Michele Brissoni

EP 51 - 🎙️ Sam Palazzolo Confirms Our Research: How Smart Investors Engineer Unicorns Through Behavioral Excellence and Software Mastery

Hit play ▶️ before scrolling—this interview with Sam Palazzolo might change how you invest in IT forever.

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EP 50 - 97.5% of IT Investments Are DOOMED 📉 – Here’s How Top Investors Are Flipping the Script.

Hey there, digital warriors! ⚔️

Welcome to a new era of IT investment management! If you’ve been following along, you know that in Episode 49, we ripped the Band-Aid 🩹 off and exposed the brutal reality:

EP 49 - Want to Engineer Unicorns 🦄? The Open-Source Playbook Investors Are Already Using.

Hey there, digital warriors! ⚔️

We’ve been through a journey together—from dissecting the dysfunctions plaguing IT investments to uncovering the hidden ROI of behavioral markers. Now, it’s time to connect the dots and unveil the ultimate tool for Private Equity (PE) and Venture Capital (VC) firms looking to maximize their IT portfolios. At the same time, CXOs can leverage it to elevate their organizations, breaking free from the all-too-common boardroom collusion where leadership stagnates, unable to drive real progress. This system provides a structured pathway to move beyond inertia and cultivate sustainable, healthy growth 🌱.

EP 48 - Fake Productivity: The Deadly Illusion of AI-Generated Code 💣

Hey there, digital warriors! ⚔️

After completing our mini-series on a real case of digital evolution, we’re shifting gears to delve deeper into the concept of Technical Excellence Programs that emerged in Episode 47. In these unstable times dominated by the AI-hype, it’s crucial to understand how essential technical excellence truly is.

EP47 - Lost Millions in IT? Here’s the 300% Stock Surge Playbook Auditors Loved 😍

Hey there, digital warriors! ⚔️

This article continues our deep dive into enterprise evolution, following the journey started in Episode 43. We’ve explored how a struggling IT organization transformed from a chaotic cost center into a high-performing strategic asset. In Episodes 45 and 46, we deep-dived, showcasing how OKRs, when infused with behavioral engineering and our Dojos’ Ecosystem, became the driving force behind alignment and execution. OKRs evolved into a continuous performance accelerator, ensuring that both strategic direction and tactical execution were seamlessly connected. Now, in this final installment, we reveal the ultimate validation of this evolution—an independent audit by PwC.

EP46 - Scaling Excellence: The OKR Lessons from a Bold CIO ✨

Hey there, digital warriors! ⚔️

We’ve navigated the chaos of transformation together. Back in Episode 43, we launched a mini-series unraveling a real enterprise use case—one that started with a global IT hub, teetering on the edge of failure. We jumpstarted a radical turnaround through behavioral engineering, socio-technical rewiring, and structured holistic evolution. What began as a fight for survival soon transformed into something far greater—a scalable blueprint for sustained technical excellence. A smart use of Key Behavioral Indicators (KBIs) - Episode 44 - revealed the hidden dysfunctions eroding progress. The Dojos’ Ecosystem - Episode 45 - built the groundwork for continuous mastery, igniting the cultural shift for excellence 🥇.

EP 45 - The Dojos' Ecosystem: The Engine of Evolution 🌱

Hey there, digital warriors! ⚔️

If you tuned into Episode 44, you saw how one remote development site, once crucial to a tech powerhouse, found itself stuck in an operational deadlock. The site had become a bottleneck, overwhelmed by maintenance duties and unable to deliver software efficiently. With leadership favoring emerging markets and locals fully disengaged, closure seemed inevitable.

EP 44 - Behind the Curtain: The Digital Evolution That Redefined Excellence

Hey there, digital warriors! ⚔️

In Episode 43, we set the stage for today’s story by exposing the cracks in the IT landscape:

EP 43 - From Chaos to Gold: How IT Can Rise Like a Phoenix.

Hey there, digital warriors! ⚔️

In Episode 42, we explored a hard truth: most failures in IT start at the board level. Leadership decisions—or lack thereof—create ripple effects that can derail entire organizations.

EP 42 - 70% of Transformations Fail at the Top—Here’s How Boards Can Flip the Script Without Breaking the Bank 🏦

Hey there, digital warriors! ⚔️

Let’s get real:

most digital transformations fail because leadership drops the ball .

