1 Exploring the Engineering Manager Role

 
“Productivity is most important by engineering management rules, but enjoyment is most important for engineers. One stems from the other.” ~ Rob Pike

This chapter covers

  • The basics of management and the need for it
  • Key roles and responsibilities of an engineering manager
  • The nuances of leadership versus management
  • Traits that differentiate excellent engineering managers
  • Success metrics
  • Leadership styles

You are the new Engineering Manager for a team of ten engineers. Each engineer is capable of completing two tasks per day, for a team total of twenty tasks daily. You, however, think they can do better, and identify specific opportunities for improvement. Through streamlined code reviews, agile development, and skill-enhancing training sessions, along with cross-training between backend and frontend, the team's productivity increases. With the changes, each developer now accomplishes three tasks a day, resulting in a 50% boost to the daily output.

Welcome to the world of Engineering Managers (EMs), the unsung heroes of organizational success!

1.1 Demystifying the engineering manager role

1.1.1 Roles and responsibilities: the core competencies

1.1.2 Leadership versus management

1.1.3 Traits of a good engineering manager

1.2 Success metrics as an engineering manager

1.2.1 Business metrics

1.2.2 Development velocity

1.2.3 Team morale

1.2.4 Operational excellence metrics

1.3 Leadership styles

1.3.1 Autocratic leadership

1.3.2 Democratic leadership

1.3.3 Delegative leadership

1.3.4 Transactional leadership

1.3.5 Transformational leadership

1.3.6 Servant leadership

1.3.7 Choosing your leadership style

1.4 Stop & Think: Practice questions

1.5 Summary