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<h2>Do you use the right tools for the product you develop?</h2><p>As part of our ongoing series dedicated to untangling the complexities of your tech department, we're turning the spotlight onto a topic that can dramatically shape the success of your product: your technology stack. The question we're posing today is, "Do you use the right tools for the product you develop?"</p><h3>The Technology Stack Matters: Consider All Factors</h3><p>The selection of your technology stack can propel your product to new heights or stifle its progress. But the stack you choose goes beyond the immediate needs of development. It encompasses the availability and cost of hiring engineers skilled in those technologies, scalability for future growth, and even the potential resale value of your product. All these factors need to be in harmony for your tech stack to fully support your product development.</p><figure id="figure-z9mtm7tbrvlvycuoyk"><img id="z9mtm7tbrvlvycuoyk" src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1454165804606-c3d57bc86b40?crop=entropy&cs=tinysrgb&fit=max&fm=jpg&ixid=M3wyNjI5NjF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxfHxDb25zdWx0aW5nfGVufDB8fHx8MTcwNjgwOTg5OHww&ixlib=rb-4.0.3&q=80&w=1080" alt="person holding pencil near laptop computer" title="person holding pencil near laptop computer" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-sm md:rounded-md lg:rounded-lg" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionX="undefined" data-positionY="undefined" data-fullWidth="false"/></figure><h3>Balance Innovation and Pragmatism: Engineers Love a Challenge</h3><p>Engineers are problem solvers by nature, drawn to new and exciting challenges. They love to experiment with new technologies and rewrite code to improve it. However, as business leaders, it's crucial to balance the risk/reward of adopting new technologies. Just because something is new and shiny doesn't mean it's the best choice for your product. Keep your business goals and product requirements at the forefront when making tech decisions.</p><h3>Avoid Overkill or Underkill: Tailor Your Tech Stack to Your Needs</h3><p>It's equally important to ensure your tech stack is suited to your needs. If your product is a small, agile SaaS offering, it doesn't require a tech stack capable of running a multinational eCommerce platform. Conversely, if you're building a high-traffic, data-intensive application, you'll need a more robust technology stack. Choose tools that are neither too simple nor overly complex for your requirements - you wouldn't swat a fly with a sledgehammer nor would you take down a tiger with a water pistol.</p><p>In summary, the tools you choose to build your product play a significant role in its success. So ask yourself again: "Do I use the right tools for the product I develop?"</p><h3>Contact us</h3><p>If you're unsure about the answer or if you're considering making changes, our team of experts can help guide your decision-making process. In our next article, we will explore engineering performance monitoring. Let us partner with you to create a tech department that's aligned with your business goals and drives your success. Reach out to us today to start the conversation.</p><p><br></p><p><a data-mce-href="https://techaikido.com/about" href="https://techaikido.com/about" title="CTA-TechAikido">Contact us</a></p>

Is Your Tech Stack Tailored to Your Product's Needs?

