CTO Insights - Issue #140
Event-driven architecture, Performance Review Conversations, Employee Motivation, Prompt Engineering and more...
Hi, this is Tosho Trajanov with CTO Insights #140.
CTO Insights is a weekly newsletter on software engineering and technical leadership, aiming to provide you with a set of topics to keep you up to date with the latest developments in the industry and help you be a better leader.
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Architecture
Building event-driven architecture for member system
In this overview of Baemin's transition to a microservice and event-based architecture, you'll learn how the company managed to handle rapidly increasing traffic by implementing loosely coupled systems.
The article answers key questions about the challenges of physical vs conceptual coupling in systems, the role of event-driven architecture in microservices, and how to effectively publish and subscribe to events for better system design.
Scalability
How Slack Built Shared Channels
In this overview on Slack's introduction of shared channels, you'll delve into how the new feature breaks from Slack's original workspace-centric architecture to enable seamless inter-company collaboration. You'll learn about the technical challenges faced in integrating shared channels, from initial architectural decisions to scaling considerations, offering a lens into how Slack is evolving its platform for the future.
Culture
Elevate Your Performance Review Conversations
This article demystifies the anxiety-ridden process of performance reviews, offering actionable insights for both managers and employees on how to make these evaluations more constructive and less stressful. You'll learn how to prepare effectively, what questions to ask for meaningful dialogue, and how to put feedback into actionable goals, all while fostering a more open and trusting work relationship.
Leadership
Unlocking Employee Motivation - Beyond Carrots and Sticks to Intrinsic Rewards
This article explores the complexities of employee motivation by drawing on the work of psychologists Frederick Herzberg and leadership experts Allan Cohen and David Bradford. You'll learn the difference between intrinsic and extrinsic motivators and how to effectively apply a diverse range of "currencies" to foster genuine motivation rather than mere compliance among your team.
AI
What is Prompt Engineering?
In this insightful piece, you'll discover the significance of prompt engineering in optimizing generative AI tools for better business outcomes, demonstrated through a real-world example involving a financial-planning workshop. You'll learn how well-crafted prompts can greatly improve the quality of AI-generated content, whether it's for marketing emails, chatbots, or other applications, and why this skill is becoming increasingly important in the business world.
Product
How to Make Product Discovery a Habit
This article delves into the importance of building product discovery habits within organizations and among product leaders, inspired by insights from Teresa Torres' book "Continuous Discovery Habits."
You'll learn how to create lasting discovery habits using two promising approaches—the Coaching Product Discovery ABCDE Model and replacing old habits with new ones—while understanding the challenges and rewards of implementing such practices consistently.
How Software Companies Can Avoid the Trap of Product-Led Growth
Companies like Slack and Dropbox have pioneered the use of Product-Led Growth (PLG). They start by building a product that’s indispensable for small teams, then count on low friction and customer advocates to expand throughout the organization. PLG works, at least at first. But it can create challenges for growing companies.
The answer isn’t to reject PLG. It’s to embrace it — but to plan ahead. Eventually, even the best PLG company will need an enterprise sales strategy which takes years to develop.
Other
Mastering our Mind for Better Ideas
In this exploration of mental clarity and creative thinking, the author shares six transformative habits ranging from balancing action and strategy to diluting mental silos. You'll learn how to navigate the distractions of the digital age, and harness novel techniques for problem-solving and sustained productivity.
Moving from Services to Products
The author talks about the importance of companies choosing either a service or product business model to ensure alignment at the executive level and avoid conflicting demands within various departments. Each model demands a specific operational focus, and a failure to choose can result in inefficiencies and mixed objectives.
Can Business Trust ChatGPT?
This comprehensive article delves into the risks and rewards of implementing Generative AI, like ChatGPT, in various business settings, from customer service to legal affairs. You'll learn how GenAI can revolutionize operational efficiency and customer satisfaction, but also why it poses significant trust issues in terms of hallucinations, privacy, and ethical malfeasance.
Closing Notes
Thank you for reading through this week's newsletter — I hope you found the content insightful.
Let me know your thoughts in the comments section below.
That is all, thank you, everyone.
I am wishing you a productive and fulfilling week ahead.