July 12, 2024
In today’s rapidly evolving tech landscape, software engineering management stands as a cornerstone of organizational success. Recognizing the importance of this, we recently hosted a dinner at Prime & Provisions in Chicago, in partnership with ELC (Engineering Leadership Community) and West Monroe. The evening was dedicated to discussing the 5 critical pillars of software engineering management, drawing from our e-book, “The 5 Elements of Software Engineering Management.” This gathering brought together R&D leaders from diverse industries and company sizes to share experiences, challenges, and strategies used for addressing these challenges.
The rapid pace of technological advancements demands that engineering teams remain agile, data-driven, and aligned with business goals. This motivated our in-depth discussions across three topics: Engineering Strategy & Business Alignment, Engineering & Product Operations, and Software Delivery Management.
Engaging Discussions and Diverse Perspectives
Dinner attendees consisted of R&D leaders from a mix of industries, from healthcare to fintech, and ranging in company size from 100 to 5,000+ employees. This diverse group brought a wealth of experiences to the table, enriching the discussions with broad perspectives. Many conversations focused on the importance of leveraging data to make informed decisions. As Andrew Lau, Co-Founder and CEO at Jellyfish, aptly put it, “Anecdotes don’t cut it anymore.” The consensus was clear: the ability to bring data-driven insights into conversations with peers and the board is now more critical than ever.
One of the major takeaways from the evening was the emphasis on data’s role in shaping engineering strategies. In an environment where anecdotal evidence falls short, the power of data to provide actionable insights cannot be overstated. Participants shared various strategies for collecting, analyzing, and utilizing data to drive decisions, highlighting the need for robust data insights and analytical capabilities: “It’s not enough to just build software right anymore, you have to do it more efficiently every day.”
This trend towards a data-centric approach is not just a passing phase but a fundamental shift in how engineering leaders operate.
Another recurring theme was the importance of financial acumen: “If you don’t know how your company is tracking development team expenses and return on costs, you’re ripe for cuts on your teams with little notice.” Guests highlighted the necessity for engineering leaders to maintain a clear understanding of their team’s financial impact. By keeping a close eye on expenses and having a way to measure ROI, leaders can better advocate for their teams and protect against unexpected budget cuts. In today’s data-driven environment, having detailed financial insights is essential for sustaining and justifying the work of development teams.
Our Esteemed Partners: West Monroe & ELC
We were incredibly fortunate to have partnered with ELC and West Monroe for this event. ELC, a curated community for engineering leaders, has been instrumental in connecting tech leaders globally since its inception in San Francisco in 2016. With a network of over 10,000 engineering leaders, ELC’s mission is to evolve leadership practices within the tech industry. Their participation brought grassroots insights from their vast community, with Chapter Leads from various companies contributing firsthand experiences to the discussions.
West Monroe, a global business and technology consulting and services firm, also played a pivotal role in the evening’s success. Known for its collaborative approach, West Monroe stands out in working with clients to co-create solutions through a multidisciplinary approach of bringing industry, functional, and technical expertise to deliver undeniable results. Their deep understanding of engineering challenges, derived from years of consulting and technology delivery across industries, provided a unique perspective on the evolution of these challenges and the innovative solutions being implemented.
The Path To 2025 & Beyond: Change and Innovation within Software Engineering
As the evening drew to a close, the discussions underscored a shared commitment to embracing change and fostering innovation within our organizations. The insights gained from our partners and the collective experiences of our attendees provided a rich tapestry of knowledge, offering actionable takeaways for all involved.
Connecting with other engineering leaders in the community reinforced the importance of fostering open communications and shared ownership to align engineering strategy with business goals.
Andy Kortz, CTO at Integra & ELC Chapter Lead
In an ever-evolving field, staying informed about the latest trends and strategies is crucial. For those interested in further exploring the state of software engineering management, we highly recommend reading our latest release, the 2024 State of Engineering Management Report. This comprehensive report, compiled from surveying 600+ engineering peers, delves into current trends and provides valuable takeaways that can help guide your organization’s engineering practices.
