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In my last post (Incrementalism and Digital Transformation – Team Edition) we examined the famous Milo of Croton, a 6th century wrestler who, legend says, gained his strength by picking up a calf every day from its birth until it was a full grown ox.

We are excited to celebrate Lean TECHniques Director of Engineering, Scott Sauber, and his recent MVP (Most Valuable Professional) designation from Microsoft.

In business today, data is the new currency, and securing this data is paramount.

In today’s tech-driven world, artificial intelligence (AI) is often hailed as the magic solution to all of our problems. But AI isn’t always the answer. Lean TECHniques Technical Consultant, Alec Harrison, has created an AI decisioning flowchart to help organizations determine if AI is the right solution or not.

In the age of Twitter threads and Instagram reels, it’s easy to get caught up in wanting to try out every hot trend promising to change your life.

When people hear a project or product is open source, they understand that to mean it’s publicly available for anyone to view, modify, and distribute. InnerSource is open source ideology applied to an organization’s internal software development processes and projects. It’s a simple idea with the potential to transform your engineering culture. 

As an IT leader, your ability to make strategic decisions quickly and effectively is more crucial than ever. The Purpose-Based Alignment Model (PBAM), developed by Niel Nickolaisen, is one tool we share often with leaders to help simplify decisions while ensuring alignment to their organization’s overall business strategy.

While most organizations understand the need for a robust IT strategy, the real challenge lies in executing a plan that delivers outcomes truly aligned with long-term business objectives. Here are seven key takeaways from a recent webinar panel we hosted on navigating the annual planning process.

In the world of software development, we’re familiar with code smells – those subtle indicators that something might be wrong with our codebase. But what about the smells that signal a disconnect between our development efforts and actual customer value? Let’s dive into four value smells that can provide insight into the true impact of what you are building.

When IT leaders talk about their data, the word “mess” typically comes alongside it. And it’s no wonder. Inconsistent formats, missing data, and scattered information across silos can be overwhelming. But here’s the thing: what if that mess isn’t just something to clean up? What if it’s an opportunity to take your data to the next level? In this post, we’ll guide you through a simple data maturity assessment tool that will help you reframe your mindset on mess, measure where your data practices stand, identify where to focus, and take actionable steps to improve.

It’s been nearly 25 years since the Agile Manifesto. While “Agile” now draws mixed reactions, its principles still shape how organizations work. AI has the potential to drive even greater change, but the sheer number of possibilities makes it hard to know where to focus. Enter our take on an AI Manifesto: a practical, people-first framework grounded in the same values we bring to every conversation about technology and business.

We’re excited to announce that Lean TECHniques has been named a 2024 Top Workplace by Iowa Top Workplaces and the Des Moines Register!

Lean TECHniques ranked ninth out of 63 companies in the Small Business category (<150 Employees), and first in the Communication Category for superior scores in internal communication.

Across professions and hobbies, skill development comes through practice—and coding is no different.

Lean TECHniques’ CEO, Brandon Carlson, and AI Strategy Lead, Kristina Colson, recently shared insights and best practices with the Des Moines Business Record on how to best approach AI governance within an organization.

Lean TECHniques is excited to announce the return of the Tech Journey Open — now in its fifth year – on Thursday, Sept. 4.

At the end of January, Lean TECHniques hosted a virtual lean coffee with product and UX professionals to share stories, swap ideas, and explore what great collaboration really looks like.

Lean TECHniques is excited to announce that Chief Innovation Officer, Tim Gifford, will be speaking at the Iowa Association of Business and Industry Taking Care of Business Conference on June 11 in Council Bluffs, Iowa.

Influence isn’t about authority – it’s about impact. Whether you’re working with peers, managing up, or guiding those who report to you, influence is about how others perceive and trust your input. The good news? You don’t need a leadership title to be influential. What you need is trust, expertise, humility, and the ability to set the right example.