Protocols, models, and tools for a People First approach to Software Engineering.
Re-engineering our work environments to put People First
Welcome to People First Engineering.
Here I will be exploring thoughts, ideas, models, and concepts with the aim of revealing the fundamental human needs and aspirations of Software Engineers and how we can re-engineer our organisations to better meet those needs.
I will be delving into what makes us tick as humans and Engineers, what frustrates us, what inspires us, how we mess things up, and how we create elegance through code. I’m sure there’ll be many shared experiences here that anyone working within the Software Engineering domain will be able to relate to.
We have all endured colleagues, managers, processes, and practices that have both enraged us and enlivened us, both constraining and liberating. I’ll be trying to unearth the factors that make things work well or make our lives hell.
People have unreliable APIs, no error logging, variable processing powers, scant documentation, incompatible operating systems, no on/off switch, and are difficult to refactor. I hope to bring a more nuanced understanding of the human spirit to help people, managers, and organisations better navigate the unpredictable nature of us humans.
The discoveries here will apply to human beings and the world of work in general. While the focus and narratives will be around Software Engineering, I will be exploring our corporate co-existence in general - those things that make us mad, and those things that make us feel loved.
Starting something like this brings mixed feelings. Feelings of anticipation, hope, and excitement coupled with feelings of self-doubt and misgivings. “Who the hell am and I and why on earth would anyone listen?”, mixed with “I feel I have something really important to say and want the world to be a better place.”
Thank you for your patience and support as I dive into this new little venture.
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