Recently, I made a seemingly simple statement about a not-so-simple concept: “The whole point of agile is to (you guessed it) be agile. If you work in sprints but have to follow a rigid plan and don’t have the ability to adapt quickly, you’re doing it wrong.” This idea struck a nerve, prompting a few discussions and raising questions about the true nature of Agile methodology. It seems many organizations and teams struggle with the very thing that gives this framework its name: agility....

We constantly encounter a tidal wave of new data. News cycles race to be the first to break a story, social media feeds overflow with opinions masquerading as facts, and every day, new research seems to upend previously held beliefs. It’s an environment that can lead to one of two extremes – a rigid adherence to entrenched convictions or a dizzying cycle of perpetually shifting viewpoints. The most effective and resilient minds find the balance....

The disciplines of engineering and product development are inextricably intertwined. Engineering brings forth the technical prowess to turn ideas into tangible solutions, while product development guides the vision and user-centric focus. It’s a beautiful dance – a harmonious partnership essential for creating products that not only function but genuinely resonate with customers. Why One Cannot Exist Without the Other Picture engineering as the beating heart of a product. It provides the technical foundation, the intricate systems and mechanics that make everything work....

The adage “if you build it, they will come” resonates with an optimism and entrepreneurial spirit found throughout the tech world. This sentiment, however, can be dangerously misleading – especially for platform engineering teams. It lures teams into a focus on building solutions without adequate consideration for the very people they’re meant to serve: their fellow engineers. Building in a Vacuum Too often, platform teams fall into the trap of prioritizing technical elegance and ambition over the genuine needs of developers who’ll use the platform....

Empathy, the ability to understand and share the feelings of others, isn’t just a desirable trait in a healthy workplace - it’s the cornerstone of effective collaboration and innovation. Yet, many organizations suffer from an ‘us vs. them’ mentality, a lack of empathy between teams that leads to friction, wasted energy, and missed opportunities. Within the complex world of Platform Engineering, this empathy gap is particularly damaging. The Roots of Inter-Team Disconnect Several factors contribute to the lack of empathy between teams in any organization:...