A talk that discusses how organizations can create a sustainable engineering team.

1. Sustainable Engineering
Culture
Mike Gehard
Software Engineer, Boulder
mgehard@pivotallabs.com
@pivotallabs
@mikegehard

2. Sustainable
• able to be used without being completely used
up or destroyed
• involving methods that do not completely use up
or destroy natural resources
• able to last or continue for a long time
2

3. Culture
• the beliefs, customs, arts, etc., of a particular
society, group, place, or time
• a way of thinking, behaving, or working that
exists in a place or organization (such as a
business)
• what happens when no one is looking (unknown)
3

4. http://www.flickr.com/photos/theknowlesgallery
4

5. http://www.flickr.com/photos/talaakso
5

6. DETAILS
6

7. PREDICTABILITY
http://www.flickr.com/photos/72213316@N00
7

8. LOW BUG COUNT
http://www.flickr.com/photos/31031835@N08
8

9. SUSTAINABILITY
http://www.flickr.com/photos/72213316@N00
9

10. Sustainable Culture = (Transparency
+ Communication) * Discipline
10

11. Transparent
• able to be seen through
• easy to notice or understand
• honest and open, not secretive
11

12. Communication
• an act or instance of transmitting
• a process by which information is exchanged
between individuals through a common system
of symbols, signs, or behavior
12

13. WE STAND
13

14. WE STAND
14

15. WE PAIR
15

16. VISIBLE WORKLOAD
16

17. KEEP CUSTOMERS CLOSE
http://www.flickr.com/photos/56594044@N06
17

18. RETROSPECTIVES

19. Discipline
• control that is gained by requiring that rules or
orders be obeyed and punishing bad behavior
• a way of behaving that shows a willingness to
obey rules or orders
• orderly conduct as a result of training
19

20. 20

21. http://www.flickr.com/photos/56594044@N06
21

22. PAIR, ALL THE TIME
22

23. TAKE OUR BREAKS
WE
23

24. HIRE FOR FIT

25. OUR DAY
• 08:45 Breakfast
• 09:05 All Hands Standup
• 09:15 Team Standups
• Lunch noon-ish
• Ping pong at will
• Done around 18:00* (*your mileage may vary)
25

26. BURNING MIDNIGHT OIL
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dasqfamily

27. Sustainable Culture = (Transparency
+ Communication) * Discipline
27

28. THANK YOU
!
• Mike Gehard
• Software Engineer
• mgehard@pivotallabs.com
• @pivotallabs
• @mikegehard
!
!
!
28