Rethink Your Understanding

Phil Clark
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Rethink Your Understanding

Rethink Your Understanding: AI-Driven Insights on Digital Transformation & Software Delivery Welcome to Rethink Your Understanding, an AI-powered podcast where cutting-edge technology meets expert insights on digital transformation. We use AI to bring my articles and blog posts from rethinkyourunderstanding.com and Medium (https://medium.com/@rethinkyourunderstanding) to life, transforming written content into immersive audio episodes. Each AI-presented episode provides a "Deep Dive" into strategies, lessons, and the impact of leadership in Agile, Lean, DevOps, Value Stream Management, and Flow Engineering. Occasionally, we explore software engineering. We present a fresh approach to my articles, delivering key concepts, practical advice, and insights from years in tech leadership. Join us on Rethink Your Understanding—where AI amplifies expert voices to deliver the insights you need to lead your organization’s digital journey. Connect with me on LinkedIn

  1. Advocating for Refactoring: Prioritization in the Context of Business Goals

    JAN 20

    Advocating for Refactoring: Prioritization in the Context of Business Goals

    In this episode, the AI hosts dive into my article, which makes the case for viewing refactoring in software development not as a routine technical chore, but as a strategic business investment. The discussion examines the common drivers behind the need for refactoring—tight deadlines, shifting requirements—and outlines practical strategies for embedding it into established frameworks like Value Stream Management (VSM) and the Product Operating Model (POM). A key focus is on quantifying the business value of refactoring, using metrics to demonstrate its importance alongside features, defect resolution, and risk mitigation. Ultimately, the article advocates for a cultural shift toward continuous, incremental refactoring as a cornerstone of sustainable software delivery. Link to the article: Advocating for Refactoring: Prioritization in the Context of Business Goals, originally published January 19, 2025. Connect with me on LinkedIn

    19 min
  2. Dependencies Are Here to Stay: From Challenges to Opportunities

    JAN 18

    Dependencies Are Here to Stay: From Challenges to Opportunities

    In today's episode, the AI hosts discuss my article, which expands on a recent piece by John Cutler about managing cross-team dependencies. It explores three common approaches to handling dependencies: minimizing them, institutionalizing them, and actively addressing them. I build upon Culter's concepts by introducing a prioritization framework that emphasizes prioritizing work based on anticipated outcomes and available capacity. I advocate for a dynamic approach to reprioritization as circumstances change and highlight the benefits of a proactive, outcome-focused strategy. The framework presented aims to reduce team burnout and improve alignment with organizational goals by encouraging transparency and collaboration. The episode suggests that, while inevitable, dependencies can be transformed from obstacles into opportunities for growth and innovation. Link to the article: Dependencies Are Here to Stay: From Challenges to Opportunities, originally published January 11, 2025. Connect with me on LinkedIn

    16 min
  3. Why Value Stream Management and the Product Operating Model Matter

    JAN 7

    Why Value Stream Management and the Product Operating Model Matter

    In this episode, I share my journey of implementing Value Stream Management (VSM) and a Product Operating Model (POM) within my organization, highlighting the challenges, insights, and results along the way. It highlights the importance of not just implementing these frameworks, but also clearly articulating their value to foster alignment across teams and enhance operational efficiency. The AI hosts delve into the striking performance gap between organizations that effectively leverage these models and those that fall short, referencing key insights from the 2024 Project to Product State of the Industry Report. The episode emphasizes the importance of prioritizing outcomes over mere outputs and highlights the value of empowering cross-functional teams to take full ownership of the product lifecycle. It concludes by presenting my 2025 plan to deepen the integration of VSM and POM principles within the company, with a focus on enhancing communication and aligning team efforts with measurable business results. Link to the article: Why Value Stream Management and the Product Operating Model Matter, originally published January 05, 2025. Connect with me on LinkedIn

    15 min
  4. From Good to Great: Shifting to Outcomes in 2025

    JAN 4

    From Good to Great: Shifting to Outcomes in 2025

    In today’s episode, the AI hosts discuss my vision for our team in 2025 as we move into the next phase of our 10-year transformation. Our aim is to address capacity pressures by shifting from an output-focused approach to an outcome-driven mindset. We’re also reinforcing our commitment to a product operating model and value stream management. The episode emphasizes how feedback and collaboration can improve team alignment, increase engagement, and amplify impact. Link to the article: From Good to Great: Shifting to Outcomes in 2025, originally published January 02, 2025. Connect with me on LinkedIn