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EP41 – From Desert 🌵 to Forest 🌳: Turning IT Into a Goldmine of Opportunity 💰

Hey there, digital warriors! ⚔️

Let’s kick things off with a question: How do you measure the health of your IT department? If IT is a vital cog in your financial machine—or even a strategic asset in your portfolio—your thoughts likely drifted to delivery timelines, profit margins, or cost. But what if I told you there’s an untapped layer waiting to be unlocked? 🔓

EP40 – Scaling IT Excellence: From Transformation to Evolution 🌱 – Be Part of our Research!

Hey there, digital warriors! ⚔️

Let’s kick off the new year 🎉 with some jaw-dropping data 📈!

EP39 – A Year to Remember: Reflecting on 2024 and the Road Ahead 🌟

Hey there, digital warriors! ⚔️

As we wrap up 2024, I find myself reflecting on what has undoubtedly been one of the most challenging years for IT I’ve ever witnessed. This was the year when the unexpected happened: the IT sector faced inflation—a first in history. 📈

EP38 – The Rise of the Behavioral Engineer: How Data Fuels Evolution 🚀

ℹ️ Before we dive in, I want to express my gratitude to Bob Marshall 🙏 for sharing Peter Rossi’s groundbreaking paper on the Iron Law of Evaluation and for his sharp insights about it in one of his latest episodes. You can read Bob’s reflections here and explore Rossi’s full work here.

EP37 - A Real Story of Socio-Technical Evolution 🌱 The Unicorns’ Touch

ℹ️ Before we dive into this narrative, here’s a quick note: this is a real story. For confidentiality reasons, I’ve anonymized certain details, but the essence remains intact. What you’re about to read showcases the transformative power of socio-technical evolution in stark contrast to canonical digital transformation by the book.

EP36 - Unlocking the Wisdom of IAD24: Talks That Inspire Digital Transformation Success 🎤

Hey there, digital warriors! ⚔️

Last month, the Italian Agile Movement delivered a whirlwind of inspiration, challenges, and breakthroughs within the #IAD24 conference. It was a privilege to share the stage with so many brilliant minds and to immerse myself in their ideas.

EP 35 - The Change Strategy Revolutionizing Boardrooms—Our Unique Formula, Your Competitive Edge!

Hey there, digital warriors! ⚔️

Buckle up because today’s topic is as hot as a production outage on Black Friday. 🔥 Remember in our last episode, when we called out “The Dangerous Myth of Harmless Behaviors”? Yeah, we ruffled some feathers. But hey, if we’re not shaking things up, are we even doing it right?

EP 34 - The Dangerous Myth of Harmless Behaviors - how to sabotage High-Performing Organizations

Welcome back, Digital Warriors! ⚔️

In our last battle, we wrapped up the Digital Transformation Mini-Series (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31) with a grand finale at the Italian Agile Day 2024 conference in Florence. If you missed it, we broke down the top five reasons digital transformations fail and laid out a blueprint for moving beyond transformation to embrace true evolution. Spoiler alert:

EP33 - Stop Transforming, Start Evolving – Reflections from IAD24

Hello Digital Warriors ⚔️!

After a few inspiring days at the Italian Agile Days 2024, I’m excited to dive into everything we learned, shared, and experienced. This conference was packed with insights into digital transformation, change management, and socio-technical systems, each moment reinforcing why we need to:

EP 32 - A Sneak Peek into Italian Agile Days 2024— Join Us in Florence!

Hello, digital warriors ⚔️ and agile enthusiasts 🤸🏻♂️!

We’re thrilled to announce that Italian Agile Days 2024 (IAD24) is right around the corner, happening on November 8-9 in Florence! This annual event, now in its 21st edition 🤩, is a must-attend for anyone passionate about Agile practices, digital transformation, and sustainable evolution in tech.

EP 31 - Think You’ve Budgeted Enough for Digital Transformation? Think Again.

Hey there, digital warriors! ⚔️

Welcome to the final episode of our mini-series on digital transformation (DX) failures. We’ve journeyed through the top four reasons most DX initiatives flop, and today, we’re tackling the fifth and final cause: underestimating costs. If you think digital transformation is a quick, one-time upgrade, this episode will be your wake-up call.

EP 30 - Tech Is Only Half the Battle: How to Nail Digital Transformation with Change Management

Hey there, digital warriors! ⚔️

We’ve been journeying through the mini-series of digital transformation (DX) failures, uncovering the top three reasons why 93% of DX initiatives end up in the mud. In today’s episode, we’re diving deep into Cause #4—the lack of a proper change management strategy—and why ignoring the human side of transformation is a surefire way to doom your DX.