<h2>Are your costs proportional to the profit your products make?</h2><p>In today’s highly competitive business environment, the success of your products does not solely rest on their inherent value. As a business leader, your objective is to optimize every facet of your operations. This includes ensuring your IT infrastructure costs align with the revenue your products generate.</p><h3>Optimal Environment Size: Don’t Overspend</h3><p>One crucial area to scrutinize is the size of your development environments. Overspending on excessive server capabilities that your product doesn't require is a common pitfall. Start by optimizing your code - a streamlined codebase requires less server power, enabling you to operate with leaner server configurations. Explore cost-effective solutions rather than being lured by the latest and greatest in the market. Weigh your options carefully and rationalize your decisions based on actual needs and cost-benefit analysis.</p><figure id="figure-l6cj5stwslvycqeoi"><img id="l6cj5stwslvycqeoi" src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1545091741-2231068f3478?crop=entropy&cs=tinysrgb&fit=max&fm=jpg&ixid=M3wyNjI5NjF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHw4fHxibGFjayUyMGFuZCUyMHNpbHZlciUyMHBvY2tldCUyMGtuaWZlJTIwYmVzaWRlJTIwc2lsdmVyJTIwcm91bmQlMjBjb2luc3xlbnwwfHx8fDE3MTUyMDQ5NDZ8MA&ixlib=rb-4.0.3&q=80&w=1080" alt="black and silver pocket knife beside silver round coins" title="black and silver pocket knife beside silver round coins" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-sm md:rounded-md lg:rounded-lg" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionX="undefined" data-positionY="undefined" data-fullWidth="false"/></figure><h3>Scalable Infrastructure: Future-Proof Your Investment</h3><p>As your product grows, your IT infrastructure needs to scale proportionately. Migrations to a new system due to unanticipated growth can be costly and time-consuming. Therefore, select a technology stack that facilitates easy scaling. Gradually upgrade your infrastructure as your demands increase. Planning for growth upfront can save you significant resources in the future.</p><h3>Performance Monitoring: Be Proactive, Not Reactive</h3><p>It's essential to keep a close eye on your servers and applications. Swift reactions to problems and slowdowns can mitigate potential damage and avoid escalating costs. Make use of monitoring and alerting tools to stay ahead of any emerging issues. Your goal should always be to fix before you scale – addressing underlying issues first can often prevent the need for scaling up your infrastructure.</p><h3>Evaluate Your Choices: Question, Analyze, Optimize</h3><p>If you're being told, "it just costs that much," it's time to ask more questions. While certain costs are inevitable, there's often room for optimization. Explore alternative solutions and question whether your current setup truly offers the best value for your product.</p><h3>Contact us</h3><p>In conclusion, aligning your IT infrastructure costs with your product's profits can have a significant impact on your bottom line. If you're uncertain whether your current setup fits this bill, our team of seasoned tech consultants is here to help. We can provide expert insights into how to streamline your infrastructure and align it more closely with your product’s profits. In our next article, we'll delve into the vital subject of engineering performance monitoring. Let's partner up and ensure your tech department becomes a robust profit center. Contact us today to get started.</p><p><br></p><p><a data-mce-href="https://techaikido.com/about" href="https://techaikido.com/about" title="CTA-TechAikido">Contact us</a></p>

Are Your IT Infrastructure Costs Aligned with Your Product Profits?

<h2>Do you know when a feature/fix will be released?</h2><p>Performance monitoring extends beyond just your IT infrastructure. It also applies to your engineering team and their ability to deliver projects on time. The question you should always be able to answer is, "Do you know when a feature or fix will be released?"</p><h3>Estimations are Challenging, But Necessary</h3><p>Despite the complexities of software development, establishing timelines is crucial for accountability and planning. It's fair to say that estimations can be challenging - software engineering is a highly intricate process with numerous variables at play. Yet, the ability to provide a ballpark release date for a feature or fix is essential for efficient business operations. Deadlines enable wider business planning, ensuring engineering is synchronized with marketing, sales, and other critical business functions.</p><h3>"We Don't Know": A Red Flag from Engineering</h3><p>Should you ever hear "we don't know" as an answer from your engineering team regarding delivery timelines, consider it a red flag. This response could hint at several underlying issues - from a lack of care or motivation to a deficit in understanding the scope of work. It could also suggest the existence of blockers that you, as a non-technical executive, might not be aware of.&nbsp;</p><h3>Chronic Lateness: Time to Investigate</h3><p>Repeatedly missing deadlines is another warning sign that cannot be ignored. If your engineering team is consistently late in delivering features or fixes, it could be indicative of poor management, lack of accountability, or even poor performance by the engineers. Such patterns need to be addressed promptly to prevent ongoing business disruption.</p><figure id="figure-5iyn5xqmfplvycphq3"><img id="5iyn5xqmfplvycphq3" src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1630754157718-8b7b3aaa57e2?crop=entropy&cs=tinysrgb&fit=max&fm=jpg&ixid=M3wyNjI5NjF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwzNnx8QXVkaW8lMjBFZGl0aW5nfGVufDB8fHx8MTcwNjc0MTQ3Mnww&ixlib=rb-4.0.3&q=80&w=1080" alt="black and white audio mixer" title="black and white audio mixer" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-sm md:rounded-md lg:rounded-lg" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionX="undefined" data-positionY="undefined" data-fullWidth="false"/></figure><p>Understanding the state of your engineering performance monitoring is crucial in ensuring your technology aligns with your business objectives. If you find yourself unsure about when your next feature or fix will be released, or if you're troubled by the red flags we've outlined, it's time to take action.</p><h3>Contact us</h3><p>Our tech consultancy is dedicated to helping non-technical executives like you grasp the complexities of your engineering department and improve its performance. In our upcoming article, we will delve into the critical subject of security, another essential pillar of successful tech management. We invite you to reach out to us today to learn how we can help transform your tech department into a reliable, high-performing part of your business.</p><p><br></p><p><a data-mce-href="https://techaikido.com/about" href="https://techaikido.com/about" title="CTA-TechAikido">Contact us</a></p>

Engineering Performance Monitoring: Do You Know When Your Next Feature Will Be Released?