    17 min
  5. Breaking Free from the Build Trap: Delivering Meaningful Outcomes

    JAN 3

    Breaking Free from the Build Trap: Delivering Meaningful Outcomes

    In this episode, the AI hosts discuss that engineering teams should prioritize meaningful outcomes over simply delivering outputs—a concept known as the "build trap." It advocates for a product operating model using Value Stream Management (VSM) and Objectives and Key Results (OKRs) to ensure every effort delivers measurable business value. The discussion emphasizes the importance of defining anticipated outcomes for epics, fostering accountability through clear ownership of key results, and "closing the loop" by measuring and sharing actual results. Ultimately, the conversation advocates for shifting away from a feature factory mindset toward a focus on value creation and organizational alignment. Link to the article: Breaking Free from the Build Trap: Delivering Meaningful Outcomes, originally published December 25, 2024. Connect with me on LinkedIn

    16 min
  6. Transforming Engineering: From Cost Center to Strategic Partner

    JAN 2

    Transforming Engineering: From Cost Center to Strategic Partner

    This is the second episode in a three-part series exploring Profitable Engineering and how Phil as a technology leader is transforming the engineering department from a cost center into a strategic business partner. The AI hosts dive into Phil's response to peer feedback recommending him to prioritize focusing on business results, highlighting how it prompted a transformation in his leadership approach. Link to the article: Transforming Engineering: From Cost Center to Strategic Partner, originally published December 24, 2024. Connect with me on LinkedIn

    14 min
  7. Engineering’s Business Value: From Black Box to Clarity

    JAN 1

    Engineering’s Business Value: From Black Box to Clarity

    This episode is the first in a three-part series exploring the often-misunderstood role of software engineering, frequently dismissed as just a cost center. The AI hosts dive into my argument for adopting a product operating model and Value Stream Management to redefine engineering's value. By leveraging OKRs, teams can align their efforts with measurable business outcomes and customer impact. This shift requires intentional team design, emphasizing the movement of work to teams rather than individuals, enabling accurate cost tracking and demonstrating ROI. The ultimate aim is to transform the perception of engineering from a "black box" expense to a key driver of innovation and growth. In the next episodes, we’ll explore leadership strategies to make this vision a reality. Link to the article: Engineering’s Business Value: From Black Box to Clarity, originally published December 23, 2024. Connect with me on LinkedIn

    11 min
  8. Profitable Engineering: Linking Software Engineering to Business Results

    JAN 1

    Profitable Engineering: Linking Software Engineering to Business Results

    Happy New Year! We're excited to kick off season two of the podcast. In this opening episode, the AI hosts introduce a three-part series on Profitable Engineering, exploring how to connect technology investments to meaningful business results. This three-part series dives into reimagining software engineering as a strategic business partner rather than merely a cost center. Tailored for technology leaders, product managers, and anyone seeking to align engineering efforts with customer value and measurable business outcomes, it provides valuable insights to bridge the gap between technical investments and organizational success. Link to the article: Profitable Engineering: Linking Software Engineering to Business Results, originally published December 22, 2024. Connect with me on LinkedIn.

    9 min
See All (27)

About

Rethink Your Understanding: AI-Driven Insights on Digital Transformation & Software Delivery Welcome to Rethink Your Understanding, an AI-powered podcast where cutting-edge technology meets expert insights on digital transformation. We use AI to bring my articles and blog posts from rethinkyourunderstanding.com and Medium (https://medium.com/@rethinkyourunderstanding) to life, transforming written content into immersive audio episodes. Each AI-presented episode provides a "Deep Dive" into strategies, lessons, and the impact of leadership in Agile, Lean, DevOps, Value Stream Management, and Flow Engineering. Occasionally, we explore software engineering. We present a fresh approach to my articles, delivering key concepts, practical advice, and insights from years in tech leadership. Join us on Rethink Your Understanding—where AI amplifies expert voices to deliver the insights you need to lead your organization’s digital journey. Connect with me on LinkedIn

Information

  • Creator
    Phil Clark
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2025
  • Episodes
    27
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Rethink Your Understanding 2025
  • Show Website
    Rethink Your Understanding

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