Technical Decision Making for Engineering Leaders

This talk provides a framework for making complex technical decisions that stick. It addresses the challenge of balancing technical purity with business pragmatism while maintaining team buy-in and stakeholder trust.

Core topics include identifying reversible vs. irreversible decisions, gathering input without decision paralysis, documenting decisions for future understanding, and communicating technical choices to diverse audiences. The speaker presents techniques for evaluating trade-offs, managing technical risk, and building consensus without endless debate.

You'll learn about decision frameworks like RFCs and ADRs (Architecture Decision Records), how to run effective technical design reviews, when to delegate vs. centralize decisions, and how to course-correct when decisions prove wrong.

The talk includes real examples of major technical decisions, showing how they were evaluated, communicated, and implemented. Essential for tech leads, architects, and engineering managers who need to make decisions that balance multiple constraints while maintaining team velocity and morale.