EP 29 - Why Underestimating Digital Transformation Could Sink Your Business

Hey there, digital warriors! ⚔️

If you’ve been following our mini-series on digital transformation failures, you’re already in on the hard truth: a staggering 93% of DX initiatives flop. In today’s episode, we’re diving headfirst into a classic corporate mistake:

EP 28 - Unlock the Power of OKRs and DDD to Save Your Failing Digital Transformation

Hey there, digital warriors! ⚔️

In our last episode of this mini-series about why digital transformations fail at an alarming 93% rate, we uncovered how the lack of talent and dysfunctional environments are derailing your digital transformations (DX). Today, we’re diving into the next big pitfall:

EP 27 - The Hidden Connection Between Talent Drain and Digital Transformation Failure (And How to Fix It)

Hey there, fellow digital warriors! ⚔️

How’s the battle going on your side of the screen? Grab your coffee, energy drink, or whatever fuels your day, because we’ve got some exciting talk coming your way. We’re diving deep into the wild world of digital transformation (DX), where the struggle is all too real and the stakes are sky-high.

EP 26 - Why Digital Transformations Keep Failing at a Massive Cost. The Billion-Euro Trap

Welcome back, my fellow digital warriors! ⚔️

In our last episode, we uncovered the Volkswagen Group’s colossal missteps, where they failed to treat software as the core foundation of their business. Instead, it was relegated to just another cost center—a mindset that led to heavy layoffs, drastic budget cuts, and desperate, last-minute billion-dollar partnerships to buy skills and mindsets they lacked. The result? A staggering loss of over €20 billion in just four years, a perfect case study in how digital transformation (DX) can spiral out of control.

EP 25 - Volkswagen’s €20 Billion Software Disaster: How Poor Engineering Crippled the German Giant!

Hey there, digital warriors! ⚔️

Welcome back to the Forge of Unicorns! Last time, we blew the lid off the AI code generators market, exposing how relying too heavily on AI-generated code is a one-way ticket to Disasterville 🚨. Remember the shocker? No tests. Zero. Nada. Code straight out of the AI box without a single test 🥴. Brown code, baby—since day zero! 💥

EP 24 - The Ugly Truth About AI Code Generators Exposed! - Goodbye tests, Welcome disasters!

Hey there, fellow digital warriors! ⚔️

Before we jump into today’s AI code generator buzz, let’s take a quick stroll down memory lane to Episode 23. Remember that jaw-dropping tale about The Deadly Price of Cheap Code? Yep, we’re talking about Boeing’s tragedy and the looming AI crisis. (ICYMI: check it out here) 🔥 It was a raw, no-holds-barred look at how cutting corners in software engineering leads to disasters—no exceptions. This wasn’t just a coding error; it was a full-blown catastrophe with lives lost 😞.

EP 23 - The Deadly Price of Cheap Code: Boeing’s Tragedy and the Looming AI Crisis

Welcome back, my fellow digital warriors ⚔️!

Today, we’re diving into a hot topic that’s been making waves lately. You might have heard about those eye-opening interviews with ex-Google CEO Eric Schmidt and Amazon’s top brass Jeff Bezos. If you haven’t, well, let’s just say they’ve been stirring the pot (and maybe, just maybe, getting a bit too real for some folks). Schmidt’s chat at Stanford, which you can’t easily find on the usual channels (wonder why), and the Bezos’ talk, both dropped some serious bombshells about the future of software development and the role of AI.

EP22 - From Tech Lead to Top Speaker: How 'The Pragmatic Engineer' Helped Shape My Journey

Hello, my fellow digital warriors ⚔️ and all you tech-savvy enthusiasts out there!

EP 21 - Avoid Tech Disasters Like a Pro: What Ferrari’s Driving School Can Teach Your IT Department.

Welcome Back, Digital Warriors 🧑‍🎤!

In our last episode, we dove deep into why it’s crucial to rethink how you train your technical crew. But today, let’s cut to the chase—tech disasters are becoming a recurring nightmare that none of us can afford to ignore. We’ve all seen the headlines, and some of us have felt the sting firsthand when things go south. Take CrowdStrike, for instance. They were once riding high with a stock price of $390, but after the well-publicized gaffe, driven by a lack of technical mastery and poor IT posture, their forecast plummeted to $185. Now, they’re staring down the barrel of damage claims that have sparked nervous whispers about the company’s future.

