Category Archives: Management

Flow, Flow, and Flow

What does it mean when we say “Flow”? In the study of organizational dynamics and productivity, the concept has evolved significantly over time. We can see three distinct yet interconnected types of Flow that have shaped our understanding of creativity, efficiency and productivity in various contexts. Let’s review them (using some names I made up)Continue reading “Flow, Flow, and Flow”

Wiring for Flow: Harnessing Digital Networking Principles in Organizational Design

As a long-time practitioner in the field of improving ways of working across organizations, I often find myself drawing parallels between the complex systems we build in technology organizations with other domains. One area of deep interest for me is understanding the elaborate networks of people and processes in our businesses. This led me toContinue reading “Wiring for Flow: Harnessing Digital Networking Principles in Organizational Design”

Enabling Enterprise Innovation

How can R&D leaders working on incubation projects in large enterprises increase their odds of successfully transitioning into a major revenue stream? This article lays out the four enablers of transformation: Re-Use, Integration, Standardization and Unification. Incubating Innovation: The Theory You are likely already familiar with the Pareto Principle, also known as the 80/20 rule,Continue reading “Enabling Enterprise Innovation”

How do Small Teams have a Big Impact in Large Companies?

Sometimes it feels like we are swimming in a giant sea of products, people and teams. Other times we forget that there are oceans of activity going on all around us. Developing software in a large company comes with a unique set of challenges. For a small engineering team, having an org-scale impact can beContinue reading “How do Small Teams have a Big Impact in Large Companies?”

The Overview Effect (in Software)

The Overview Effect is a cognitive shift that is reported by astronauts when they see the earth from outer space for the first time. It is a change brought on by experiencing the world differently. Strongly held beliefs unfold. A new mental state is acquired from seeing the whole, after a life spent living inContinue reading “The Overview Effect (in Software)”

Notes on a Learning Organization

Building software products means coping with complexity. Our products are highly interconnected systems of systems. Dynamics are difficult to model; outcomes can be difficult to predict. Ivory towers crumble on this unstable ground. It is not sufficient to have one person deciding for the whole group, everyone following the direction of a “grand strategist”. Decision-makingContinue reading “Notes on a Learning Organization”