The document discusses several challenges that cultural differences between management and software developers can pose for digitization efforts. It notes that developers prefer focused work, creativity, problem-solving and teamwork over individual performance bonuses or open-plan offices. Management needs to empower teams, trust their accountability, and embrace differences to get the most out of collaboration.

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Cultural Challenges of Digitization
Or: “OMG, the n3rds are coming!”
Source: https://pixabay.com/en/adventure-height-climbing-mountain-1807524/

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"OMG, the n3rds are coming!" by Andreas Czakaj 2
Let me show you something awesome…

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"OMG, the n3rds are coming!" by Andreas Czakaj 3
What is this?

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"OMG, the n3rds are coming!" by Andreas Czakaj 4
?

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"OMG, the n3rds are coming!" by Andreas Czakaj 5
This is Source Code.
Yay!

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"OMG, the n3rds are coming!" by Andreas Czakaj 6
Oops, there’s something wrong…

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"OMG, the n3rds are coming!" by Andreas Czakaj 7
Let’s go bug hunting…

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"OMG, the n3rds are coming!" by Andreas Czakaj 8
Oopsie…

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"OMG, the n3rds are coming!" by Andreas Czakaj 9
Let’s fix it….

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Source Code
Source: https://informationisbeautiful.net/visualizations/million-lines-of-code/ 10
Error density That’s great, right?
• Average iPhone ~ 40K lines of code (LOC)
• + Back end etc.: let’s assume 100K LOC
• 1 bug per 100K LOC = 0.00001
= 0.001% error density
• “Focus on the positive aspects”
• => the software is 99.999%
not broken (afaik)
• Sales people:
imagine conversion rates of 99.999%

11. Sample to Insight
99.999% correct software
Source: https://pixabay.com/en/have-money-broke-3020814/
Apple’s famous SSL bug: https://blog.codecentric.de/en/2014/02/curly-braces/
11
1 bug in e-
commerce

12. Sample to Insight
99.999% correct software
12
1 bug in
car brake
system
Source: https://pixabay.com/en/man-patient-standing-broke-3047012/

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99.999% correct software
13
1 bug in
nuclear
plant SW
Source: https://pixabay.com/en/atomic-bomb-mushroom-cloud-explosion-1011738/

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Finding the root cause
Source: https://pixabay.com/en/boy-facepalm-child-youth-666803/ 14
Sales: “Why did the customer not buy?”
… demand, price, competition, timing, contact person, ...
Software Development: “What caused the bug?”
… YOU did, dummy!
… (in most cases)
… check your own stuff 1st

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Source Code…
Source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/bitterjug/7670055210, “Complexity” by Mark Skipper 15
It’s all about the
DETAILS
in a complex context

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What a software developer needs
Source: https://pixabay.com/en/lens-camera-lens-focus-focusing-1209823/ 16
• Focus, concentration
• Awareness of details & problems
• Self-critical mindset

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So, what is a software developer?
Source: https://pixabay.com/en/business-man-man-business-2356422/ 17
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet
A lot like an
accountant

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What does ALSO it take to write code well?
Source: https://pixabay.com/en/light-bulb-lightbulb-light-bulb-1246043/ 18
• It requires loads
• … CREATIVITY
• … to turn
• … ideas into working software
• ... ideas that are often unstructured, incoherent, contradicting, naive, ...

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So, what is a software developer, too?
Source: https://pixabay.com/en/man-painting-artist-painter-person-37335/ 19
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet
A lot like an
artist
(with questionable
fashion choices)

20. Sample to Insight
The Big Filter
Source: https://pixabay.com/en/filter-polarized-nikon-canon-sony-1259839/ 20
Cliché? But there’s LIKELYHOOD
• Let’s not get into clichés
• … Big Bang Theory
• … IT-Crowd
• …
• Highly focused work
• … for hours by yourself?
• => introverts are likely to enjoy this more
• => … as well as self-critical
• => … and problem-oriented people.
• How does that fit into companies’ culture?

21. Sample to Insight
Individual Performance Bonuses
Source: https://pixabay.com/en/mold-horse-love-for-animals-eat-2574251/ 21
Combining Feedback w/ Money… Studies show…
• … kills honest feedback
• ... only leads to b*tt kissing
• … and justification
• … it does not work for creative jobs &
knowledge workers
• … it even yields WORSE results
• https://www.biggerpockets.com/renewsblo
g/bonuses-and-incentives-dont-work-
heres-what-does/

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Karma is a … challenging lady
Source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/cayobo/6064212973/, “Watch Ur Karma” by Cayobo 22
• Leadership’s dark secret:
• … it works!
• … but not always as intended
• “You get what you reward”
• Do you want & reward…
• … feedback culture?
• … creativity?
• … inspect & adapt?
• … agile, thinking-along people?
• … customer & value focus?
• … team work?

