A few thoughts on resource management?
Resource management is a crucial aspect of any business, but it is especially paramount in the realm of engineering. As an engineering leader, you're often faced with a multitude of challenges, one of the most significant being the allocation and management of resources. This could range from balancing the development/tech debt ratio, ensuring adequate test coverage, fostering innovation, and promoting learning among your team members.
The Challenge of Resource Allocation
There's no silver bullet when it comes to resource management. The answer depends on your current priorities. For instance, at Bravado, we would sometimes focus on development and then switch to quality assurance at another time. The key is to strike a balance between these different aspects of the business.
During the development of the Bravado War Room, our primary objective was to meet the initial deadline, with a strong emphasis on accelerating the development process while maintaining the expected quality standards. This approach allowed us to successfully deliver all components on time, without any delays.
Following the official launch, we experienced a significant influx of users and an increase in bug reports. Consequently, our attention shifted towards addressing these issues and enhancing the overall quality of the product.
Subsequently, when embarking on our next project, it was unrelated to the existing source code. In this context, we initiated several Proof of Concepts (POCs) to explore and experiment with new technologies and approaches.
Finding the Balance: Development, Quality, and Innovation
In general, it's important to balance between development, quality, and innovation. While development is crucial for the growth and progress of the business, quality assurance is equally important to ensure that the products or services being developed are up to standard. On the other hand, innovation is what keeps the business competitive and relevant in the market.
Communicating Priorities and Resource Allocation
As a leader, it's important to make sure your people understand the current priorities and the reason behind the current resource allocation. Clear communication is key in ensuring that everyone is on the same page and working towards the same goals.