Video and slides synchronized, mp3 and slide download available at URL http://bit.ly/1ow1OJN.
Chris Angove outlines the challenges having only a linear growth option, the organization of Spotify and the attempt to provide non-linear options to improve happiness and retention within the team. Filmed at qconnewyork.com.
Chris Angove is a Chapter Lead at Spotify in New York City, where he works with a team of backend engineers on the services powering the music streaming service. Since graduating from the University of Michigan he has spent over a decade working with various teams to make high quality software from network simulation tools, education software and now in the music streaming sphere.
Breaking the Kubernetes Kill Chain: Host Path Mount
Climbing Off The Ladder, Before We Fall Off
1. August 28, 2014
Climbing off the Ladder,
Before we fall off.
Or how I began to think about nonlinear
career development
2. Watch the video with slide
synchronization on InfoQ.com!
http://www.infoq.com/presentations
/spotify-happiness-retention
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3. Presented at QCon New York
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4. 1
Who is this Chris Angove person?
Graduated with BS in CS from the University of Michigan
Spent 10 years as a C++ Developer
Started leading in 2005 (reluctantly)
Associate Director of Engineering at Amplify in Brooklyn in 2012
Joined Spotify as a Chapter Lead in 2013
Always been interested in engineering culture and career development
7. 4
Began with Agile, but process got in the way
At beginning process was vital to creating the team
As we grow, teams tried to figure out how to remain agile
Implement new structure in 2012
Continuously tweaking process
8. 5
Alignment & Autonomy
Henrik Kniberg
Alignment
Do
what I
say!
Autonomy
Do
whateve
r
9. 6
High
Alignmen
t
Aligned Autonomy!
High
Autonomy
Build a
bridge!
Micromanaging
organization
Indifferent
culture
Entrepreneurial
organization
Chaotic
culture
Authoritative
organization
Conformist
culture
Innovative
organization
Collaborative
culture
We need to
cross the
river Figure out
how!
We need to
cross the
river
Low
Alignmen
t
Low
Autonomy
Hope someone
is working on
the river
problem…
Henrik Kniberg
10. Not so original, original idea 7
Tribe
PO PO PO
Tribe lead
Tribe
PO PO PO PO
Tribe lead
Chapter
Chapter
PO
Chapter
Chapter Guild
11. Reality is Messy! 8
Tribe
PO PO PO
Tribe lead
Tribe
PO PO PO PO
Tribe lead
PO
Chapter
Chapter Guild
12. 9
Aligned Autonomy
- be autonomous, but don’t suboptimize
- Spotify’s mission > Squad’s mission
Henrik Kniberg
44. 41
Roles defined by institutional need, not career advancement
A nonlinear model
45. 42
Add-ons add both personal as well as business value
A nonlinear model
46. 43
Interest and skill-set define which add-on the engineer chooses
A nonlinear model
47. 44
It is engineer driven but supported by the company
A nonlinear model
Manager works with the engineer
Trainings, sessions, workshops provided as needed
Time off to participate in events approved
49. 46
Do things; tell people
A nonlinear model
You’re doing cool stuff that others would benefit from hearing about
You’re passionate about something and you’d like to see more of it
You’d like recognition for your efforts
50. 47
Try Something New
A nonlinear model
Work is great but getting a little bored
You’d like to try something new, but not stop what you are doing
Not sure you want to risk switching roles completely
51. 48
Get out of the Comfort Zone
A nonlinear model
You’d like to acquire new skills
You need to push yourself in a new direction
Shake things up to see what latent skills are there
52. 49
Employee chooses add-ons or creates a new one:
A nonlinear model
Define Goal
Define Success Metrics
Define Help Needed
53. 50
Open Sourcer
A Few Examples
A nonlinear model
Speaker
Trainer
Coach
Mentor
Architect
Writer
Evangelist
Road Manager
54. 51
This is a work in progress
A nonlinear model
Testing our hypothesis now
Initial steps in 2013 were a bit slow
But we’re refining, check back with us soon!
55. 52
What are your ideas?
This is not solved we need to innovate
Yes this is a call to action!
Email me cangove@spotify.com
56. 53
Want to join the band?
Check out spotify.com/jobs or
@Spotifyjobs for more information.
57. Watch the video with slide synchronization on
InfoQ.com!
http://www.infoq.com/presentations/spotify-happiness-
retention