Is It the People or the System?

Overview
The post discusses the common dilemma managers face when assessing why teams underperform. It contrasts focusing on people-level issues versus systemic problems, and provides a balanced approach to identify root causes and implement sustainable improvements.

Key Takeaways

• Assess both human factors and systemic constraints before assigning blame.
• Use data-driven analysis to uncover hidden process inefficiencies.
• Implement changes that address both skill gaps and workflow design.
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement rather than finger-pointing.

Who Would Benefit

• Engineering managers seeking to improve team performance.
• Technical leaders responsible for organizational health.
• Product leaders looking to align processes with people.
• HR professionals supporting tech teams.

Frameworks and Methodologies

• Systems Thinking
• Root Cause Analysis
• Continuous Improvement (Kaizen)