Unlocking Tech Innovation: Bridging Engineering and Business Objectives 🎯
In the fast-paced world of technology, it's no longer enough for engineers to excel in technical skills. In today's landscape, engineers must also understand how their work aligns with business objectives and be active participants in customer interactions.
During our recent CTO gathering, our leaders discussed ways to better align engineering and business objectives to enable engineers to create innovative products that cater to their market needs.
Let’s dive into it 👇
Encourage Cross-Department Collaboration 🤝
It is important to encourage your engineering teams to collaborate with other departments within your organisation. This not only breaks down silos within the business but also improves everyone's understanding of how engineering impacts the entire company.
When engineers work closely with product managers, marketing, and sales teams, they gain valuable insights into customer needs and current market trends. This collaboration can lead to the development of customer-focused products, higher customer satisfaction, and increased market success.
Offer Technical Teams Training in Fundamental Business Principles 🗂️
It’s crucial for technical teams to grasp basic business principles in order to align engineering goals with the broader objectives of the company. By understanding fundamental concepts such as revenue, cost management, and market dynamics, engineers can make decisions that effectively align with the strategic direction of the business. Offering training sessions, workshops, or educational programs - sometimes referred to as 'lunch & learns' or 'brown bag sessions' - you can equip engineers with the necessary tools they need to be business-savvy.
Want to learn more? 👇
So, engineers and business-focused professionals, such as CEOs or finance experts, often approach problems from different perspectives. However, this diversity of thinking is actually beneficial. It's like having two sides of a coin. Engineers bring their unique viewpoints to business challenges, which can be a game-changer.
For example, at our recent CTO meetup in Melbourne, discussions revolved around how C-suite executives prioritise profitability while engineers tend to have a different focus. The exciting part is that by bridging this gap, your team can unlock significant innovation. By combining technical expertise with commercial knowledge, your company has the power to achieve profitability and breakthroughs in product development.
Foster a Customer-Centric Mindset 🎙️
Engineers need to get hands-on with customers. Bring them into meetings, and have them meet the people who are buying your product. It's not just about building the product anymore, but also about stepping out and seeing the product in action. Chatting with customers can spark new ideas and show engineers the real impact they're making. Plus, it aligns their tech skills with your business goals.
The game has changed from the old days when engineers just engineered. Now, they're stepping into customer shoes, which isn't just good for innovation; it's great for making your products better.
So, talking to customers isn't just a nice-to-have; it's a must for engineers who want to stay ahead of the game. When engineers talk to customers, they create better industry products.
Measure and Reward Alignment with Business Objectives 🏆
To ensure that engineering efforts are aligned with business objectives, you need to establish clear goals.
A common tool for measurement in the tech world ‘OKR’ (Objectives and Key Results). This actionable, goal-setting framework is becoming increasingly popular in software engineering and technology startups as it helps to translate grand visions into measurable actions. More about OKRs in our previous blog linked here.
If you recognise and reward engineers who consistently contribute to the company's bottom line by innovating and delivering products that drive business success, you create a culture where engineers are motivated to think beyond the code and contribute to the company's overall business objectives.
Will this strategy help MY business? 🤔
Incorporating these actionable steps into your tech recruitment strategy can help you attract and retain top tech talent who understand the importance of bridging engineering with business objectives. By fostering a culture of collaboration, providing business education opportunities, and promoting customer-centricity, you'll be well on your way to building a team that can create products that truly make a difference in the market.
