Effective Leadership in Software Development Organizations

Effective Leadership in Software Development Organizations

Ebenezer Ikonne | 2020

Abstract

Statistics show that a primary source of employee dissatisfaction in the workplace is their assigned leader, i.e., the person they report to (Clifton, 2020). The situation in organizations is so bad that even prominent management researchers recommend organizations get rid of their managers—as if that solves the problem (Hamel, 2011). This leadership challenge transcends industries. As progressive as software development organizations are when it comes to technology, employees in many of these organizations report experiencing poor leadership. After 20-plus years in the software development industry, I know first-hand that software development organizations are not immune to the problems of employee disengagement, low morale, and dissatisfaction.

Effective leadership does not end with achieving a shared goal or outcome. Effective leadership also requires that leaders continually foster an environment where employees can thrive. This book provides assigned leaders in software development organizations guidance on how to effectively lead within their organization. It provides the leader with insight on how culture—national and organizational—impact leadership and how the leader will need to adapt their leadership approach to their cultural context. An extensive review of servant leadership and adaptive leadership theories give leaders the behaviors and practices required to support their teams and lead through change using informal authority and personal power. Throughout the book, real-life stories are shared to provide readers with examples of these leadership approaches in practice. Leaders will become more effective at fostering a healthy environment where software development can succeed by reading this book. Leading effectively significantly benefits the people you lead, your organization, society, and you.