EP20 - The Hidden Cause Behind Tech Disasters 💥: It’s Time to Rethink How You Train Your Teams!

Welcome Back, Digital Warriors! 🚀

In our last episode, we delved into the current state of the tech industry, with market disruptions and software failures making headlines. Today, we’re shifting gears to focus on a critical topic that’s all too often overlooked:

EP19 - From Hype to Horror: How AI Missteps Are Crushing the Tech Industry 📉

Welcome back digital warriors! ⚔️

In these mornings ☀️, we’re waking up with a strange sense of panic 🙀 — something you feel deep in your gut as you sip your morning coffee ☕️ and open your stocks app. This panic has a name:

EP18 - The Déjà Vu Disaster. When Will We Learn?

Intro

Welcome back Digital Warriors! ⚔️

Buckle up because today, we’re diving into another round of investigation and deep dive of the catastrophe that shook the cyber world to its core. The CRowdStrike Falcon outage wasn’t just a glitch; it was a colossal failure that left millions scrambling.

EP17 - How a Tiny Bug Took Down the World

🗓️ Friday 19th of July 2024 - The Wake-Up Call day

Imagine waking up to a world where a single software glitch causes economic losses of $ 10 billion, with $ 5.4 billion blown up by Fortune 500 companies alone. Unfortunately, this is reality, not a nightmare. This exact scenario unfolded with the CrowdStrike outage, impacting businesses globally. This disaster isn’t just a wake-up call for IT departments but a siren for all industrial leaders. The damage is likely underestimated. IT’s influence on our global economy, political stability, and safety is colossal. We’re in the era of Industry 5.0, with many still catching up to Industry 4.0 or even 3.0 paradigms. IT forms the backbone of every industrial and civil sector.

EP16 - The Future of Data in Digital Transformation

Hey there, fellow digital warriors! ⚔️

Welcome back to the Forge of Unicorns! Last time, we talked about why organizational assessments are key for real evolution 🌱, not just by-the-book transformations 📚. Today, we’re diving into how the Unicorns’ Ecosystem uses data to help organizations make smarter decisions and drive true evolution. Buckle up, because we’re about to explore the future of data in digital transformation!

EP15 - Organizational Assessments: Evolution Driven by Data

Hey there, fellow digital warriors! 🚀

Welcome back to the Forge of Unicorns! In our last post, we dove deep into why “SAFe isn’t the problem” but the approach to implementing it is where most transformations go off course 💥. Today, we’re taking a closer look at why our organizational assessment is crucial and why “Stop Transforming, Start Evolving” is not just a catchy phrase but a necessity.

EP14 - SAFe Isn't The Problem

Hey there, fellow digital warriors! 🚀

Welcome back to the Forge of Unicorns! In our last post, we delved into the importance of evolving over transforming with the replay of my talk at XP2024. Today, we kick off a new block of articles focusing on why an organizational assessment is crucial and why stopping transformation isn’t just an option but a necessity.

EP13 - The Replay of My Talk @ XP2024

🎥 Behavioral Engineering at the Software Craftsmanship Dojo®: A 14-year Adventure Empowering Over 15,000 Developers

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EP 12 - XP2024 Conference: The Post-Impressions

Hey there, fellow digital warriors ⚔️!

Welcome back! In our last posts, we delved into the transformative idea:

EP11 - -1 Week for XP2024: Unveiling the Unicorns Ecosystem

Hey there, fellow digital warriors! 🚀

Welcome back! As we gear up for #XP2024, let’s recap why evolving is crucial.

EP10 - Thus, Why is It Evolving?

Hey there, fellow digital warriors! 🚀

Welcome back to another exciting dive into the ever-evolving world of digital transformation. In our last post, we discussed “STOP ✋ transforming 🚧. START 🌱 evolving 🔄!” Today, let’s deep dive into the burning question: why do we need to evolve?

EP9 - STOP ✋ transforming 🚧. START 🌱 evolving 🔄

Hey there, fellow digital warriors! 🚀

Welcome back to another exciting dive into the ever-evolving world of digital transformation. In our last post, we delved into the captivating insights from the IT Revolution Tech Leadership Summit Europe 2024, exploring the theme of evolution over transformation. Today, we’re taking a deeper plunge into the heart of this revolutionary concept and its implications for your organization.

