Cambridge Business Association
Ask Your Developer
Book

Ask Your Developer

How to Harness the Power of Software Developers and Win in the 21st Century

Jeff Lawson
HarperBusiness, 2021
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Editorial Rating

8

Qualities

  • Applicable
  • Concrete Examples
  • For Beginners

Recommendation

To remain competitive in the face of digital transformation, every company must become a software builder. Therefore, the builders of digital solutions – software developers – are crucial to a company’s success. However, most business leaders do not know how to attract, retain and empower them. Getting this right can make the difference between being a disruptor or being disrupted.

Twilio co-founder Jeff Lawson explains the importance of giving software engineers autonomy, and describes how to create and sustain an open, learning environment. He shows how to unleash the power of collaboration between business and tech.

Summary

Software developers are now essential to the strategy of every business because every company has to become a software builder.

Businesses such as Uber, Airbnb and Spotify disrupted their industries, thanks to their talent for building the best software and providing superior customer experiences. For all businesses fighting for customers’ hearts and wallets, building the software that provides these experiences relies on fostering an environment of collaboration between software developers and executives across the organization.

Traditionally, many companies saw IT as a “cost center,” an investment that supports the operations of the firm. In the 1980s and 1990s, companies outsourced this function, and used off-the-shelf software products for internal operations.

The web and mobile technologies make a software interface one of the primary ways businesses engage with customers. A better digital experience is the crucial differentiator.

Adopt an ‘Ask Your Developer’ Mindset.

Software developers are inherently creative problem solvers.

To unlock the potential of your developers, adopt an ‘Ask Your Developer’ mindset:

About the Author

Jeff Lawson is co-founder and CEO of the technology company Twilio. 

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