The State of Engineering Management in 2024

26 Aug 2024 (24 days ago)

State of Engineering Management Report

This year, 600 full-time professionals in software engineering, including managers, contributors, and executives, were surveyed for the fifth annual State of Engineering Management report.
65% of respondents reported experiencing burnout in the last year.
Two-thirds of employees are experiencing burnout, emphasizing the need for empathy and support from managers.
Despite recent economic shifts, six out of ten companies still face a shortage of qualified candidates, highlighting the importance of investing in and retaining current employees.
Over 90% of respondents indicated that their engineering teams play a significant role in shaping business strategy, signifying the increasing influence of software engineering in achieving business goals.

While 76% of executives reported using generative AI, only 52% of engineers reported using it.
Businesses are driven by "fear and greed" to utilize AI; greed for potential gains and fear of falling behind competitors.
Engineering teams, while potentially the first to see AI's benefits, experience fear and uncertainty regarding job displacement and AI's impact on their roles.
Ignoring the advancements in AI is not a solution; instead, engaging with the technology to steer it towards beneficial applications is crucial.
There is currently no standardized method for measuring and managing AI adoption in software engineering, leading to discrepancies in perceptions and expectations between executives and engineers.

Software engineers may need to develop product management skills to stay relevant as technology evolves.
The transition to higher-level programming constructs and frameworks may impact how novice engineers are trained and gain experience.