Skip to content

Why Engineers Need to Own Their Foundations

Posted on:October 20, 2023 at 12:00 AM

Table of contents

Open Table of contents

Let’s Talk About Control

In software engineering, control and autonomy aren’t just nice to have—they’re non-negotiable. Whether it’s managing cloud infrastructure or deciding what goes into the backlog, the teams responsible for delivering results need to have the final say. Let’s dive into why that matters.

When Someone Else Owns Your Foundations

Think about it—would you build a house on land that someone else controls? Probably not. The same goes for software engineering. If another team owns the foundational pieces of your system, you’re at their mercy.

Example: IT Controlling Cloud Networking Instead of Engineering

Here’s a classic scenario: IT takes ownership of cloud networking instead of the engineering team. Sounds harmless, right? Not so much.

Engineers Should Own Their Backlog

An engineering team’s job isn’t just to write code—it’s to build, maintain, and evolve products. That includes managing technical debt and ensuring the system remains scalable and stable.

The Problem with External Backlog Management

When a non-technical team controls the engineering backlog, things start slipping through the cracks:

Engineers Know Best

Engineers understand their systems inside and out. They know where the risks are, what needs fixing, and what’s crucial for long-term success. If they’re accountable for performance, uptime, and scalability, they should also have the autonomy to make decisions about their own work.

Wrapping Up

At its core, this isn’t about power—it’s about responsibility. When engineering teams control their foundational tools and decide their priorities, they can keep products stable, secure, and innovative. As tech grows more complex, organizations that empower their engineers will be the ones that stay ahead. So, if you’re in a leadership role, ask yourself—are you setting your engineering teams up for success, or are you holding them back?