Pros
- Good place to learn for the self-directed who don't mind a LOT of ambiguity
- ICs are a talented, kind, diverse group that know and care for each other
Cons
- The executive team is disconnected from development reality. The executive effort is focused elsewhere, leaving the technical leadership to set pace and culture alone. That leadership values loyalty over performance. There are favorites who receive support and others who are micromanaged or managed out, regardless of contribution. Technical leadership is often too focused on working in the trenches to lead fairly and effectively.
- There was a push to create a middle management layer that felt disconnected from the real work. The roles were filled without regard for technical proficiency or soft skills necessary for small team management, resulting in managers who will not advocate for their teams or push back on unrealistic demands.
- The product team struggles to define clear, realistic requirements and roadmaps. There is a clear lack of understanding of how software is built, leading to churn, rework, and minimal pushback when the customer changes their mind late in the cycle. Engineering is mostly blamed for the delays this causes.
- The culture is often high pressure and transactional, with team members being let go after a crunch or deliverable completion.
- Offboarding is cold, abrupt, and lacks transparency. No one is sure where the hammer will fall next, only to figure it out when someone fails to make their next meeting.