Author: Andrew Parker

  • S2E52 – Festive Ferments

    Show Notes  In this special end-of-year episode, Andy and Mon-Chaio reflect on the highlights and challenges of 2024, discussing their most memorable podcast episodes. As is tradition on the podcast, the Christmas episode is something different. Mon-Chaio and Andy explain their experiments with fermentation, sharing intriguing recipes and techniques involving shiokoji, hot sauce, and Christmas…

  • S2E49 – Scaling Up: From Garage to Global (Part 4 of 5)

    Show Notes This is the fourth in a multi-part series that will explore the various stages of scaling a company using a hypothetical startup scenario inspired by ride-sharing services. Mon-Chaio and Andy advance into the next phase of scaling up a hypothetical ride-sharing company, exploring how it might transition to food delivery. They discuss the…

  • S2E47 – Scaling Up: From Garage to Global (Part 2 of 5)

    Show Notes This is the second in a multi-part series that will explore the various stages of scaling a company using a hypothetical startup scenario inspired by ride-sharing services.  Andy and Mon-Chaio continue the discussion on scaling engineering teams, focusing on the transition from a small, scrappy startup to preparing for a Series-A funding round.…

  • S2E45 – To Friend or Not to Friend

    Show Notes  Andy and Mon-Chaio tackle the intriguing question: ‘Are we friends?’ in this episode of the TTL podcast. They explore the significance of workplace friendships, discussing how these relationships impact job satisfaction, organizational performance, and employee behavior. The hosts look into the role of physical proximity and shared experiences in fostering interdependence, and even…

  • S2E42 – Does Your Software Methodology Matter?

    Show Notes Andy and Mon-Chaio question the true impact of various software development methodologies on team performance. They look into whether the research gives any clues about how methodology choice affects team happiness, quality, and speed. The hosts critique the state of software engineering research, discuss effective team dynamics, and highlight the importance of adaptability…

  • S2E41 – Improvement Beyond Podcasts – The Art of Deliberate Practice

    Show Notes Andy and Mon-Chaio explore the concept of growth and improvement, focusing on technical leadership. They learn about deliberate practice and discuss its role in enhancing skills for leaders. Scrabble players help them identify practices that lead to skill improvements and contrasting methods that don’t, such as casual reading or working. The discussion wanders…

  • S2E39 – Living on the Edge of Chaos

    Show Notes  Andy and Mon-Chaio challenge the traditional notions of root cause analysis and incident reviews within complex systems. They examine how the framing of ensuring errors ‘never happen again’ can be counterproductive, suggesting a shift towards faster recovery and continuous learning instead. Drawing parallels with After Action Reviews in the military and Netflix’s Chaos…

  • S2E36 – Surviving the Peter Principle

    Show Notes  In this episode of the TTL podcast, Andy and Mon-Chaio answer a listener’s question regarding the Peter Principle and how to avoid its effects. They explore the origins of the Peter Principle from the 1969 book by Lawrence J. Peter and Raymond Hull, discussing its implications for organizational hierarchies. The hosts examine various…

  • S2E35 – Vacationcast – Iterate!

    Show Notes  Andy discusses the importance of iteration and feedback in the development process. He emphasizes the difference between iteration and incremental progress, sharing a story from Kent Beck’s ‘Extreme Programming Explained’ to illustrate the concept. Mon-Chaio returns next week when they will discuss the Peter Principle. Stay tuned! References Transcript Andy: Hello again, to…

  • S2E33 – Can you Remove Punishment?

    Show Notes In this episode of the Tactics for Tech Leadership podcast, the hosts, Andy and Mon-Chaio, explore the concept of removing punishment from organizations. They discuss the implications of eliminating punishment, the role of corporate culture in employee motivation, and the potential obstacles such as untrainable employees and economic downturns. Through a philosophical lens…