How to Innovate with Software | Carlos Kelkboom | Beyond Coding Podcast #118

Internal Disruption

Carlos Kelkboom highlights the necessity for organizations to embrace disruption from within. He argues that companies should actively seek to disrupt their own products to stay ahead in the market. This approach not only fosters innovation but also keeps engineers engaged and motivated.

One of the things I've noticed is companies don't like competing with themselves, but that should be the mindset you have.

--- Carlos Kelkboom

Patrick Akil adds that while the idea of exploring multiple options is ideal, organizations often face constraints like budget and resources, which hinder such initiatives 1.

   

Trust & Innovation

Balancing innovation with predictability is crucial in software development. Carlos emphasizes that trust is key to allowing creativity to flourish, as excessive control can stifle innovation. He suggests that organizations should focus on building a culture where engineers feel responsible and engaged with their projects.

Trust is basically based either on control or fear.

--- Carlos Kelkboom

Patrick Akil notes that while agile methodologies like Scrum are prevalent, they should not be rigidly applied, as flexibility can lead to more effective and innovative outcomes 2.