Signals & Levers: Systems Thinking to Navigate Software Delivery Illusions - Elisabeth Hendrickson & Joel Tosi
Summary
Elizabeth Hendriksen and Joel Tosi discuss their book "Signals and Levers," applying systems thinking to software delivery. They debunk illusions of progress and control, emphasizing that software is an adaptive socio-technical system. The episode covers using signals like cycle time over velocity, understanding policy versus culture levers, and employing the CREATE framework to avoid unintended consequences.
Topics discussed
Introduction: The illusion of easy software and guest backgrounds
Origin story: How the authors met and decided to write the book
The Software Crisis: Historical context and persistent challenges
Adaptive Socio-Technical Systems: People, technology, and feedback loops
Signals and Levers: Understanding system metrics and influence points
Proxy Metrics: The dangers of velocity, story points, and DORA metrics
Defining Productivity: Moving beyond output to outcome and context
The CREATE Framework: Capacity, Risk, Execution, Adaptability, Trust, Economics
Three Illusions: Progress, Predictability, and Control in software delivery
AI in Software: Optimizing for learning and avoiding unintended consequences
Systems Thinking Tools: U-curves, batch sizes, and contextual decision making
Key Takeaways: Leadership advice, book details, and final thoughts
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