Engineering Leadership: Balancing Autonomy, Growth, and Culture with Michael Gray

Clear Bank's Architecture Advice Process

• Clear Bank has transitioned from a centralized architecture review process to an architecture advice process that utilizes architecture decision records (ADRs). (4m56s)
• The architecture advice process, based on Andrew Harmer-Law's work, emphasizes ADRs as a method for documenting decisions, which are seen as more comprehensive than meeting minutes. (5m17s)

Decision Scopes at Clear Bank

• ClearBank has implemented a system called "decision scopes" to facilitate decision-making within the company. (6m20s)
• There are three levels of decision scopes: team-based decisions, domain-specific decisions that impact multiple teams, and enterprise-level decisions that require approval from a centralized forum called the Architecture Advisory Forum. (6m27s)

Architecture Advisory Forum

• The Architecture Advisory Forum serves as a platform for gathering input and ensuring buy-in from relevant stakeholders on enterprise-level decisions. (7m31s)

The Pressure to Do More with Less

• There is a pressure in the tech industry to do more with less, leading to a focus on value efficiency and a "feature factory" mentality. This can have negative consequences in the long term, as it stifles continuous improvement and innovation. (11m59s)
• Leadership plays a crucial role in mitigating the negative impacts of this pressure by leading by example, promoting a culture of continuous improvement, and advocating for it to senior stakeholders. (13m30s)

Maintaining Culture During Growth

• ClearBank has maintained its culture during a period of rapid growth by establishing clear boundaries and ownership, fostering open communication and knowledge sharing through initiatives like "seie Weston's", and empowering engineers to make decisions through processes like architecture advisory. (15m13s)

Skills Gap in Engineering

• There is a significant skills gap in the engineering industry due to an influx of inexperienced workers who have only been in the industry for 5-8 years. (17m36s)
• Mentoring is a highly effective way to develop skills in the engineering industry, as it not only benefits the mentee but also spreads knowledge to their team members. (17m57s)

Providing Feedback Effectively

• When providing feedback or challenging ideas, it's crucial to consider the context, timing, and approach to ensure that the message is well-received and has a positive impact. (20m10s)