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Management

Deadlines

  1. Curated Learning Resources

    • Shopify logo
      Deadlines

      Brandon Chu, GM, Platform, Shopify

      While deadlines are often debated in product development, Brandon argues they can be effective tools when used properly. Deadlines force prioritization and ensure teams work backwards from a clear launch date. They also combat human tendencies to procrastinate or dream of perfection. However, deadlines only work if the team genuinely cares about achieving the goal, even if missing the date has few real consequences. Brandon advises celebrating milestones to acknowledge hard work, while also taking responsibility if deadlines are missed and never shipping a flawed product just to meet a deadline. An interesting suggestion is setting deadlines around public events to motivate teams and showcase their work.
    • ActBlue Technical Services logo
      Using deadlines effectively to build happy and creative teams

      Jason Wong, VP of Engineering, ActBlue Technical Services

      Jason discusses effective strategies for using deadlines as an engineering manager. While most business deadlines are arbitrary, deadlines can still serve useful purposes if tied to true urgency or industry cadences. They can help constrain creativity in productive ways during early development stages. Timeboxing large projects into shorter increments helps evaluate progress and feasibility. Additionally, deadlines can benefit "givers" on teams prone to overcommitting by managing their tendency to take on too much work.
    • Vimeo logo
      How to harness the power of deadlines in engineering teams

      Vaidehi Joshi, Engineering Manager, Vimeo

      Setting realistic and achievable deadlines in engineering projects requires careful planning and consideration. Before starting any work, it is important to thoroughly plan and scope out the project, identifying uncertainties and allocating buffer time for potential obstacles. It is also crucial to determine which aspects of the project are crucial for shipping and which can be cut if necessary. Additionally, external factors such as staffing and organizational changes should be taken into account when setting deadlines. Throughout the project, it is important to maintain a tight feedback loop with the team and make adjustments as needed. Finally, celebrating the team's hard work and reflecting on the project's successes and lessons learned can help improve future deadline management.