What kind of season is your organization in—wartime or peacetime?

In this episode of Tech Council, Duncan Mapes and Jason Ehmke dig into the organizational cycle and how it shapes everything from decision-making to developer priorities. Whether your team is scaling fast, navigating a downturn, or recalibrating after a sprint-heavy phase, understanding the moment your company is in is critical to doing the right work at the right time.

This conversation moves beyond theory to give tactical insight into how engineers, managers, and technical leaders can adapt to different phases of organizational life. From maintaining operational stability to responding to layoffs, Jason and Duncan explore how visibility, communication, and standard-setting influence the success of both the team and the business.

Top Takeaways:

• Understanding the cycle your organization is in is crucial.
• Balancing wartime and peacetime strategies is essential for success.
• Feature delivery should be balanced with maintenance to avoid technical debt.
• Leaders must communicate the value of their teams effectively.
• Situational awareness is key in navigating organizational challenges.
• Business outcomes should drive technical decisions and priorities.
• Negotiation is a vital skill for technology leaders.
• Predictability in project management can be more valuable than velocity.
• Visibility of team contributions is important for organizational success.
• The future of coding will increasingly involve AI integration.

Connect with us:

Duncan Mapes

Jason Ehmke

DevGrid.io

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