Category: Episodes

  • 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…

  • 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…

  • 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…

  • 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,…

  • 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…

  • 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…

  • 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…

  • 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…

  • S2E31 – Vacationcast – Some stats on the show

    Show Notes  With Mon-Chaio travelling from Taiwan to Seattle, Andy provides an overview of the podcast’s stats. He shares insights into listener demographics, reveals the most popular episodes, and discusses the community engagement they’ve experienced. Tune in for some interesting statistics and a heartfelt thank you to the audience. References Transcript Andy: Hello, and welcome…