Want to deliver faster? Choose boring solutions

When solving a problem, creating a new flow, or implementing a new system, have you ever wondered which tool, procedure, or methodology to use? What if I told you that if you follow a simple rule, your decision can be easier, your task will be delivered faster, and you can use reliable data to know where to invest your future effort? Using boring solutions can help you.

Transcript

1. Want to deliver faster?
   Use boring solutions
   

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2. Agenda
   Why talk about this?
   Boring solutions
   Iterate, feedback, decide
   Summary
   

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3. Who am I
   Rodrigo de Avila
   Senior Infrastructure Analyst at ZENVIA Inc.
   

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4. Why talk
   about this?
   

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5. GitLab
   Company founded in 2011. I have been
   using it since 2013. All-remote company
   since before the pandemic, has its
   handbook publicly available.
   https://about.gitlab.com/handbook/
   

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6. The idea is simple:
   use boring solutions
   

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7. The good, the bad, the ugly
   Drawbacks
   • It is tempting to look for the most
   advanced, complex, or interesting
   solution to solve a problem.
   • People may ask why the feature is
   not complete.
   

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8. The good, the bad, the ugly
   Drawbacks
   • It is tempting to look for the most
   advanced, complex, or interesting
   solution to solve a problem.
   • People may ask why the feature is
   not complete.
   Benefits
   • Early feedback
   • Don’ t working on the wrong
   resource or going in the wrong
   direction
   • Every small reduction in
   complexity helps.
   

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9. How to choose?
   

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10. How to choose?
    • Use established and popular
    technology
    • Don't reinvent the wheel
    • “Boring" should not be conflated
    with "bad" or "technical debt“
    • We have a lot of boring tech
    available
    • Do not use tools that have just
    been released
    • Make it simple
    

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11. How to choose?
    • Use established and popular
    technology
    • Don't reinvent the wheel
    • “Boring" should not be conflated
    with "bad" or "technical debt“
    • We have a lot of boring tech
    available
    • Do not use tools that have just
    been released
    • Make it simple
    • Don't stand still in time: Innovate!
    

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12. Iterate fast,
    get feedback,
    decide what to do
    

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13. MVC:
    Minimal Viable Change
    Always create MVCs
    as small as possible.
    

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14. How to iterate faster?
    • Just write the first step.
    • Trust that you will know how to
    proceed after something is
    released.
    • Does it look like something is
    missing?
    • MVC not delivering value?
    Reduce the scope.
    • Feedbacks will dictate where to
    go.
    

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15. In summary
    

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16. Summary
    • Choose the boring solution.
    

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17. Summary
    • Choose the boring solution.
    • Iterate fast, get feedback, decide
    what to do.
    

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18. Summary
    • Choose the boring solution.
    • Iterate fast, get feedback, decide
    what to do.
    • Nothing is set in stone.
    

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19. Thank you! me@rda.run
    https://rda.run
    Download this presentation at
    https://rda.run/use-boring-solutions
    

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