How to Ruin an Engineering Organization

The article by Aviv Ben-Yosef outlines ten detrimental practices that can undermine an engineering organization. Key issues include gatekeeping, where cliques form and exclude talented individuals; rapid replacements of staff, which can create distrust; and eroding trust through lack of transparency in decision-making. Other pitfalls include preferential leadership, where certain teams are favored over others, and input management, which focuses on effort rather than outcomes. Allowing bad behavior to persist, neglecting coaching responsibilities, and inconsistent attention from management can further damage morale. Additionally, creating "feature factories" that prioritize quantity over quality stifles innovation, while an impact disconnect leaves teams feeling unmotivated as they lack feedback on their contributions. The article emphasizes the importance of fostering an inclusive, transparent, and supportive environment to maintain a healthy engineering organization.

- Gatekeeping and cliques can lead to talented employees leaving.

- Rapid hiring can create distrust and a lack of cooperation among existing staff.

- Transparency in decision-making is crucial to maintain trust within the organization.

- Neglecting coaching and support can lead to star employees feeling undervalued.

- Creating a connection between team efforts and business outcomes is essential for motivation.