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Showing posts from April, 2023

Do you have a SPOF on the team?

In software development, having a single point of failure can be devastating to a project's success. When a project relies on a single person or component, and if that person or component fails, the entire project fails as well. As an engineering manager, it's your responsibility to mitigate the risks of single points of failure in your team. In this article, we'll explore how engineering managers can mitigate single points of failure in software development teams using examples from mythology and history. Mythology has several examples of SPOFs. In Greek mythology, the hero Achilles was invulnerable, except for his heel, which was his only weak point. When he was struck there by an arrow, he died. Similarly, in Hindu mythology, the demon king Ravana had a magical power that made him invincible, except for a small part of his body. When Rama, the hero of the story, discovered his weak spot and attacked him there, Ravana was defeated. In history, there have been sev...

The Art of Balancing Contractors and Full-Time Employees: Lessons from Mythology and History

In today's fast-paced business world, companies are faced with a multitude of decisions when it comes to building their workforce. One of the biggest decisions that companies face is whether to hire contractors or full-time employees. This decision can be challenging, as there are pros and cons to both options, and each company's needs are unique. To make the right decision, companies must weigh several factors and consider the right framework. We can learn valuable lessons from both Eastern and Western mythology, as well as historical events, to guide us in this decision. The use of contractors and full-time employees can be seen in mythology, from the Greek god Hephaestus and his assistants, to the Norse god Thor and his temporary assistants. In these myths, we can see that contractors were often hired for their specialized skills and knowledge to achieve specific goals and objectives. Similarly, historical events provide examples of the appropriate use of contractors...