The Good Engineering Manager Framework
A Framework to Guide First-Time Managers Taking Their First Steps in the New Role
In the last few months, while writing more and more about engineering leadership and management, an idea started to grow in my mind. The job of an engineering manager is something that the manager themselves has to figure out, shape, and build over time. Still, I began to wonder if it might be possible to create a framework or a sort of blueprint that every first-time engineering manager could follow when they start in this new role.
I looked around to see if anything like this was already out there. I did find some interesting frameworks, but they all seemed mainly focused on moving up in your career. That's all well and good, but it wasn't what I was looking for.
So then, I started to think about creating my own, and I came up with what I'm going to show you today: The Good Engineering Manager Framework!
🤔 Why an Engineering Manager Framework?
Why not?
There are many frameworks out there, but none are designed just for first-time engineering managers who want a structured way to do their job, rather than relying only on gut feeling or sorting through tons of scattered information. This gap is what sparked the idea for this framework.
Requirements
When I embarked on the journey to create The Good Engineering Manager Framework, I laid down some fundamental requirements:
Adaptability: the framework had to be actionable and easily adaptable to various scenarios.
Iterative Cycles: it had to include iterative cycles that include distinct phases. Each cycle should incorporate measurement and improvement stages.
Time-Framed Cycles: every cycle had to lasts a maximum amount of time and conclude with phases focused on evaluation and improvement.
Stream Structure: the framework had to be divided into different streams that can be followed in parallel, with a maximum of four main streams.
Critical Activities: every stream had to contain at least four crucial activities for the manager to follow, with the possibility of expanding with more.
Self-Usable: the framework had to be designed in a way that the Engineering Manager can use it independently.
Visually Representable: it had to be possible to summarize the framework visually and preferably on a single slide.
These were the foundational guidelines that I had in mind when I delved into this project and that I followed to create the first version of the framework.
Non-Goals of the Framework
The aim behind The Good Engineering Manager Framework was to provide a straightforward yet structured process that covered all the primary areas of competence for a first-time engineering manager.
However, it is essential to note that this framework does not tell you how to work on these areas. This newsletter already covers a multitude of issues dedicated to specific topics, and there is an abundance of resources available to help you decide how to approach individual activities.
In essence, the framework offers a structure and a roadmap, leaving room for flexibility and customization based on your unique situation and needs.
🗺️ The Framework
As always, a picture is worth thousands of words, and that's why one of the requirements was to make the framework visual.
I've also included a high-res version of it to be downloaded, printed, and kept always in front of you 🙂
