Blog

<h2>Is your development process well structured to support your business?</h2><p>Welcome back to our insightful series designed to guide you through the labyrinth of your tech department, particularly if you're from a non-technical background. The goal is to help you identify problems you might not even know exist and guide you towards actionable solutions. Today, we dive into an essential topic: "Is your development process well structured to support your business?"</p><h3>Clearly Defined Roles: The Blueprint of Success</h3><p>The key to an efficient development process begins with understanding. Every actor involved needs to know their role and the associated responsibilities. This clarity gives a sense of purpose and direction, making the process seamless and efficient. In other words, having a well-defined map of who does what can turn an arduous trek into a well-planned journey.</p><h3>Proactivity: The Driving Force</h3><p>Processes shouldn't be passive conveyor belts, simply carrying one task from one stage to another. Instead, they should be powered by proactive contributors who provide quality input.&nbsp;</p><p><br>It's the age-old wisdom of computing: garbage in, garbage out. If the quality of input is compromised, the output inevitably suffers. As such, every team member needs to understand their importance in the process, actively contribute and drive the process forward.</p><h3>A Balanced Equation: Process + Structure + Accountability</h3><p>A common pitfall is to view the process as a solution to all problems. However, a process is only as good as the structure that supports it and the individuals who execute it. A well-structured development process, paired with clearly defined roles, serves as the foundation. Yet, it's individual accountability and responsibility that cement it all together.</p><figure id="figure-3tm44o72whlvyclhd4"><img id="3tm44o72whlvyclhd4" src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1564510714747-69c3bc1fab41?crop=entropy&cs=tinysrgb&fit=max&fm=jpg&ixid=M3wyNjI5NjF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwyNHx8cGxhbm5lcnxlbnwwfHx8fDE3MDY4MjQ4NjN8MA&ixlib=rb-4.0.3&q=80&w=1080" alt="white printer paper beside filled mug" title="white printer paper beside filled mug" 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>Taking onboard the advice from our previous articles about effective hiring and managing practices can significantly help in nurturing a culture of accountability. When team members are selected, onboarded, and managed correctly, they are more likely to assume their responsibilities in the process and contribute positively.</p><p>A well-structured development process is a powerful tool for business success. Upcoming articles will explore other crucial areas like IT infrastructure, engineering performance monitoring, and security. Each one promises to deepen your understanding of your tech department and empower you to make better decisions.</p><h3>Contact us</h3><p>We're here to support you through these challenges, offering industry insights and best practices. Reach out to us today and find out how we can help you structure a successful, high-performing development process for 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>

Is Your Dev Process Lagging? Discover TechAikido's Blueprint for Business Success

<h2>Are you using the right tools? Are they set up efficiently?</h2><p>Continuing our series to guide non-technical leaders through the labyrinth of their engineering department, today we explore the question, "Are you using the right tools?" Harnessing the power of the right tech tools can be instrumental in supercharging your development process.</p><h3>The Right Tool for the Right Task</h3><p>When it comes to development, the phrase 'good enough' just doesn't cut it. The efficiency of your team and the quality of the end-product is directly proportional to the tools they have at their disposal. This includes everything from the code editor to project management tools, right down to business reporting and benchmarking systems. These tools are more than just auxiliary components - they improve, document, enable, and evaluate your process, ensuring it aligns with your business goals.</p><h3>Sophistication Demands Mastery</h3><p>Procuring a sophisticated tool is only the first step. To fully leverage its capabilities, it's essential to ensure that the person in charge of the tool is familiar with its functionalities and can navigate its intricacies. Like a master musician with his instrument, your team should be trained to extract the maximum performance from your tech toolkit.</p><figure id="figure-3wr00k927lvyckb5i"><img id="3wr00k927lvyckb5i" src="https://cdn.durable.co/image-library/3TTqJrwGuzRPGQxoVrNtfC62Qi2hgZXm3yUNW0nXw0Il3ATRtWjZajISQnMCdwcU.jpg" alt="Taller than the Trees This image has 98 million views on Unsplash and over 1 million downloads. If you'd like to support me as a creator, please consider sending a donation via Paypal: https://paypal.me/SeanPollockON?country.x=CA&locale.x=en_US" title="Taller than the Trees This image has 98 million views on Unsplash and over 1 million downloads. If you'd like to support me as a creator, please consider sending a donation via Paypal: https://paypal.me/SeanPollockON?country.x=CA&locale.x=en_US" 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>Stay Ahead: Evolve and Integrate</h3><p>In the rapidly evolving tech landscape, staying on top of the latest developments and features is vital. Most tools used in an engineering process offer at least some level of integration, giving you a competitive edge. But it's not just about leveraging what's on offer - sometimes, it's about blazing your own trail. If a desired feature isn't offered by your tool of choice, consider finding a way to mimic it, or better yet, innovate!</p><p>In conclusion, selecting the appropriate tools, training your team to utilize them effectively, and continually adapting to the latest trends can significantly optimize your development process.&nbsp;</p><h3>Contact us</h3><p>Our upcoming articles will further delve into critical topics such as IT infrastructure, engineering performance monitoring, and security. Through this series, we aim to provide you with a comprehensive roadmap to understanding and improving your tech department.</p><p><br>Does your tech department need an expert hand? We're here to help. Reach out to us today and let's work together to optimize your toolkit for business success.</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 Tools Holding You Back? Discover TechAikido’s Proven Blueprint for Efficiency.

