This is the keynote talk I gave at the BBC Develop conference in London, UK in November of 2013. In it I talk about what I believe makes a strong engineering culture, how to protect it if you have it, and how to fix it if you don't. I use a lot of examples from Spotify (where I am a Director of Engineering). As usual, I go a bit light on the bullets, since I prefer to talk, but I think you can still get the gist of my points.
4. What is culture?
Edgar Schein (MIT)
A pattern of shared basic assumptions that a group has
learned as it solved its problems of external adaptation and
internal integration, that has worked well enough to be
considered valid and therefore, to be taught to new members
as the correct way to perceive, think, and feel in relation to
those problems.
4
5. What is culture?
Edgar Schein (MIT)
A pattern of shared basic assumptions that a group has
learned as it solved its problems of external adaptation and
internal integration, that has worked well enough to be
considered valid and therefore, to be taught to new members
as the correct way to perceive, think, and feel in relation to
those problems.
5
38. 38
What makes a good engineering culture?
Stuff gets done
It gets done well
People are happy
Leaders provide direction and guidance
39. 39
What makes a good engineering culture?
Stuff gets done
It gets done well
People are happy
Leaders provide direction and guidance and GET OUT OF THE WAY
42. 42
What makes a good engineering culture?
Stuff gets done
It gets done well
People are happy
Leaders provide direction and guidance and GET OUT OF THE WAY
Success is celebrated
44. 44
What makes a good engineering culture?
Stuff gets done
It gets done well
People are happy
Leaders provide direction and guidance and GET OUT OF THE WAY
Success is celebrated
Failure is used as a way to learn
54. A lot of people say don’t fire great engineers – but
they’re wrong. Even if you have an engineer who is
exceptional, but an asshole, you should fire them
immediately. Your team will thank you for it
afterwards. It only takes one asshole to destroy an
entire team, so act quickly and remove any bad
seeds no matter how good they are at writing
software.
Joe Stump
58. Protecting your culture
58
Protecting your culture
Walk the talk
Hiring is crucial
Firing is also crucial
Communicate your values
Measure against your values
59. Protecting your culture
59
Protecting your culture
Walk the talk
Hiring is crucial
Firing is also crucial
Communicate your values
Measure against your values
Your organization reflects
your values
Credit: Henrik Kniberg
60. Protecting your culture
60
Protecting your culture
Walk the talk
Hiring is crucial
Firing is also crucial
Communicate your culture
Measure against your values
Your organization reflects
your culture
Watch out for warning signs
62. 62
Fixing a broken culture
How do you know if the culture is broken?
People don’t care
“Broken Dreams” by Brandon Satterwhite is licensed under CC BY 2.0
63. 63
Fixing a broken culture
How do you know if the culture is broken?
People don’t care
“Bored people quit.” – Michael Lopp
“Broken Dreams” by Brandon Satterwhite is licensed under CC BY 2.0
64. 64
Fixing a broken culture
How do you know if the culture is broken?
People don’t care
Disenfranchised people quit.
“Broken Dreams” by Brandon Satterwhite is licensed under CC BY 2.0
65. 65
Fixing a broken culture
How do you know if the culture is broken?
People don’t care
Disengaged people quit.
“Broken Dreams” by Brandon Satterwhite is licensed under CC BY 2.0
66. 66
Fixing a broken culture
How do you know if the culture is broken?
People don’t care
(Good) People are leaving
“Broken Dreams” by Brandon Satterwhite is licensed under CC BY 2.0
67. 67
Fixing a broken culture
How do you know if the culture is broken?
People don’t care
(Good) People are leaving
You spend time on the wrong things instead of building your product
“Broken Dreams” by Brandon Satterwhite is licensed under CC BY 2.0
68. 68
Fixing a broken culture
How do you know if the culture is broken?
People don’t care
(Good) People are leaving
You spend time on the wrong things instead of building your product
dealing with “situations”
“Broken Dreams” by Brandon Satterwhite is licensed under CC BY 2.0
69. 69
Fixing a broken culture
How do you know if the culture is broken?
People don’t care
(Good) People are leaving
You spend time on the wrong things instead of building your product
Focusing on your internal customers
instead of your actual customers
“Broken Dreams” by Brandon Satterwhite is licensed under CC BY 2.0
70. 70
Fixing a broken culture
How do you know if the culture is broken?
People don’t care
(Good) People are leaving
You spend time on the wrong things instead of building your product
Managing up
“Broken Dreams” by Brandon Satterwhite is licensed under CC BY 2.0
71. 71
Fixing a broken culture
How do you know if the culture is broken?
People don’t care
(Good) People are leaving
You spend time on the wrong things instead of building your product
Dealing with process
“Broken Dreams” by Brandon Satterwhite is licensed under CC BY 2.0
83. 83
If you have a good
culture, protect it
Make sure everyone understands what you
value as a team. Make sure everyone you
hire will be happy in your culture.
84. 84
If you have a bad
culture, transform it
A long process, start small and grow. Don’t
try to rush it.
85. 85
You are the culture
The culture is the intersection (average) of
the values of the people in it. Want to
improve your culture? LIVE THE VALUES