Episode 72 is out now!
Steven Lopez, VPE at @deem discusses choosing the right tech stack for your business, especially when going through a digital transformation.
Here are the main aspects you need to consider in a digital transformation:
1. People
Always start with people. The key to digital transformation is getting your people to work with the technology. If you lack the people who can work with your tech stack, you can’t move forward.
2. Processes
Take account of the processes you have in place. Include the communication, project management, DevOps, QA, etc. Make sure you find every aspect that may be improved upon or changed to better fit your needs going through a digital transformation.
3. Technology
Engineers often take the position of looking at the world with technology already in hand. Don’t do this.
Examine the problem you’re looking to solve first, then prioritize the people and the processes. Then move on to make tech decisions, so you don’t go wrong.
Do you want to take a deep dive into what you’re supposed to do as a leader to get all this right?
If you want to measure high performance, don't focus exclusively on the delivery. Make sure employee satisfaction is high, and your team understands the business goals, so they know how to plan their tasks effectively.
2. Do it one step at a time
Building a high-performance team takes time. First, define which areas you want to work on with your team based on your company's key values. Then, set action items with them to improve those areas one by one.
Don't release code without auditing it. A lot of hacks can happen if you put code into production without doing a proper audit first. Avoid this mistake, and prioritize security - before the latest release, 1inch had 10 audits to ensure safety.
2. Find the right contributors
In a DAO, people have shared access to the company's assets, so make sure you share your work with the right people. If somebody abuses the network for their personal gain, it's time to say goodbye to them.
The secret of building well-aligned teams is establishing the right hiring strategy. Technical knowledge is important, but focus on finding culturally aligned people who are deeply interested in their field.
2. Keep your teams aligned
When you have teams all around the world, you have to find the right balance between autonomy and alignment. Some practices must be standardized among teams so that you're able to run cross-functional programs.
As an EM, you talk to ICs, leads and the technical director regularly. Make sure you share helpful information with them while also creating a reporting structure where people can talk about their problems confidentially.
2. Coach engineers in their career development
Encourage engineers to evaluate their growth, to pinpoint areas to improve and to ask for help from their lead or seniors on the team. Have career development discussions with them, and discuss the expectations of the next level.
When engineers work on a piece of code, they don't see how it contributes to North Star goals. OKRs help them see the bigger picture, so they'll value their own contribution more.
2. Customize OKRs
An OKR performance management system works best if you tailor it to your team's needs. Be patient when you introduce OKRs, have discussions to see what works and what needs to be changed, and welcome questions and suggestions from everyone.
Cross-functional collaboration works best if you hire well-rounded people who can think outside of their assigned roles. Product managers may have engineering ideas, just like engineers can come up with great product ideas.
2. Encourage empathy sessions
Cross-functional collaboration can cause frustration when people don't see the value of other functions. Hold empathy sessions where cross-functional partners explain what's challenging about their role. They'll appreciate each other's work more.