One of the most pervasive problems in modern organizations is “systemic ignorance,” where crucial information remains invisible to the broader system. As Alisson Vale explains in A Fórmula da Eficácia, individuals often make localized decisions or execute tasks independently without considering the overall context. This fragmented approach leads to missed opportunities, redundant work, and conflicting […]
One common problem in many tech organizations is getting stuck at a single level of operational efficiency. Teams may excel at executing day-to-day tasks but struggle to adapt when new challenges arise. In This Is Lean by Niklas Modig and Pär Åhlström, Fujimoto’s analysis of Toyota’s three levels of capabilities offers a roadmap to overcome […]
“Entropy is always increasing in the organization,” write Tom DeMarco and Timothy R. Lister in Peopleware. This simple yet profound statement highlights a common problem: teams often drift into chaos when processes are unchecked, and organizational structures gradually become more convoluted. In fast-paced tech environments, this entropy manifests as communication gaps, duplicated work, and a […]
Coupling is everywhere, whether in mechanical gears, biological systems, or software components. In Balancing Coupling in Software Design by Vitali Kchonov, the author highlights how two connected entities can affect each other, emphasizing that coupling is inevitable in any system. The problem arises when we fail to balance how tightly or loosely these connections are […]
As noted by Teodora Bozheva in Kanban Project, Program, and Portfolio Management, high-performing organizations share one critical trait: anticipating rather than reacting. The problem many teams face is that they remain stuck in a firefighting mode, constantly responding to immediate issues and urgent demands without looking ahead. This reactive stance creates bottlenecks, slows delivery, and […]
Overcommitment and an overloaded backlog often derail even the most talented teams. In her book Upstream Kanban Tools for Demand Managers, Anna Radzikowska highlights a critical issue. When we indiscriminately say yes to every request, shallow work items accumulate, ultimately hindering our ability to deliver with predictability. For a Tech Manager, this challenge is real—balancing […]
In Engineering Management for the Rest of Us by Sarah Drasner, trust is the cornerstone of a healthy team culture. When trust is missing, the problem is more than just a few misunderstandings—it can stifle creativity, lead to fear of making mistakes, and ultimately erode team morale. In tech environments where complexity abounds and collaboration […]
In the high-speed world of technology, it’s easy to fall into the trap of devising elaborate plans to manage ever-changing requirements, market shifts, and stakeholder demands. Yet, as Jocko Willink and Leif Babin emphasize in Extreme Ownership, complexity often breeds confusion, which can quickly spiral into disaster when things inevitably go wrong. Whether you’re leading […]
In Bruce Lee’s striking thoughts, we encounter a timeless Zen parable: “A learned man once went to visit a Zen teacher to inquire about Zen. As the Zen teacher talked, the learned man frequently interrupted to express his own opinion about this or that. Finally, the Zen teacher stopped talking and began to serve tea […]
In modern software engineering, managing complexity is a persistent challenge every team must face. David Farley’s insights remind us that our discipline is a creative design practice—not a mere extension of production engineering. Instead, it is built on exploration, discovery, and continuous learning. This realization is crucial when developing large-scale systems that exceed the limits […]