<h2>Do you know which part of your development process is giving you problems?</h2><p>A robust development process is the backbone of a thriving tech company. However, just as vital is your understanding of this process and your ability to pinpoint any inefficiencies. As leaders, you should always ask: "Do I know which part of our development process is giving us trouble?" Here are a few key things to consider.</p><h3>Logging, Trackability, Accountability, Responsibility</h3><figure id="figure-u79p1778golvycoxu3"><img id="u79p1778golvycoxu3" src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1606327054517-6bf0b2e84cc4?crop=entropy&cs=tinysrgb&fit=max&fm=jpg&ixid=M3wyNjI5NjF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwyMnx8cGxhbm5lcnxlbnwwfHx8fDE3MDY4MjQ4NjN8MA&ixlib=rb-4.0.3&q=80&w=1080" alt="black pen on white printer paper" title="black pen on white printer paper" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-sm md:rounded-md lg:rounded-lg" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionX="undefined" data-positionY="undefined" data-fullWidth="false"/></figure><p>The ability to monitor your team’s performance is contingent on the visibility of the actions and decisions made within your process. Logging, trackability, accountability, and responsibility are fundamental for comprehensive understanding. You need to ensure that every decision and action is documented, the progress of tasks is easily trackable, and individuals are held accountable for their responsibilities. This transparency helps identify bottlenecks or issues early, preventing them from turning into larger problems down the road.</p><h3>Correct Use of Management Tools</h3><p>A common challenge many organizations face is the incorrect or incomplete use of management tools. This can often stem from a lack of clarity about what is needed, a failure to setup processes correctly, or a lack of engagement with the tools provided. The correct use of management tools is a critical component in understanding your engineering process. Ensuring your team has been adequately trained and understands the value of these tools can drive efficiency and performance.</p><h3>Approaches: Passive, Active, Automated</h3><p>Your approach to process management can vary depending on your leadership style. If you're more passive, you might prefer to observe the process and rely on reports generated by tools to monitor progress. An active approach involves direct engagement, such as driving progress by asking probing questions or providing suggestions for improvement. An automated approach relies on tools with predefined alerts and triggers to monitor progress and alert you when something goes astray. Each of these methods has its merits, and you may find a blend of all three to be most effective.</p><p>Understanding where your development process might be failing is a crucial step in improving the overall performance of your engineering department. If any of the issues we've discussed resonate with your current situation, our tech consultancy is here to help.</p><h3>Contact us</h3><p>Our expertise is in helping non-technical executives like you improve the performance of your engineering department. In our upcoming article, we'll delve into the topic of Security, a critical aspect of tech management. We invite you to reach out to us today to learn more about how we can assist you in navigating the complexities of tech management.</p><p><br></p><p><a data-mce-href="https://techaikido.com/about" href="https://techaikido.com/about" title="CTA-TechAikido">Contact us</a></p>

Engineering Performance Monitoring: Do You Know What Part of Your Development Process is Troublesome?

