle
16. @kenny_baas @kenny_baas@mastodon.social @EvelynvanKelle
17. @kenny_baas @kenny_baas@mastodon.social Positive effect from 100% side L Positive effect from 100% side R Negative effect from 100% side R Negative effect from 100% side L Feeling secure to change the code Cascading changes Sociable Solitary Test in isolation Fast feedback on failure Failure of bug in other class Slower feedback on failure Coherent testing No Mocking coupling Cascading changes on mock/stub Loss of "unit of work" cohesiveness Polarity map - based on Barry Johnsons work @EvelynvanKelle
18. @kenny_baas @kenny_baas@mastodon.social Autonomy within teams Individuals and interactions over processes and tools @EvelynvanKelle
19. @kenny_baas @kenny_baas@mastodon.social Like me, please Photo by Judith Prins on Unsplash @EvelynvanKelle
20. @kenny_baas @kenny_baas@mastodon.social Autonomy IS NOT dictatorship Photo by GR Stocks on Unsplash @EvelynvanKelle
21. @kenny_baas @kenny_baas@mastodon.social Autonomy is not an excuse to hold something against someone Photo by Pop & Zebra on Unsplash @EvelynvanKelle
22. @kenny_baas @kenny_baas@mastodon.social @EvelynvanKelle
23. @kenny_baas @kenny_baas@mastodon.social @EvelynvanKelle
24. @kenny_baas @kenny_baas@mastodon.social Sunken Cost Fallacy: Why change now? We’ve already wasted so much money. Photo by NESA by Makers on Unsplash @EvelynvanKelle
25. @kenny_baas @kenny_baas@mastodon.social Positive effect from 100% side L Positive effect from 100% side R Negative effect from 100% side R Negative effect from 100% side L Always in a releasable state Bugs, Bugs, Bugs Trunk based Actions/heuristics Signals/observations Signals/observations Actions/heuristics Branch Polarity map - based on Barry Johnsons work Freedom Individual creativity Care for the whole Shared mental model in code team effort Loss of cohesive mental models Excessive conformity Compete to change the same code When this happens we need to take action Ensemble/mob or pair programming @EvelynvanKelle
26. @kenny_baas @kenny_baas@mastodon.social Autonomy between teams The “Ivory Towers” Photo by Product School on Unsplash @EvelynvanKelle
27. @kenny_baas @kenny_baas@mastodon.social Home delivery ordering Takeout Customer Select products for home delivery Know delivery time Legend / Key User Need capability External capability User Depends on Process Software System Make an order for home delivery Pay For home delivery order Home delivery Fulfilment Restaurant employee Accept order Request food deliverer for a specific time Prepare order for home delivery Hand over order to deliverer Takeout Customer When does my delivery arrive? What orders do I need to prepare Food Deliverer Deliver food teamtopologies.… Exploring team and service boundaries with User Needs Mapping - Team Topologies User Needs Mapping refers to the first four steps of the Wardley Mapping process that can provide significant value when helping understand users/customers, their needs and the dependencies required to deliver those needs within an organization. By mapp… Stream-​ aligned team @EvelynvanKelle
28. @kenny_baas @kenny_baas@mastodon.social Takeout app Home delivery ordering Takeout Customer Select products for home delivery Know delivery time Legend / Key User Need capability External capability User Depends on Process Software System Make an order for home delivery Pay For home delivery order Home delivery Fulfilment Restaurant employee Accept order Request food deliverer for a specific time Prepare order for home delivery Hand over order to deliverer Product page Home delivery order page Payment module Home delivery service restaurant service Payment service Payment provided Restaurant service Delivery broker Takeout app Takeout Customer When does my delivery arrive? What orders do I need to prepare Home delivery service Food delivery services Restaurant backoffice SPA Food Deliverer Deliver food Home delivery service Restaurant service teamtopologies.… Exploring team and service boundaries with User Needs Mapping - Team Topologies User Needs Mapping refers to the first four steps of the Wardley Mapping process that can provide significant value when helping understand users/customers, their needs and the dependencies required to deliver those needs within an organization. By mapp… Stream-​ aligned team @EvelynvanKelle
29. Restaurant POS team Home delivery app team @kenny_baas @kenny_baas@mastodon.social Home delivery app teams Restaurant POS team Payment team Restaurant POS team Home delivery app team restaurant system Takeout app Home delivery ordering Takeout Customer Select products for home delivery Know delivery time Legend / Key User Need capability External capability User Depends on Process Software System Make an order for home delivery Pay For home delivery order Home delivery Fulfilment Restaurant employee Accept order Request food deliverer for a specific time Prepare order for home delivery Hand over order to deliverer Product page Home delivery order page Payment module Home delivery service restaurant service Payment service Payment provided Restaurant service Delivery broker Takeout app Takeout Customer When does my delivery arrive? What orders do I need to prepare Home delivery service Food delivery services Restaurant backoffice SPA Food Deliverer Deliver food Home delivery service Restaurant service teamtopologies.… Exploring team and service boundaries with User Needs Mapping - Team Topologies User Needs Mapping refers to the first four steps of the Wardley Mapping process that can provide significant value when helping understand users/customers, their needs and the dependencies required to deliver those needs within an organization. By mapp… Stream-​ aligned team This is quirky! Quirky, why is delivery broker not with the other team? @EvelynvanKelle
