Digitalisering
29. juni 2023
A 5-step workflow that improves decision-making in software development
Decision-making is an essential part of running a business. Jason Fried, founder of Basecamp, has highlighted the importance of decisions and describes them as the foundation of companies. In a recent guide, he elaborated on how decisions are, in reality, the art of running a business—and this resonates particularly with leaders in software development.
Indhold
1. Spørg altid til beslutning 2. Rette person 3. Langsigtede komplikationer 4. Forstå tøven 5. OmvendelighedBelow are my five key takeaways from Fried’s guide that any software development leader should consider.
1 – Always question whether a decision is necessary
Decisions should always be reviewed and assessed for necessity. It is important to avoid making decisions simply to create change.
A good rule of thumb is: “Don’t change just to change—change to create an improvement.”
This requires a critical assessment of whether the decision is necessary and will contribute positively to the business.
2 – Ensure that the right person—not just the right role—makes the decision
Decisions should be made by people who have the right context, insight, and information. It is not enough to make decisions based on role alone.
Involving the right people in the decision-making process is crucial to avoiding poor decisions.
This requires collaboration and open dialogue between different stakeholders and experts.
3 – Consider the long-term implications
When making decisions, it is important to look beyond the immediate effect and consider the long-term implications.
This can be achieved through consequence-based thinking. Ask yourself how you will feel about this decision a year from now.
Will it still be beneficial, or will it have unintended negative consequences? Having a long-term perspective is essential for making high-quality decisions.
4 – Understand hesitation
If a decision takes too long, it is important to understand the reasons for the hesitation. Is it the result of missing information, uncertainty, or an inefficient decision-making process?
By identifying the cause of hesitation, you can address and resolve any challenges that may affect decision-making.
5 – Don’t forget reversibility
A crucial factor to consider in decision-making is reversibility. This refers to how easy it would be to change or revise a decision if it becomes necessary later.
This factor is particularly relevant in software development, where changes and adjustments are often a natural part of the development process.
Decisions within software products can have far-reaching consequences. Therefore, it is important to assess how reversible a decision is before it is implemented.
If it becomes necessary to change or roll back a decision later, it should not be a lengthy and resource-intensive process.
The more flexible and reversible a decision is, the better it is for the company’s ability to adapt and respond to changing conditions or user needs.
Keeping reversibility in mind during decision-making also helps to prevent the fear and resistance that can arise when facing major and irreversible decisions.
It creates a sense of security and openness to experimenting and trying new approaches, because you know there is always an opportunity to adjust or roll back the decision if necessary.
