Engineering Strategy

Background

Let me start with the reasons why the topic of engineering strategy stuck with me.

Not so long ago I went to the directors and explained the importance of one project. Of course, I didn’t go empty-handed, but with a fire in my soul and a plan on paper.

In my picture of the world, everything was clear, because it was painted very well:

1. The problem, and what are the benefits of solving it for the company.
2. Three main areas of work for six months to a year.
3. Who do we need to succeed.

I consulted with people from the team and prepared an elevator pitch. I made a pitch, showed the plans, and the director said: “So, what is your engineering strategy”?

I thought it was a good question. Apparently, what is described above does not smell like an engineering strategy. Then I explained it in a different way, so that the words would somehow fit into the definition of “strategy”. I wrote down “to find out what an engineering strategy is” for my homework.

What is an engineering strategy and who needs it

Engineering strategy is how we solve an important business problem from an engineering perspective.

To put it simply, it’s:

1. Current situation
2. Future situation
3. Transition plan
4. Limitations
5. What will we do if we get stuck along the way or if we can’t handle it?

In specialized words, this is:

1. Medium-term plans and development vectors
2. Key challenges and points of contention
3. Dispute resolution methodologies
4. Risks (Optional)
5. Bottlenecks and approaches to their expansion (Optional)
6. Key value streams (Optional)
7. Team interaction schemes (Optional)

This is done in order to:

1. Clarify the future
2. Create a decision-making corridor that will help:

• Make decisions at different stages without a ton of meetings
• Make decisions by the many, not the few

If no one needs the points above, then you shouldn’t bother with an engineering strategy.

Strategy without tactics is the slowest route to victory. Tactics without strategy is the noise before defeat.

An example of an engineering strategy is here.