Make Better Decisions

Presented at Keep Ruby Weird in October 2016. Explores how we get better at making technical decisions through 8 'weird' tricks we use in our apprenticeship and mentoring programs at Haught Codeworks.

Transcript

1. Make Better Decisions Marty Haught @mghaught
3. Ummm, I'm gonna need you to join the interview Team. Mmmk.
4. Did we just get copied into someone else’s comic? Yay!! Go Interview team!
5. If you decide to interview Steve, ignoring the other resumes, turn to page 11. If you decide to keep reviewing resumes, turn to page 14. Isn’t this the guy that loves Chunky BACON?! Nice resume, Plenty of Rails Experience too! Yeah, I follow him on Twitter. Love his Medium posts.
6. If you decide to present Steve with an offer, turn to page 17. If you decide to return to reviewing resumes, turn to page 14.
7. If you decide to ignore your concerns and pretend everything is fine, turn to page 21. If you decide to question Steve about his skills, turn to page 24.
8. To your surprise, his eyes begin to glow red and the room starts to rumble as an eerie green glow washes over the office. Screams of panic erupt as one of the desks explode. You foolishly look into Steve's eyes and go insane. The End
9. If you decide to ignore your concerns and pretend everything is fine, turn to page 21. If you decide to question Steve about his skills, turn to page 24.
10. Instinctive Rational How we make decisions
11. Fast Intuitive Automatic Instinctive
12. ! Responsible for most of what we do, say, think and believe Instinctive
13. Slow Logical Takes Effort Rational
14. ! Analytical ability but it takes lots of attention, effort and time. Rational
15. Instinctive Rational Cognitive Biases
16. Cognitive Biases Loss Aversion Anchoring Availability Heuristic Sunk Cost Fallacy Ostrich Effect Negativity Bias Zero-Risk Bias
18. Confirmation Bias The tendency to see or interpret things in a way that confirms our preconceptions.
19. Stereotyping Expecting a member of a group to have certain characteristics without having actual information about that individual.
20. Bandwagon Effect The tendency to believe things because many other people believe the same.
21. Can Prevent Eldritch Horrors
22. So what do we do?!? Are we doomed?!
23. We can also direct our experiences to improve our skills and intuition to make better decisions. We can train ourselves through deliberate practice and mindfulness to be aware of these biases.
24. Experience is the foundation of good decisions does any experience count?
25. Quality of experience is key
26. Can I create a team that is constantly improving on making high quality software efficiently?
27. Weird Tricks to Making Better Decisions Will architects hate us? 8
28. Learn about cognitive biases 1
30. Recognize Anchoring Availability heuristic Loss Aversion Sunk Cost Fallacy knowing is half the battle Go joe!! 1
31. Use a deliberate process on high value decisions 2
32. Step 1: Define the goal ✓ Why does it need to be solved? ✓ What is the value? ✓ Any constraints? Honest, Accurate, Complete 2
33. Step 2: Identify options ✓ List potential approaches ✓ Via research, networking, brainstorming ✓ Consider unconventional ones what about doing nothing? 2
34. Step 3: Qualify options ✓ Likelihood to meet our goals ✓ What are the risks? ✓ Time, effort, cost? 2
35. Step 4: Choose best option ✓ Determine important factors such as time, cost or process ✓ Weigh options by factors ✓ Eliminate options to reduce choice profit!! 2
36. Step 5: Reflect Mmm, Secret sauce! ✓ How did it turn out? ✓ Lessons learned? ✓ Ways to improve your process? 2
37. Keep in mind Bigger the issue, more thorough Consider overall value when investing time or effort Beware of too many choices 2
38. Know your context 3
39. Tech stack and alternatives Team members Stakeholders Product’s business and market Context!! It’s king!! 3
40. Keep a dev journal 4
41. What is your understanding of the task? Any questions or uncertainties? What represents doneness? Map out your approach before you start Pre-task entry 4
42. Post-task entry What did I learn? What did I get stuck on? Any sort of feedback given 4
43. Use daily Rigorously keep notes on anything work-related Use throughout your day Stop and reflect at end of each day 4
44. Estimate 5
45. Estimation Steps 1. Break down task into smaller parts 2. Record each part with a time estimate 3. Track time as you work on your task 4. Compare estimated vs actual time 5. Reflect on why they were different 5
46. Intentional practice 6
47. Be Deliberate Work toward a goal Do this on your own Practice as you wish to perform Evaluate your progress Seriously , you have to do it yourself! 6
48. Fail 7
49. You killed the car!
50. What happens when you don't know what to do? ! When you don't have the answers? 7
51. Safe! Zone Fail like Goldilocks Go beyond your comfort zone In a safe place Avoid being overwhelmed It’s about learning from your mistakes don’t try this in production! 7
52. Seek feedback 8
53. Seek feedback Feedback is a critical part of what we do If not offered regularly, seek it out 8
54. Receive feedback with grace Listen carefully Listen empathetically Restate feedback in your own words Notice how you’re feeling 8
55. Feedback is a gift Accept we are always learning Cannot improve if you aren’t receptive 8
56. Making better decisions comes from a practice of being mindful as we intentionally improve our skills.
57. Ultimate Goal Can you be independent? Can you be consistent? Can you be trusted?
58. Thank you! Marty Haught @mghaught http://haughtcodeworks.com Feedback welcome!