We’ve often seen a phenomenon in organizations: a new leader arrives and embarks on a significant technological overhaul. Sometimes, these overhauls need clear justification, disrupting workflow and leaving employees wondering why the change was necessary. I recently had a conversation with a friend in the consulting industry who shared just such an experience. One of his senior colleagues offered an insightful explanation, that he has seen over and over: new leaders often want to make their mark on the organization quickly, and a major technology change can be a seemingly effective way of asserting control and demonstrating a commitment to innovation....

Infrastructure as Code (IaC) has been a cornerstone of DevOps practices for years. It provides a way to define, manage, and version infrastructure configurations through a declarative and reproducible process. However, there’s a growing trend towards UI-based flows in Platform Engineering. Is this shift a step forward, a sideways move, or a potential misstep? Let’s dive into the nuances of this development. The Appeal of UI-Based Flows There are several reasons why UI-based infrastructure management tools have gained traction:...

In today’s technological world, reliability is very important. Businesses of all sizes, but especially large organizations, rely on intricate systems to deliver products and services. When these systems falter, consequences can range from minor inconveniences to significant financial losses and reputational damage. To ensure smooth operations, organizations need a reliability framework that provides a shared language for understanding, measuring, and improving the reliability of their systems. Why Shared Language is Critical in Large Organizations In large organizations, where numerous teams and complex systems intertwine, a shared language for discussing reliability is the difference between smooth sailing and chaotic waters....

In the competitive world of corporate environments, particularly within large companies, a phenomenon known as Promotion-Driven Development (PDD) can take hold and slowly erode the foundations of effective product development. PDD is a situation where engineers and developers prioritize projects and solutions based on their potential for personal advancement within the company rather than focusing on what delivers the most significant value to the business. How Does Promotion-Driven Development Manifest? PDD can manifest itself in several subtle and insidious ways:...

It’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking that the best way to solve a problem is to create a process. When issues arise, a knee-jerk reaction often becomes, “We need a rule, a procedure, a way to control this and prevent it from happening again!” While well-intentioned, this overreliance on process creation can stifle innovation, adaptability, and ultimately hinder organizational success. The Illusion of Control Processes provide a sense of order and predictability, qualities that are understandably appealing to leaders....