The Power Balance in Software Development

Tommy: Hey, ever noticed our software team kinda works like a political system?

Manager: That's a new one, Tommy. Tell me more.

Tommy: Well, think about it. In politics, you've got the legislative, executive, and judicial branches, right? Our team has something pretty similar.

Manager: You mean product management, technical engineering, and people/project management?

Tommy: Yeah, that's it! The product management team is like the legislative branch. They're the ones 'making the laws,' defining our product's vision and strategy. They interpret user and market needs and align them with the company's big picture.

Manager: I see what you mean. So the technical engineering team, including us, would be like the executive branch?

Tommy: Exactly! We take the vision and strategy from product management and put it into action. We're designing, coding, testing, deploying – we're the action heroes turning ideas into something real.

Manager: Interesting take, Tommy. So that leaves people/project management playing the role of the judicial branch?

Tommy: You got it! They ensure everything runs fairly and smoothly. They're coordinating resources, tracking progress, keeping us all in check. Kinda like the judicial branch making sure fairness prevails in society.

Manager: That's an insightful comparison. But just like in a political system, the critical part would be maintaining balance among these 'branches,' right?

Tommy: Bingo! We can't let one role overrule the others. An overbearing product management could lead to impractical products. If we engineers call all the shots, we might end up with a technically amazing product that doesn't align with market needs. And if people/project management goes too heavy on control, we risk stifling creativity and autonomy.

Manager: That's a solid point. It's a balancing act, for sure. In politics, power separation works well in some countries but not so well in others. In software teams, it's the same. In startups, the same group might share product management, technical engineering, and people/project management responsibilities. The power concentration can boost productivity, but lack of separation could risk the company's success. In larger companies, power separation can encourage checks and balances but may also breed bureaucracy and corruption. Tommy: Spot on! At the end of the day, it's all about teamwork to deliver a successful, market-fit product. Kinda like a well-balanced political system serving its citizens, huh?