Unleashing Excellence in Software Product Engineering

Software Product Engineering Teams might look like other software teams, but working on a “long-standing” product having “diverse customers” has its own challenges. This makes the simple guidelines in the following sections really important. 

Using them would streamline your engineering team and help achieve greater quality and efficiency. It applies to any software team, though the importance of the topic increases for Software Product Teams.

The points mentioned here are just high-level summaries, and to learn them in detail would require a multi-page article for each of those topics.

So, let's get started!

1. Simple and Consistent Source Code: Let Your Code Do the Talking

Consistency: Create architectural and code patterns that are predictable for every developer in your team. Similar patterns/approaches should be used wherever applicable.

Simplicity: Don't use fancy or complex coding patterns. Keep it simple so that larger dev teams with varying levels of experience and skills are able to grasp it and use it comfortably.

One-time hacks or complex code can create big pain and increase tech debts in long-running products.

2. Defined Processes: Having a Map Makes Your Journey a Lot Easier

Keep a steady set of engineering process guidelines centrally available for the team for all different activities performed by them on a day-to-day basis. Examples are:

• Version control (Branching, Code Reviews, Tags, etc)
• Change Management
• Developer Onboarding
• Coding Practices
• Access Management
• Quality Processes (Tests, Security, App Performance, etc)
• Release Processes etc

3. Automation and Tools: Have the Right Weapons for Your Army

Automation: It’s just not about the CI/CD pipelines. Keep an eye on inefficient manual efforts, be it code scans, code reviews, tests, packaging, deployment, monitoring, team operations, etc. Coach your team to flag such efforts. They don’t save time but save your teammates from the monotony of repetitive work.

Tools: Having the right tool set makes any engineer more productive, reduces errors, and organizes a lot of information for the leaders. 

4. Team's Morale: How’s the Josh (Energy)? High Sir!!

Everyone would agree that Team Morale is one of the most important factors for any software team and could be one of the most challenging, too. There could be a lot of ways a leader could adopt to keep the Team’s morale high.

• Timely Appreciation and Recognition (Formal or Informal)
• Team Spirit: A common goal/vision along with people skills may help bond them together.
• Becoming an equal partner in their growth.
• Listening and acting to their thoughts.

5. Product Knowledge: RAMs Are Many Times Faster Than Disks

In a software product team, maintaining product knowledge is of utmost significance, considering you have to live with the same product for many years. This in-memory knowledge contributes to the efficiency of every phase of product development (New Features, Maintenance, Troubleshooting, etc.).

Documents, along with a constant stream of training (Self-Paced or Classroom) and refresher courses on processes, tools, technologies, soft skills, etc., can significantly help your team.

Another key knowledge area is to know your client base, their business, functions, customers, and needs. This really helps with understanding and providing the right product solution.

6. Feature Shortlisting Process: Don’t fall trap to “Feature Grid Greed”

Product teams often receive numerous ideas and requirements from prospects or customers. At the same time, some may initially seem appealing and marketable. 

However, all businesses have diverse functions and unique operational needs. 

So, it's very important to establish a feature shortlisting process because you want features that are usable by most of your customers, which makes it financially sustainable.

7. Revisit Today, You Are More Experienced Than Yesterday

Revisit source code: To refactor and reduce the Tech Debts. And you are keeping your software maintainable over time.

Revisit Processes: As they may not have the same effectiveness over a period of time, things change, so the processes should be. 

Revisit Tools: The tech world changes rapidly; we get new tools/software released every day, so keep an eye on and replace/add new ones, keeping the budget in control.

8. Monitor and Measure: You can Improve If You Know “What Needs to Be”

Measuring the impact and outcome of different types of efforts, processes, and tools would really help you answer what’s working well and what needs your attention. 

You may use all or some of the DORA or SPACE metrics. E.g., “Mean Lead Time to Change,” “Mean Time to Recovery,” or” Average time to merge,” etc.

Such metrics indicate how much really Agile you are or how quickly you can innovate on your new ideas and help you identify course corrections.

Conclusion

Building and maintaining a Software product is always a challenging job, but having the right vision, process, tools, and knowledge makes things a lot sorted. 

Feel free to add your comments and thoughts.