Path to Engineering Excellence: Hierarchy of Needs

The concept of "engineering excellence" is currently gaining prominence, though its interpretation remains very subjective, as everyone has their own definition of what engineering excellence means.

Typically, engineering excellence means delivering high-quality products consistently through a combination of technical proficiency, innovation, efficiency, and continuous improvement.

Engineering excellence is less of a goal and more of a journey trying to be a better engineering organization tomorrow.

We can better comprehend Engineering Excellence by applying Maslow's hierarchy of needs theory, as it has a similar structure to the hierarchy of needs.

Maslow's theory of hierarchy of needs:

1. Physiological
2. Safety
3. Love/Belonging
4. Esteem
5. Self-Actualization

This framework can also be applied to software product delivery, where we can identify analogous levels:

1. Sanity/Basic Hygiene: Ensuring the product is fundamentally usable and doesn't frequently break down. This is the equivalent of physiological needs—the foundation.
2. Value Addition: Delivering the core features as expected. This corresponds to safety needs.
3. Performance: Optimizing the product's performance and responsiveness. This aligns with belonging/love—creating a product that integrates well with user needs and expectations.
4. Security and Compliance: Ensuring the product is secure and meets relevant compliance standards. This correlates to esteem—building a reputable and trusted product.
5. Engineering Efficiency: Achieving a high level of code quality and minimizing bugs. This is equivalent to esteem needs, focusing on the internal quality and craftsmanship of the product.
6. Engineering Excellence: Driving innovation in both technology and product, coupled with well-defined and efficient processes. This corresponds to self-actualization—reaching the peak of engineering maturity and consistently pushing boundaries.

Engineering excellence is the ability to deliver efficient and effective products, drive innovation, and promote the personal growth of every engineer working in the organization.

Achieving engineering excellence is not an easy feat. Sometimes, it depends on what stage a company is in and how they want to prioritize their goals.

Why does this matter?

Building the product is extensive as well as tiring. Building the product right with the right process and the right way can save your employees from burning out and improve their well-being and productivity.One has to save their engineers from burnout, and at the same time, they have to deliver products with innovation.

More than half of IT engineers (58%) say they feel overwhelmed by their daily responsibilities and tasks. According to a survey from The Upwork Research Institute, 71% of full-time employees report they’re burnt out, and 65% say they’re struggling with employer demands on their productivity ( Ref ).

The high levels of burnout among engineers are concerning, especially in an industry where innovation and productivity are key. Finding a balance between supporting employees and meeting business demands is crucial for the long-term success of any organization.

How can we help?

Platform: We're building Evolvedev.io a platform to give engineering organizations a unified view of their software development lifecycle by collecting metrics from all the tools.

Community: Join ELH (Engineering Leadership Hub) a community for like-minded engineering leaders who are on their journey to engineering excellence. Connect with peers, share your experiences, and find solutions together in a safe and collaborative environment.