Author: Mon-Chaio Lo
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S2E46 – Scaling Up: From Garage to Global (Part 1 of 5)
Show Notes This is the first 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. In this episode, Mon-Chaio and Andy discuss how to scale a tech startup from its inception stage. They reflect on past experiences, emphasizing the importance of…
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S2E44 – VacationCast – Is LeSS Scaling SAFe?
Show Notes In this VacationCast episode, Mon-Chaio tackles a listener’s question inspired by “Does Your Software Methodology Matter?” about effectively scaling an engineering organization to 120 engineers. Dispelling the notion that scaling is about simple multiplication, he delves into key tactics, including the creation of autonomous, accountable teams with independent KPIs, and the importance of…
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S2E43 – Assessing the Impact of Peer Code Reviews
Show Notes In this engaging episode, Mon-Chaio and Andy dive deep into the topic of peer code reviews. They begin by providing historical context, tracing back code review practices to IBM’s research in the 70s and 80s, and examine the efficacy of modern-day peer reviews. The hosts debate the true benefits of code reviews, discussing…
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S2E40 – Defining Technical Strategy
Show Notes What is technical strategy? Is it a document explaining how to extend your data platform? A set of wiki articles on how you’re tackling technical debt? A forward-looking treatise on how you will integrate generative AI into your tech stack? In this episode, Mon-Chaio and Andy dive into the intricacies of creating a…
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S2E38 – Mastering Team Morale
Show Notes Morale: a topic that impacts every team. But how does morale influence organizational effectiveness? And what really makes a morale event impactful? Through humorous banter and thoughtful discussion, Andy and Mon-Chaio offer actionable insights and challenge conventional wisdom. They share personal anecdotes, explore research-backed definitions, and tackle the complexities of boosting team morale…
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S2E37 – Remote Work, Boundless Burnout?
Show Notes Is remote work a burnout trap or a path to freedom? There are good reasons to suspect that remote work may be highly correlated to increased burnout and many may be reinforced by our own experiences or that of our friends and colleagues. But is this hypothesis supported by research and, if so,…
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S2E34 – Unmasking Burnout
Show Notes Burnout transcends mere feelings of being overwhelmed; it’s a profound state that can drastically affect personal well-being and the productivity of organizations. Despite its significance to individuals and their workplaces, it remains a concept often enshrouded in mystery and misinformation. Leveraging validated academic research and personal insights, Andy and Mon-Chaio present practical strategies…
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S2E32 – Addressing Wicked Problems: Clumsy Solutions and the Role of Uncertainty
Show Notes In episode 29, Andy and Mon-Chaio explored Grint’s taxonomy of tame, critical, and wicked problems and how different problem categories required different leadership tactics. However, Grint had a lot more to say about the tactics necessary to adequately address wicked problems. In this episode, our hosts delve deeper into Grint’s paper and introduce…
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S2E29 – Critical, Tame, and Wicked Problems
Show Notes One way of categorizing problems faced by engineering organizations is Keith Grint’s framework of wicked, tame, and critical problems. These problem types, each with their unique characteristics and challenges, require distinct approaches to effectively address them. Join Andy and Mon-Chaio as they provide practical insights and real-world examples to illustrate how engineering leaders…
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S2E27 – Evaluating Leadership Excellence
Show Notes It’s something that all companies do and yet it’s still a very misunderstood topic: evaluating the performance of people managers. The majority of methods regularly used for measuring managers rely heavily on superficial metrics and outdated practices that fail to capture the true essence of effective leadership. Join Andy and Mon-Chaio as they…