The Bias Problem: Why We Can't Trust AI Productivity Claims
When observing AI productivity claims, we need to be able to judge the objectivity and skin in the game of our sources.
Scheduling Theory To the rescue: How CTOs Build Predictably High-Performing Teams
Integrating Shortest Processing Time, Priority Inheritance, and Unplanned Work Management creates systematic high-performance development teams that deliver predictably.
The Unplanned Work Epidemic: Why Your Best Teams Can't Deliver Predictably
Unplanned work consumes 30-50% of development capacity. Separate capacity allocation and systematic management restore predictable sprint delivery.
Priority Inversion: The Silent Killer of High-Performing Development Teams
Priority Inversion silently kills team productivity when low-priority tasks block high-value features. Priority Inheritance protocols restore systematic value delivery.
When Your Sprint Falls Behind: The Shortest Processing Time Strategy That Agile Teams Wish They'd Known Earlier
Manufacturing’s Shortest Processing Time strategy adapted for failing sprints: prioritise quick wins within your sprint’s qualitative goal framework.
The ROI of Better Software Productivity Measurement (Real Numbers From Real Companies)
When you measure the right things, you unlock incredible potential. Let me share some real numbers from companies I’ve coached, demonstrating the tangible return on investment from a smarter approach to software productivity measurement:
Your Retrospectives Aren't Working Because You're Measuring the Wrong Things
“Same issues, different sprint.” Does that resonate with your team? Your retrospectives dutifully identify problems, action items are meticulously recorded, and then… nothing fundamentally changes. The real issue often isn’…
Why Your Sprint Velocity Isn't Telling You What You Think It Is (And What to Measure Instead)
Once upon a time, there was a brilliant developer who got everything they thought they wanted – a promotion to CTO.
Every day, they would look at their dashboard showing im…
The Productivity Paradox: Why Adding More Developers Slows Down Your Delivery
Despite expanding an engineering team and investing in advanced tools, delivery timelines worsened due to a misleading focus on individual productivity over system productivity. Increasing developer numbers led to communication overhead, dependency conflicts, and context switching. Shifting to flow-centric metrics improved collaboration and sustainable productivity, enabling faster, higher-quality delivery.
Welcome to the Age of tools
The post reflects on the evolution of software development, highlighting three key eras: the Age of Process, the Age of People, and the current Age of Tools. It emphasizes the importance of discipline and a balanced approach, combining people, processes, and tools, to navigate challenges and achieve high-quality software development effectively.