In your experience, how long does it take to measurably improve developer productivity? Are there any low-lift changes organizations can make for a quick win in this area?
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VP of Engineering16 days ago
Thinking about this with a financial perspective. Sometimes, organizations take too long to approve exceptions for security issues or procurement processes. I usually quantify the financial impact of these delays. For instance, if 20 developers are waiting on a process, I calculate the dollar value of the lost productivity and present it to the leadership. Highlighting the financial impact can influence process changes and improve the developer experience.SVP Technology in Insurance (except health)16 days ago
From an organizational perspective, identifying top tech leads and senior developers can be a quick way to boost productivity. Swapping a low-performing team’s lead with someone who has a proven track record can jumpstart productivity enhancements. This approach, combined with metrics and other changes, can be very effective.VP of Engineering16 days ago
The time it takes to see measurable improvements in developer productivity varies depending on the starting point. In some organizations or teams, changes can be noticeable within a few weeks, especially with improvements in communication or ticket management. However, more substantial process improvements or cultural shifts can take months or even years. Leadership also plays a crucial role; different leaders have different goals, and a change in leadership can significantly impact cultural shifts and productivity.CTO in Banking16 days ago
Improving developer productivity often involves identifying and addressing constraints. By removing impediments, significant productivity gains can be achieved upfront, aligning with the Pareto principle where 80% of gains come from 20% of efforts. For example, if a team isn't using Behavior-Driven Development (BDD), implementing it can be a quick win. BDD allows quality assurance engineers to define requirements before any code is written, ensuring that the team has a clear understanding of what "good" looks like. This provides confidence that the developed code will perform well in production. Additionally, retrospectives should be more than just a routine; they should yield actionable insights. Taking 20% of the content from retrospectives and applying it to the next iteration can significantly improve delivery cadence.VP Software Engineering in Software16 days ago
I agree with Rajesh. The starting point is crucial. High-performing teams may not see much improvement because they are already operating efficiently. In contrast, newly formed teams can experience significant improvements quickly, although this will plateau at some point.
Low Lift Changes for quick wins
1. Code Reviews & Pair Programming
2. Skill-Based Task Assignment
3. Automate Repetitive Tasks
4. Clear documentation and onboarding process
Etc
Finally , Incorporating a robust pull request (PR) mechanism, frequent check-ins, and effective branching strategies can greatly contribute to improving developer productivity and maintaining code quality.