30. @kenny_baas @kenny_baas@mastodon.social We should be thinking about limiting the size of software, services, and products to the cognitive load that the team can handle. @EvelynvanKelle
31. @kenny_baas @kenny_baas@mastodon.social Home delivery app team Restaurant POS team Architects / business analyst / .... Flow of change The Takeout Customer wants to know an accurate ETA before completing the order Some Stakeholder H and over Blocker to flow Instead enable the teams through facilitation Flow of change Home delivery app team Restaurant POS team Architecture enabling Facilitating Facilitating Size shows current cognitive load Stream-​ aligned team Enabling team Legend @EvelynvanKelle
32. Architecture enabling Architecture enabling @kenny_baas @kenny_baas@mastodon.social Flow of change Home delivery app team Restaurant POS team Facilitating Facilitating Evolves to Home delivery app team Restaurant POS team Facilitating Facilitating Stream-​ aligned team Enabling team Legend Data analytics team Complicated Subsystem team Collaboration Flow of change Facilitating @EvelynvanKelle
33. Architecture enabling Architecture enabling @kenny_baas @kenny_baas@mastodon.social Flow of change Home delivery app team Restaurant POS team Facilitating Facilitating Evolves to Evolves to Home delivery app team Restaurant POS team Facilitating Facilitating Stream-​ aligned team Enabling team Legend Data analytics team Complicated Subsystem team Collaboration Flow of change Home delivery app team Restaurant POS team Data analytics team Flow of change Home delivery app team Restaurant POS team Flow of change Facilitating Xaas Xaas @EvelynvanKelle
34. @kenny_baas @kenny_baas@mastodon.social Photo by Ismael Bashiri on Unsplash Enabling teams actively avoid becoming “ivory towers”of knowledge, dictating technical choices for other teams to follow. @EvelynvanKelle
35. @kenny_baas @kenny_baas@mastodon.social Purpose, needs & Problems Value stream: All activities a team performs from understanding the purpose & problem to building that solution without being blocked Solution Feedback Stream-​aligned team: Long-​ term design + build + run (STEWARDSHIP) solving business needs/problems with software-​ enriched services in a small, ~stable team of around ~5-9 people Team first! 💡You DESIGN it, you build it and you run it! Stream aligned teams, should aim to become product teams! @EvelynvanKelle
36. @kenny_baas @kenny_baas@mastodon.social https://amplitude.com/blog/journey-​ to-​ product-​ teams-​ infographic AKA blockers to flow
37. @kenny_baas @kenny_baas@mastodon.social Heavily focusses on one of the poles @EvelynvanKelle www.equalexperts.com Three reasons why Equal Experts doesn't recommend the SAFe framework | Equal Experts Equal Experts advises its customers to not use the SAFe framework. Our feedback shows that SAFe doesn't accelerate delivery, satisfy product demand, or create adaptive architectures https://www.equalexperts.com/blog/our-​ thinking/problems-​ with-​ safe-​ framework/
38. @kenny_baas @kenny_baas@mastodon.social Positive effect from 100% side L Positive effect from 100% side R Negative effect from 100% side R Negative effect from 100% side L Customer centric Ivory tower silo's Collaboration Actions/heuristics Signals/observations Signals/observations Actions/heuristics Isolation Freedom Team Creativity Work ahead of new technology Uniqueness Connectedness synergy of the whole Care for the customer Loss of equality Isolation Selfish Sameness High cognitive load Excessive comformity @EvelynvanKelle
39. @kenny_baas @kenny_baas@mastodon.social Autonomy in organizations A continuous negotiation Photo by Mike Kononov on Unsplash @EvelynvanKelle
40. @kenny_baas @kenny_baas@mastodon.social Vision, boundaries, or both? Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash @EvelynvanKelle
41. @kenny_baas @kenny_baas@mastodon.social So, who calls the shots now? Photo by Tingey injury on Unsplash @EvelynvanKelle
42. @kenny_baas @kenny_baas@mastodon.social Leadership is not Dictatorship It requires us to balance power and Love Photo by Tingey injury on Unsplash @EvelynvanKelle
43. @kenny_baas @kenny_baas@mastodon.social We gave them autonomy. Why aren’t they doing anything with it? Photo by Lucas van Oort on Unsplash @EvelynvanKelle
44. @kenny_baas @kenny_baas@mastodon.social When there’s autonomy everywhere, do we still need managers and architects? Photo by Miguel a Amutio on Unsplash @EvelynvanKelle
45. @kenny_baas @kenny_baas@mastodon.social Positive effect from 100% side L Positive effect from 100% side R Negative effect from 100% side R Negative effect from 100% side L Agency Indecisiveness Centralised decisions Actions/heuristics Signals/observations Signals/observations Actions/heuristics Decentralised decisions Empowering teams Spontaneuous Teams acting decisively Empowering the organisation Organisation can coordinate Organisation acting decisively Everyone feels included Organisation cannot coordinate FOMO and feeling left out Burden of consequences for mistakes Disempowering the teams no creativity or spontaneous Lack of team accountability queues @EvelynvanKelle
46. @kenny_baas @kenny_baas@mastodon.social Levels of scope By Ruth Malan @EvelynvanKelle
47. @kenny_baas @kenny_baas@mastodon.social Patterns of autonomy and isolation are fractal. If you find one at one layer, you can bet you can find the same at other layers as well. Photo by Martin Rancourt on Unsplash @EvelynvanKelle
48. @kenny_baas @kenny_baas@mastodon.social Autonomy, is that what we really (really) want? > Define and negotiate boundaries continuously > Manage polarities @EvelynvanKelle
49. Thank you! @kenny_baas @kenny_baas@mastodon.social @EvelynvanKelle @EvelynvanKelle @kenny_baas Independent software consultant, tech lead, and software architect @EvelynvanKelle Behavioral change consultant https://collaborative-​ software-​ design.com/