EP8 - Deep Dive into My Talk at the IT Revolution Enterprise Technical Leadership Summit Europe 2024

Hey there, fellow digital warriors! 🚀

I’m thrilled to share with you a deep dive into my recent talk at the IT Revolution Enterprise Technical Leadership Summit Europe. But wait, there’s more – my talk, titled “In the Heart of the DOJO,” is now available for you to watch for free on the IT Revolution platform! 🎥 So, grab your popcorn 🍿 and settle 💺 in for an insightful journey into the creation of the SW Craftsmanship Dojo® and beyond.

EP7 - IT Revolution Tech Leadership Summit 2024 - Europe

!Hey there, fellow digital warriors! 🚀

Let’s dive into the electrifying world of the IT Revolution Tech Leadership Summit Europe, where minds from all corners of the globe converged in a virtual extravaganza of innovation and insights. This year’s remote format brought together luminaries like Gene Kim, spanning from the East Coast of the US to Australia and New Zealand fellas, fostering unprecedented levels of engagement and connectivity. As a seasoned conference participant and speaker, I must say, the accessibility of this event was truly remarkable, fostering interactions like never before.

EP6 - Behind the Scenes of the IT Revolution Tech Leadership Summit

Hey there, fellow digital warriors!

Ever wondered what goes on behind the curtains of a tech leadership summit? Well, let me take you on a journey through the exhilarating process of preparing my talk for the upcoming IT Revolution Tech Leadership Summit. Get ready for a wild ride! 🚀

EP5 - Upskilling and Reskilling - Your Ticket to Thriving in the AI Era

Hey there, fellow digital warriors!

In our last episode, we tackled the turbulent waters of talent management, discussing the struggles of CXOs battling burnout and disengagement in their organizations. But fear not, because today, we’re diving into an exciting new chapter that promises to shake up the digital landscape!

EP 4 - Navigating the Talent Storm - A CXO's Battle Against Burnout, and Disengagement

Hey there, digital transformation warriors! Today, we’re plunging into the depths of a challenge that’s keeping many organizations tossing and turning at night ✨: disengagement 🙉, burnout 😣, and the plummeting productivity levels 🥱 that threaten to capsize even the sturdiest of ships. But don’t hit the panic button 🙀just yet, because we’ve got some insider knowledge that could turn the tide for you, armed with the secret weapon of Behavior Engineering.

EP3 - Upskilling and Reskilling - Your Ticket to Thriving in the AI Era

Hey there, fellow digital warriors! Buckle up because we’re diving into another round of insights to help you conquer your digital challenges, following our previous Matrix Red Pills 💊: ‘AI won’t save you from failing in digital transformations’ and ‘Unlock The Power of Behavior Engineering in Digital Transformation’.

EP2 - Unlock The Power of Behavior Engineering in Digital Transformation

Hey there, fellow digital warriors🧑‍🎤! Remember when we talked about how AI won’t swoop in and save your digital transformation woes? Well, guess what? I’ve got some juicy follow-up for you, and it involves a little something called behavior engineering.

EP1 - AI won’t save you from failing in digital transformations.

Hey there, CXOs, board members, and all you high-flying executives and leaders out there, listen up! If you’re wondering why your digital transformation efforts seem to be stuck in a perpetual loop of disappointment and drain on your resources, well, I hate to break it to you, but AI isn’t going to swoop in like a superhero and save the day. Nope, not this time.

The Reason Why We Work Remotely: The Key to Your Success

Introduction

In today’s rapidly evolving work landscape, the choice between remote, on-site, or hybrid work models has become pivotal for companies seeking success in an increasingly demanding market. As we navigate the complexity of this decision-making process, the benefits of a remote-first approach stand out, particularly in specialized fields like IT software development, where remote coaching and DevOps/Agile transformation services can really boost the success rate of a business’s transformation.

Enhancing Code Quality and Development Efficiency: The Interplay of IDP and Software Craftsmanship

Introduction

In today’s dynamic and competitive software development landscape, achieving a balance between speed and code quality has become a critical challenge. The term “Internal Development Platform” (IDP) has gained prominence as a potential solution, promising to accelerate software delivery. However, it is crucial to recognize that prioritizing speed at the expense of code quality can lead to suboptimal outcomes in the long run. This essay explores the intricate relationship between IDPs and code quality and highlights the pivotal role of the SW Craftsmanship Dojo® in addressing this challenge. Furthermore, it sets the stage for the upcoming presentation at the Italian Agile Days 2023, where the insights from this analysis will be shared to the whole community.