Author: Andrew Parker
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S3E6 – 6 Box Model
Show Notes Andy and Mon-Chaio explore Marvin Weisbord’s Six Box Model, a framework from the 1970s for diagnosing organizational issues. They explain each of the six parts of the model: purpose, structure, relationships, rewards, leadership, and helpful mechanisms, and then illustrate it being used to assess an example software development company. Listeners will learn how…
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S3E4 – Action Science
Show Notes Andy and Mon-Chaio explore the dense yet insightful book ‘Action Science’ by Chris Argyris. They discuss Argyris’s method of developing self-knowledge to break existing norms and achieve actionable knowledge. The conversation covers the core principles and propositions of action science, including the importance of understanding one’s reasoning, questioning underlying assumptions, and fostering mutual…
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S3E2 – A Journey into Differential Diagnosis
Show Notes In this episode, Andy and Mon Chiao explore differential diagnosis. They clarify what differential diagnosis truly entails and how it can be applied in technical settings, particularly within software teams. The hosts illustrate its importance through real-world scenarios, emphasizing the balance between gathering information and taking corrective action, the consequences of different types…
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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…
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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…
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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.…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…