Introduction: What You’ll Learn
In this simulation, you’ll tackle a common engineering challenge: choosing between delivering a feature quickly or ensuring it’s maintainable in the long run. You’ll practice weighing the pros and cons, leading a team discussion, and finding a balance between immediate needs and future sustainability.
You’ll practice:
- Weighing the impacts of technical decisions
- Facilitating team discussions
- Balancing short-term and long-term needs
- Making informed decisions
Step-by-Step Simulation
Scene 1: Presenting the Dilemma
Facilitator: "Hey team, we've got a decision to make about the new dashboard feature. We need to choose between a quick implementation to meet this quarter’s deadline or taking a bit more time to ensure it’s built to last. Let’s go over the options."
Facilitator: "Option A: A quick fix that gets us to the finish line fast but might lead to some tech debt. Option B: A more robust solution that takes longer but is easier to maintain. What are your thoughts?"
Scene 2: Discussing Short-Term Velocity
Alex (Product Manager): "We need this feature live by the end of the quarter to hit our sales targets and stay competitive. A quick solution would really help us out."
Facilitator: "Totally get that, Alex. Sales targets are important. What do you think, Sara, from an engineering perspective?"
Sara (Senior Developer): "If we rush it, we might introduce bugs that’ll slow us down later. It could become a maintenance headache."
Facilitator: "Good point. Priya, how does this look from QA’s side?"
Priya (QA Lead): "A quick fix might lead to more regressions, keeping us busy with fixes instead of focusing on new features."
Scene 3: Evaluating Long-Term Maintainability
Facilitator: "Let’s switch gears and think long-term. What’s the upside of building something maintainable now?"
Leo (Developer): "It’ll cut down on tech debt and make things easier to scale. Future updates will be smoother."
Facilitator: "Thanks, Leo. Alex, what about the product and customer side of things if we delay a bit?"
Alex: "Delays could impact our short-term goals, but a stable product is key for customer trust and retention."
Scene 4: Making the Decision
Facilitator: "How about a middle ground? We could roll out a basic version now and plan improvements over time."
Sara: "That could work. We’d hit the deadline and still improve the feature gradually."
Priya: "Keeping QA involved from the start can help minimize issues."
Facilitator: "Awesome teamwork. Let’s document our phased plan, outline immediate tasks, and future improvements. Alex, let’s make sure this aligns with sales targets."
Alex: "Sounds good. Let’s go for it."
Mini Roleplay Challenges
Challenge 1: A team member insists on the quick fix without considering future costs.
- Best Response: “Let’s pause and think about the long-term impact on maintenance and scalability.”
Challenge 2: The team is indecisive and leans towards inaction.
- Best Response: “Let's list the pros and cons for each approach and decide on a phased strategy.”
Challenge 3: A stakeholder pressures for a decision without technical input.
- Best Response: “We need technical insights to make the right call — let’s loop in the engineering team.”
Optional Curveball Mode
- A critical bug appears, demanding immediate attention.
- A new market opportunity arises, shifting product priorities.
- A key team member is unavailable for the discussion.
Practice managing these situations while keeping the decision-making process balanced.
Reflection Checklist
Decision Process
- Did I facilitate a balanced discussion?
- Were both short-term and long-term impacts considered?
- Was a clear decision made with team agreement?
Collaboration
- Was everyone’s input heard and valued?
- Did the team align on the chosen approach?
Outcome
- Is the decision well-documented, with clear next steps?
- Are future iterations planned to address maintainability?
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Prioritizing immediate needs without considering long-term effects
- Excluding diverse perspectives from the discussion
- Rushing a decision without a clear follow-up plan
- Overlooking the importance of documentation and communication