The1DrewHarris - Articles

We've all seen it. Every department has clear accountability: Marketing owns conversion rates. Sales own pipeline metrics. Finance owns P&L statements. And engineering? Too often, it's shrouded in mystery. "It's complicated," we hear. Deadlines slip, priorities shift, and teams hide behind technical complexity. But here’s the truth: engineering can and should be held accountable . U nmanaged expectations are a significant reason why so many IT initiatives fail . 70% of them, according to some studies. It’s time to bring engineering out of the black box and into the light. Why Expectations Matter in Engineering Clear expectations are the foundation of a high-performing engineering team . They provide: Direction : Ambiguous requirements lead to wasted effort and rework. Focus : Shifting priorities kill momentum. Motivation : Engineers who understand how their work contributes to the bigger picture are more engaged and take ownership. Trust : Delivering on prom...

  The AI revolution isn't just coming—it's transforming how successful SaaS companies build, scale, and deliver value. But many aren't telling you that the real competitive edge isn't in having AI—it's in knowing how to use it strategically. Beyond the AI Buzzwords: What Moves the Needle Let's cut through the noise. While competitors chase the latest AI headlines, forward-thinking SaaS leaders quietly revolutionize their operations by treating AI as what it truly is: a powerful force multiplier for human expertise. The question isn't whether to adopt AI but how to deploy it for maximum impact. The Growth Leader's Playbook: Strategic AI Implementation 1. Accelerating Development Velocity Your engineering team's time is precious. Top-performing SaaS companies are using AI to eliminate the grunt work that slows down innovation. Think automated code reviews that catch bugs before they reach production, AI-assisted testing that covers edge cases human tes...

Today, we leave 2024 behind us and bring our memories into 2025. Many people focus their new year on resolutions, asking themselves how they will be better at this or that in a new year. A friend of mine recently spoke at church, and regarding resolutions, he encouraged people to also think about what they will leave behind in 2024. This challenge got me thinking about those things that hold us back from our true potential and how we can leave those things behind as we begin a new year. It's no secret that the focus of my business practices and my life is on wellness and optimizing potential. My professional wellness optimization is focused on SaaS product engineering, which often results in organizations multiplying their positive results. I do this through an initial analysis where I dig into the data, the people, and their product engineering goals and expectations, but this all centers around culture. The culture is the core of what I investigate and work to optimize. Optimizin...

“It is not good for man to be alone.” - Genesis 2:18 From the dawn of humanity, cooperation has been a cornerstone of our success. Throughout history, we’ve witnessed countless examples of what can be achieved when individuals unite for a common purpose. Consider the pyramids of Egypt, the Great Wall of China, or the Apollo 11 moon landing. These monumental feats were not accomplished by lone individuals but by teams of dedicated people working together. Consider the U.S. Navy SEALs. These elite special forces teams undergo rigorous training that emphasizes teamwork, trust, and communication. They learn to rely on each other in the most extreme conditions, demonstrating the power of a cohesive unit. By adopting similar principles, businesses can cultivate teams that are resilient, adaptable, and capable of overcoming any challenge. In today’s fast-paced business world, the importance of high-quality teams cannot be overstated. A well-coordinated team can significantly boost productiv...