Last night's meetup event was a rare opportunity to learn from some of Melbourne's most experienced leaders in the field of software engineering and product management. Organised by Propel and Iterate, the session brought together industry experts Simon Raik-Allen, Tomas Varsavsky, and Dee Kulkarni to share their insights and experiences.
Simon introduced the evening in his inimitable way and Tom kicked off his presentation by diving into the essence of what constitutes a robust tech strategy. He emphasised the importance of selecting an appropriate timeframe—neither too long nor too short—to avoid the allure of "sexy futurism" and instead concentrate on addressing the immediate, tangible challenges that businesses face.
His discussion extended beyond mere technology or architecture, covering the crucial aspects of people and processes as well. Tom outlined a strategic approach to prioritising actions and sequencing them effectively, detailing who should do what and when. He also shared a compelling scale-up example from REA, illustrating how companies can 'launch' innovative strategies effectively within their operations.
Dee, hailing from Sidekicker with significant experience at Redbubble, provided a concrete case study that brought theoretical concepts to life. She detailed her journey through a specific project, from the initial approach to the final outcomes, offering attendees a vivid glimpse into the real-world application of these strategies.
Simon provided a neat contrarian view about a leading book on Technology Strategy and highlighted the shortcomings of the text, with clear guidance on how to fill the gaps where the textbook falls short...... and then there was lots of pizza and beer and drinks for everyone to have fun until the late evening.
The evening was not just about sharing knowledge but also about fostering a community of like-minded professionals who are eager to learn, share, and apply new ideas to propel their companies forward. The insights shared by Tom, Simon and Dee highlighted the multifaceted nature of technology strategy, encompassing not only the technological components but also the human and procedural elements vital to any company's success.
This meetup event was a testament to the value of community and the sharing of real-life experiences and strategies in the ever-evolving landscape of software engineering and product management. For those of us looking to enhance our understanding and application of tech strategies, the learnings from last night are a step forward in navigating the complexities of the digital world.
We are looking forward to many more!
You can see Tom's slides at this link
You can see Dee's slides at this link
You can see Simon's slides at this link
A little bit of video is also available here and here
Propel is Melbourne's premier product and software engineering consultancy, renowned for our expertise in software engineering services and also for its deep commitment to helping companies identify and build the RIGHT solutions to enter new markets and expand their existing market reach.
To learn more about how Propel is helping engineering teams transition beyond Agile to a product-led approach and create market-resonant, business-driving products, feel free to contact us. We're eager to share more stories of how we've helped steer the course towards commercial success.
