I took a job at Amazon, only to leave after 10 months (benadam.me)

Article summary

The author shares their experience of working at Amazon for 10 months, highlighting the company's unique operating model, which is decentralized and consists of smaller, independent teams. This model leads to inefficiencies, such as duplicated efforts and manual processes, including the use of Excel spreadsheets for critical business processes. The author also notes that the company's emphasis on data security leads to the development of in-house tools, which can be inferior to commercial counterparts. The author ultimately left the company due to the mismatch between their role and responsibilities.

Main themes

• Amazon's operating model
• use of Excel spreadsheets
• in-house tool development
• versioning and collaboration
• website design and accessibility
• trade-offs between correctness and practicality
• internal software development and maintenance

What commenters say

• The use of Excel spreadsheets for critical business processes is a common practice, despite its limitations, due to its flexibility and ease of use.
• The development of in-house tools can be problematic, as they may not be as effective as commercial alternatives, and can lead to a lack of standardization.
• The importance of versioning and collaboration tools is highlighted, as they can help mitigate the issues associated with using Excel spreadsheets.
• Some argue that the use of Excel spreadsheets is not a significant problem, as it allows for quick solutions to immediate goals, and that the development of custom software may not be a viable alternative.
• Others suggest that the use of shared, updatable spreadsheets, such as Google Sheets, can be a more effective solution than traditional Excel spreadsheets.
• The discussion also touches on the issue of website design and accessibility, with some commenters experiencing difficulties with the text contrast and font weight on the page.
• There is a perceived trade-off between correctness and practicality, with some arguing that striving for perfection can be counterproductive, and that accepting imperfections can be a necessary part of getting things done.
• The use of internally developed software can be problematic, as it may not be supported or maintained over time, leading to a lack of reliability and robustness.