<h2>Are your engineers doing their job?</h2><p>In the tech industry, the question "Are your engineers doing their job?" is a critical one. As leaders, it's essential to ensure your engineering department operates like a well-oiled machine, driving your company towards its goals. Here are five indicators to help gauge your team's performance.</p><h3>Task Progress</h3><p>A key aspect of performance monitoring is understanding the progress of tasks. Tickets should move, and there should be engagement on them. If an engineer isn’t asking questions or encountering problems, it might indicate a lack of activity. Active participation, queries, and problem-solving are the signs of a committed and engaged engineering team.</p><h3>Code Reviews</h3><p>Code reviews aren’t just standard practice; they serve as a vital checkpoint for quality, knowledge sharing, and collaboration. It's important for engineering leads to review code changes to understand the quality of work and provide feedback where necessary. It’s not just about identifying issues - it's about fostering a culture of continuous improvement and collaboration.</p><figure id="figure-2idpjdpv0llvyco5a4"><img id="2idpjdpv0llvyco5a4" src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1536148935331-408321065b18?crop=entropy&cs=tinysrgb&fit=max&fm=jpg&ixid=M3wyNjI5NjF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxfHxJVCUyMENvbnN1bHRpbmd8ZW58MHx8fHwxNzE1MTQzNjI0fDA&ixlib=rb-4.0.3&q=80&w=1080" alt="A man who writes code" title="A man who writes code" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-sm md:rounded-md lg:rounded-lg" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionX="undefined" data-positionY="undefined" data-fullWidth="false"/></figure><h3>Test Results</h3><p>Quality Assurance (QA) loops offer valuable insight into feature development or bug fixing. A high number of back-and-forths between development and QA might indicate a problem with the implementation or misunderstanding of the requirement. Using these test results to improve your process is an integral part of enhancing performance.</p><h3>Support Problems</h3><p>Your users or clients are an invaluable source of information. Pay attention to their complaints and feedback - they can provide insights into areas needing improvement. A well-organized company can quickly identify and address the root cause of these issues.</p><h3>Deployments</h3><p>Finally, consider the frequency and success of your deployments. If code changes are not being tested and deployed regularly, something is likely going wrong. Regular deployments are a sign of a healthy, agile, and productive engineering team.</p><p>Understanding the performance of your engineering team and ensuring they're delivering their best work is key to your company's success. If any of the concerns we've discussed resonate with you, our tech consultancy is here to assist.</p><h3>Contact us</h3><p>We specialize in helping non-technical executives like you improve the output and efficiency of your engineering department. In the next article in this series, we will dive into the crucial topic of security. Reach out to us today to discover how we can help you navigate the complexities of tech management.</p><p><br></p><p><a data-mce-href="https://techaikido.com/about" href="https://techaikido.com/about" title="CTA-TechAikido">Contact us</a></p>

Engineering Performance Monitoring: Are Your Engineers Doing Their Job?

<h2>Do you have metrics to know if productivity is good?</h2><p>In the world of tech companies, productivity isn't about hours spent at the desk, it's about value delivered, and, more importantly, the impact it brings to your users. But how do you quantify productivity? In this post, we'll examine some key metrics and tools to measure and enhance productivity within your engineering department.</p><h3>Project Management Tools</h3><p>Having a well-set project management tool can provide invaluable insights into your team's performance. It can track and analyze various metrics such as resolved tickets, average time spent on tasks, average idle time, estimation accuracy, and load distribution. This data helps you identify bottlenecks, redistribute work efficiently, and streamline processes for better productivity.</p><h3>Code Versioning</h3><p>The code repository is like the diary of an engineering team. It can tell you who is contributing what and when. Monitoring activity on your code repository can provide insights into the health and productivity of your engineering team. By keeping an eye on commits, contributors, code reviews, and pull requests, you can ensure that everyone is contributing, quality standards are met, and projects are moving forward as expected.</p><h3>Cross-Departmental Alignment</h3><p>Productivity doesn't operate in a vacuum. It's crucial to ensure that engineering work aligns with the overall company objectives and other departments' needs. Regular sync-ups and feedback loops with other department leads can help ensure that deliverables meet expectations and are delivered on time. Fostering a culture of transparency and honesty can lead to a more productive and harmonious working environment.</p><p>Productivity is a multifaceted concept, especially in engineering teams. It's not just about how much is being done, but also about the quality, relevance, and impact of the work. Understanding and tracking these metrics can give you a clear picture of your engineering team's productivity.</p><figure id="figure-wci2iker3lvycnf3l"><img id="wci2iker3lvycnf3l" src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1567855354833-ac2c4f967b0c?crop=entropy&cs=tinysrgb&fit=max&fm=jpg&ixid=M3wyNjI5NjF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxOHx8cGxhbm5lcnxlbnwwfHx8fDE3MDY4MjQ4NjN8MA&ixlib=rb-4.0.3&q=80&w=1080" alt="four assorted-color pens" title="four assorted-color pens" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-sm md:rounded-md lg:rounded-lg" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionX="undefined" data-positionY="undefined" data-fullWidth="false"/></figure><h3>Contact us</h3><p>If you've identified areas for improvement or if these issues sound familiar, our tech consultancy firm is here to help. We specialize in helping non-technical executives and founders like you understand and optimize their engineering departments.</p><p><br></p><p><a data-mce-href="https://techaikido.com/about" href="https://techaikido.com/about" title="CTA-TechAikido">Contact us</a></p>

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Is Your Tech Stack Tailored to Your Product's Needs?

Are Your IT Infrastructure Costs Aligned with Your Produc...

Engineering Performance Monitoring: Do You Know When Your...

Engineering Performance Monitoring: Do You Know What Part...

Engineering Performance Monitoring: Are Your Engineers Do...

Engineering Performance Monitoring: Do You Have Metrics t...