<h2>Do your dev process tools integrate between each other?</h2><p>Our series of articles continue with the goal of empowering you to navigate the complexities of your engineering department. In this installment, we delve into a critical aspect of the development process - tool integration. Our main question today is, "Do your development process tools integrate with each other?"</p><h3>Integration: A Necessity, Not a Luxury</h3><p>In the world of software development, a tool's utility isn't limited to its individual features. Its ability to integrate with other tools in your ecosystem is paramount. The capacity to share information, coordinate tasks, and automate processes across multiple platforms significantly improves efficiency. When selecting your tools, consider whether they offer either direct integrations or compatibility with products that facilitate connections.</p><figure id="figure-t5uju76qy5lvycj59b"><img id="t5uju76qy5lvycj59b" src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1608533240306-9bf2a56958c2?crop=entropy&cs=tinysrgb&fit=max&fm=jpg&ixid=M3wyNjI5NjF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwyfHx3aGl0ZSUyMGFuZCUyMGJyb3duJTIwd29vZGVuJTIwY2hhaXIlMjBiZXNpZGUlMjBncmVlbiUyMHBvdHRlZCUyMHBsYW50fGVufDB8fHx8MTcxNTIwNDYzMXww&ixlib=rb-4.0.3&q=80&w=1080" alt="white and brown wooden chair beside green potted plant" title="white and brown wooden chair beside green potted plant" 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>Automation: The Productivity Powerhouse</h3><p>In the digital era, automation is no longer an optional luxury - it's a fundamental necessity. From mundane tasks to complex processes, automation drives productivity, enhances reliability, and ensures maintainability. As artificial intelligence continues to advance, its potential to revolutionize automation in development grows. Remember, every process automated is a step towards improved efficiency.</p><h3>Bridging the Gap: Connecting Your Tools</h3><p>Just as a well-oiled machine performs better when its components work in unison, your development process is optimized when your tools are interconnected. Integrating your project management system with your code versioning tool and your communication channels can create a seamless workflow, reduce the chances of miscommunication, and streamline project execution. The possibilities are endless, and the benefits are substantial.</p><h3>Contact us</h3><p>In summary, choosing tools that integrate, harnessing the power of automation, and bridging the gap between your tools can significantly elevate your development process's efficiency and effectiveness.&nbsp;</p><p><br>In our forthcoming articles, we'll delve deeper into IT infrastructure, engineering performance monitoring, and security, continuing to provide you with the essential insights you need to optimize your tech department.</p><p><br>Do you need help aligning your tech tools and processes? We're just a call away. Reach out to us today and let's work together to create a seamlessly integrated and automated development process tailored to your business needs.</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><p><br></p>

Is Fragmented Tooling Stifling Your Progress? TechAikido's Seamless Strategy Awaits

<h2>Is everybody aligned with the development process?</h2><p>Our goal with this series is to empower you, the leaders of tech companies, with actionable insights to improve your engineering department's functioning. In this article, we focus on an often overlooked aspect of the development process - alignment across departments. We ask, "Is everybody aligned with the development process?"</p><h3>The Connective Tissue: Development Process Across Departments</h3><p>The development process shouldn't be an isolated function, existing in a silo. It should instead be a central cog in the organizational machinery, connecting seamlessly with other departments like product, marketing, and partnerships. For this to happen, it’s crucial for engineering to articulate its methods, goals, and challenges to non-technical teams. Not only does this ensure greater transparency, but it also holds the engineering department accountable for its contributions.</p><figure id="figure-ka3wey9wz8lvyci3cc"><img id="ka3wey9wz8lvyci3cc" src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1556761175-5973dc0f32e7?crop=entropy&cs=tinysrgb&fit=max&fm=jpg&ixid=M3wyNjI5NjF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHw0MHx8SVQlMjBDb25zdWx0aW5nfGVufDB8fHx8MTcxNTE4MTYxNXww&ixlib=rb-4.0.3&q=80&w=1080" alt="Free to use license. Please attribute source back to "useproof.com"." title="Free to use license. Please attribute source back to "useproof.com"." 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="Teamwork for dreamwork" data-positionX="undefined" data-positionY="undefined" data-fullWidth="false"/><figcaption class="body-normal text-gray-500 mt-2">Teamwork for dreamwork</figcaption></figure><h3>Setting Expectations: The Art of Deadlines and Deliverables</h3><p>For engineering to harmoniously integrate with the wider company processes, they must provide clear deadlines, define deliverables, and set expectations appropriately. It's this crucial information that allows for other departments to plan and execute their tasks effectively, creating a symphony of interdepartmental cooperation.</p><h3>The Role of Product: Garbage in, Garbage out</h3><p>The product department often sets the priorities for engineering and is the source of much of their work. This symbiotic relationship means that the quality of input from the product team directly influences the output from engineering. Therefore, it's essential that the product team delivers quality requirements, informed by a deep understanding of user needs and market trends.</p><h3>Contact us</h3><p>In conclusion, successful development processes hinge on open communication, clear expectations, and quality inputs. Is your organization aligned in this manner? If not, we are here to help.</p><p><br>In the forthcoming articles of our series, we will explore other critical areas like IT infrastructure, engineering performance monitoring, and security. Our aim? To help you see the problems you might not even know exist and equip you to improve upon them.</p><p><br>If you're looking for ways to enhance alignment within your development process or to optimize your tech department in general, reach out to us. Let's work together to achieve harmony in your tech processes and drive your business forward.</p><p><a title="CTA-TechAikido" href="https://techaikido.com/about" data-mce-href="https://techaikido.com/about">Contact us</a></p>