23. Sample to Insight
Developers = Resources?
Source: https://pixabay.com/en/hiring-recruitment-job-hire-1977803/ 23
“Individuals & Interactions” Slack Time & Playgrounds
• SW development is a craft,
• … it’s mostly custom and
• … unique
• … created by unique individuals
• Planning is way harder than simple XLS
• … and don’t get me started on MS Project
• And who wants to be treated this way?
• Nerds wanna play, they need
• … slack time
• … playground work
• … trying new tech stuff
• Or else…
• ... you're making it easy for head hunters

24. Sample to Insight
Open Plan Office
Source: https://pixabay.com/en/architecture-business-furniture-1837058/ 24
Managers’ & Controller’s Dream BTW
• flexible layout
• more efficient usage of space
(“resources per m²”)
• the cool kids in Silicon Valley do it
• … it also allows for having better
control over people

25. Sample to Insight
Open Plan Office
Source: https://pixabay.com/en/offices-business-computer-1181385/ 25
Studies show… Reality
• … (normal) people don’t like it (<- privacy)
• … introverts hate it
• ... + distractions, noise
• => messes with concentration & focus
• https://www.inc.com/geoffrey-james/its-
official-open-plan-offices-are-now-
dumbest-management-fad-of-all-time.html
• … more home office
• … lots of headphones
• … less dialog
• … less face-to-face
• … more tools
• … speak of tools… =>

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“Individuals & Interactions over Processes & Tools”
Source: https://pixabay.com/en/light-bulb-current-light-glow-503881/ 26
• Tools (JIRA, Confluence, Polarion, …)
• … help persist, spread &
organize ideas & knowledge
• … but they cannot replace the
creation of ideas & knowledge
• => sit together & talk to each other!
Agile Manifesto:
• http://agilemanifesto.org/, http://agilemanifesto.org/principles.html
• “… Individuals & Interactions over Processes & Tools …”
• “Business people and developers must
work together daily throughout the project.”
• “The most efficient and effective method of
conveying information to and within a development
team is face-to-face conversation.”

27. Sample to Insight
Confidence
Source: https://pixabay.com/en/beard-boldness-business-businessman-2345810/ 27
Product Owners (& Managers) want
• … “a good feeling”
• … certainty
• … confident experts
• … “precise estimations”

28. Sample to Insight
Confidence
Source: https://pixabay.com/en/crawl-mud-obstacle-soldier-919224/ 28
Developers know…
• … it’s always the DETAILS
• … it always depends
• … innovation + certainty don’t mix
Computers cannot be
• … persuaded
• … impressed by confidence
Innovation + Over-Confidence
=> Disaster
(Dunning-Kruger effect…)

29. Sample to Insight
Commitment
Source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/39955793@N07/33031460485/ 29
Product Owners want
• … commitment
• … which is 1 of 5 Scrum values
However,
• … commitment CANNOT be
assigned, silence ≠ agreeing
• Teams / people must actively
commit on their own terms
@developers:
You need to commit to something – boldness is a Scrum value, too.
“Great Power (and Freedom) comes with Great Responsibility”
… and, for the love of Spock, learn about communication & Soft Skills …

30. Sample to Insight
Managers
Source: https://pixabay.com/en/manager-avatar-person-white-collar-312603/ 30
Two problematic company cultures:
1: not letting go & micro management

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If you don’t let go & empower your team
Source: https://pixabay.com/en/station-suitcases-child-train-2923685/ 31
If you stay in charge… Don't get involved in operational work…
• ... the project/product will be
limited by your smartness
• ... and your experience
• ... and your availability (bottle neck)
• ... while the others can’t progress
• I tried to find some middle ground…
• ... but only a clear cut has worked for me
• … give guidance from outside the “tunnel"
• ... show a vision while they are pragmatic
• ... coach while they remain accountable
• Instead, focus on your people…
• … before head hunters do

32. Sample to Insight
Managers
Source: https://pixabay.com/en/manager-avatar-person-white-collar-312603/ 32
Two problematic company cultures:
2: distributed accountability

33. Sample to Insight
Death by Committee
Source: https://pixabay.com/en/conference-office-table-discussion-32376/ 33
Accountability = Ownership Distributed Ownership = Lack of Trust
• ... (Ownership seems to resonate better
with native speakers)
• .. shared ownership = no ownership
• … Scrum DEMANDS a single person
to be the Product Owner
• … how’s making more people I don’t
trust supposed to yield better results?
• … surely yields more alignment meetings
• … slows down progress
• … “consensus is the
enemy of innovation”

34. Sample to Insight
Agenda for Success
Source: https://pixabay.com/en/children-win-success-video-game-593313/ 34
Nerds are different
- and that’s a good thing.
Embrace those
… differences,
… cross-functionality &
… diversity
for your competitive advantage.
Collaboration is
what makes a Digital Agenda
come to life.

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The end
Source: https://pixabay.com/en/children-win-success-video-game-593313/ 35
THANKS!
Questions?
Andreas Czakaj
andreas.czakaj@qiagen.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/andreasczakaj/
https://www.xing.com/profile/Andreas_Czakaj
https://blog.acnebs.com/