How big tech runs tech projects and the curious absence of Scrum (newsletter.pragmaticengineer.com)

Article summary

The article discusses how big tech companies run their tech projects, highlighting the absence of Scrum in these organizations. A survey of over 100 companies found that tech companies often use no formal methodology or a plan-build-ship approach, while non-tech companies tend to use Scrum or SAFe. Big tech companies typically have engineers lead projects, allow teams to choose their own methodology, and have no dedicated project managers. This approach allows for more autonomy and flexibility, but may not be suitable for all companies.

Main themes

• project management methodologies
• big tech company practices
• team autonomy and trust
• Scrum and Agile
• Jira and project management tools
• developer involvement in product strategy

What commenters say

• Some commenters believe that using Jira is a sign of a company's focus on process over productivity and would avoid working at such a company.
• Others argue that Jira can be useful when set up correctly and customized to meet the team's needs.
• There is a debate about the effectiveness of Scrum and Agile methodologies, with some arguing that they can be overly bureaucratic and others seeing them as essential for team organization.
• The importance of team autonomy and trust in allowing teams to choose their own methodology and work approach is highlighted by some commenters.
• Others argue that having a standardized process can be beneficial for consistency and alignment across teams.
• The role of developers in generating customer insights and being involved in product strategy is also discussed, with some arguing that it is not their primary responsibility.
• The idea that big tech companies' approach to project management may not be suitable for all companies, especially those with different business models or sizes, is also raised.