Is Your Team Synchronized? Unraveling Dev Process Alignment with TechAikido

<h2>Do recruitment agencies have your best interest in mind?</h2><p>In the fast-paced world of technology, managing an effective engineering department is both a vital and daunting task. This is even more pronounced if you don't come from a technical background. Your first obstacle? Hiring the right talent. In this first installment of our six-part series, we delve into the contentious topic of using recruitment agencies to find your tech talent. Is the agency working for your best interest, or do they have their own agenda?&nbsp;</p><figure id="figure-q4usb198e6lk0t4qh1"><img id="q4usb198e6lk0t4qh1" src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1526948531399-320e7e40f0ca?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wyNjI5NjF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwyN3x8SVQlMjBjb25zdWx0aW5nfGVufDB8fHx8MTY4OTIzMjAyMnww&amp;ixlib=rb-4.0.3&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" alt="IT consulting" class="object-cover bg-gray-100" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9;" data-mce-src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1526948531399-320e7e40f0ca?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wyNjI5NjF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwyN3x8SVQlMjBjb25zdWx0aW5nfGVufDB8fHx8MTY4OTIzMjAyMnww&amp;ixlib=rb-4.0.3&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9;"></figure><h3>Conflict of Interest: The Agency's Dilemma</h3><p>One of the primary concerns when using a recruitment agency is the possible conflict of interest. These agencies are in business to sign as many employees as they can - after all, their revenue is usually tied to the volume of hires. This may not necessarily align with your objective of finding the best candidate for a specific role.</p><p>Does this mean you should completely write off using agencies? Not necessarily. While agencies can expedite the hiring process, it's crucial that your company continues to play a significant role in the final hiring decision. By implementing robust internal screening and interview processes, you can ensure that the candidates you ultimately select are truly the best fit for your needs.</p><h3>The Internal Screening Paradox</h3><p>Many companies lack a comprehensive internal screening process, particularly when it comes to specialized roles like those in tech. If you find yourself struggling to differentiate between a back-end developer and a full-stack engineer, you're not alone.</p><p>Yet, the key to effective hiring is in the details. A rigorous screening and interview process not only helps you identify the candidates with the right skills but also those who align with your company culture and vision.&nbsp;</p><p>As your tech consultancy partner, our goal is to arm you with the knowledge and tools necessary to conduct effective candidate screenings. We'll guide you through the often-confusing jargon and ensure you're asking the right questions to uncover the information that matters most.</p><figure id="figure-mg59su20nlk0t4wgm"><img id="mg59su20nlk0t4wgm" src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1567700353413-df167131bea0?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wyNjI5NjF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxNHx8SVQlMjBleHBlcnR8ZW58MHx8fHwxNjg5MjMyMDMwfDA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.0.3&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" alt="IT expert" class="object-cover bg-gray-100" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9;" data-mce-src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1567700353413-df167131bea0?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wyNjI5NjF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxNHx8SVQlMjBleHBlcnR8ZW58MHx8fHwxNjg5MjMyMDMwfDA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.0.3&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9;"></figure><h3>The 'Ticking the Box' Hiring Approach: A Trojan Horse</h3><p>The demand to fill open positions quickly can often lead executives and managers to celebrate the mere act of filling a vacancy. This 'ticking the box' approach can be misleading, creating a false sense of success.</p><p>Hiring in haste can lead to costly mistakes, from onboarding an underqualified candidate to creating a mismatch in team dynamics. It's essential to remember that successful hiring isn't just about filling a role quickly. It's about finding the right person who can contribute to your company's goals and grow with your organization.</p><h3>Contact us</h3><p>Remember, every new hire impacts your company's growth trajectory, company culture, and bottom line. Therefore, it's crucial to take a strategic and thoughtful approach to recruitment.</p><p><br data-mce-bogus="1"></p><p><a data-mce-href="https://techaikido.com/about" href="https://techaikido.com/about" title="CTA-TechAikido" data-mce-selected="inline-boundary">Contact us</a></p>

Blog

Is Your Dev Process Lagging? Discover TechAikido's Bluepr...

Are Your Tools Holding You Back? Discover TechAikido’s Pr...

Is Fragmented Tooling Stifling Your Progress? TechAikido'...

Is Your Team Synchronized? Unraveling Dev Process Alignme...

Save thousands of dollars by improving hiring with TechAi...