Roleplay Scenario
Scenario Overview
Your team is developing a new feature for a high-traffic e-commerce platform. You're at a crossroads on how to design the checkout system. Design A promises better performance during peak traffic but needs a lot more work upfront. Design B is quicker to implement and easier to maintain but might struggle under heavy load. As the technical lead, your job is to guide the team through the pros and cons and help reach a decision that fits our goals and long-term plans.
Roles & Setup
Role A – Technical Lead (You)
You're here to help navigate the decision-making process.
Your goal: Keep the discussion balanced, address everyone's concerns, and steer the team toward a decision.
Role B – Advocate for Design A
You think Design A will give us the best performance.
Your goal: Convince the team about Design A's long-term benefits while being mindful of the resources needed.
Role C – Advocate for Design B
You believe Design B is more practical for our timeline.
Your goal: Highlight Design B's strengths in terms of speed and ease of implementation.
Role D – Neutral Engineer (Optional)
You haven't picked a side yet and are weighing both options.
Your goal: Ask the right questions and provide insights to help make the decision clearer.
Suggested Openers
Technical Lead:
- “Thanks for gathering around. We need to decide between Design A and Design B for our checkout system. Let’s lay out the pros and cons of each, considering our launch deadline and resources.”
- “I’d like each of you to share your thoughts on the designs so we can capture all concerns and insights.”
Advocate for Design A:
- “I’m leaning towards Design A. It should perform better during our busiest times, like Black Friday. Here’s why I think it’s worth the complexity...”
- “Design A’s scalability could really set us up for success as we grow.”
Advocate for Design B:
- “Design B is quicker to roll out, which helps us meet our next release target. It’s also less of a headache to maintain.”
- “While Design B might not handle peak loads as well, it’s more flexible for changes down the road.”
Neutral Engineer:
- “I see both sides. Could we simulate peak traffic scenarios to see how each design handles the pressure?”
- “I’m curious about how each design impacts our team’s workload after launch. Can we explore that?”
Sample Roleplay in Action
Technical Lead:
“Alright team, let’s dive into the design decision for our checkout system. We need to weigh the key benefits and trade-offs of each option, keeping our timelines and resources in mind.”
Advocate for Design A:
“Design A shines in performance during big sales events. It’s more work upfront, but I think the payoff will be huge in the long run.”
Advocate for Design B:
“Design B is faster to implement, which keeps us on track for our release deadline. It’s also easier on the maintenance side.”
Neutral Engineer:
“Both have their merits. How do they stack up in terms of our team’s ability to manage them post-launch?”
Technical Lead:
“That’s an important point. We also need to consider our current workload and any training needs. Do we have the capacity to handle the complexity now?”
Advocate for Design A:
“We might need some extra resources for training, but the performance benefits during peak times seem worth it.”
Advocate for Design B:
“I’m worried about potential delays with Design A affecting our timeline. Design B feels more feasible given our current commitments.”
Technical Lead:
“Let’s balance those concerns. If Design A risks our timeline, can we mitigate it with phased development? Or does Design B’s immediate benefits make it the better choice?”
Neutral Engineer:
“Maybe we could prototype a key component in both designs to validate our assumptions before fully committing?”
Technical Lead:
“That’s a practical approach. Let’s decide by the end of this meeting which path to prototype. Agreed?”
All:
“Agreed.”
Post-Scenario Tools
Curveball Mode (Optional)
Introduce these challenges to test adaptability:
- A stakeholder emails mid-discussion, pushing for a quick decision.
- One advocate becomes defensive and starts dominating the conversation.
- A new design constraint is introduced that affects both options.
Reflection Checklist
As the Technical Lead:
- Did you facilitate a balanced discussion without bias?
- Did you ensure all voices were heard?
- Did you guide the team toward a decision with clear next steps?
As a Participant:
- Did you present your arguments constructively?
- Did you consider opposing viewpoints?
- Did you contribute to a collaborative decision-making process?
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Allowing one perspective to dominate without challenge
- Focusing solely on technical merits without considering team dynamics
- Rushing the decision without adequate exploration of options
Pro Tip
In technical decisions, balance the technical insights with team dynamics and project goals. Encourage open dialogue and create an environment where all team members feel their input is valued.