Morgan and Eddie explore the often-taboo topic of money in engineering organizations by tackling listener questions about explaining layoffs and budget cuts to a team. They break down how SaaS businesses operate, the factors influencing engineering budgets, and practical strategies for managing finances as an engineering leader.
- (00:00) - Introduction and Listener's Dilemma
- (01:13) - Understanding Corporate Finance
- (01:48) - Challenges of Discussing Money
- (02:50) - SaaS Finance 101
- (04:36) - Financial Decision Making in Tech
- (08:59) - Engineering Budget Scrutiny
- (17:39) - Overhiring and Layoffs in Tech
- (21:07) - Strategies for Managing Budget Cuts
- (25:42) - Alignment of Values in Leadership
- (27:47) - Defensible Organizational Design
- (31:56) - Investment Allocation Strategies
- (33:28) - Build vs. Buy Decisions
- (35:34) - Importance of Fundamentals in Engineering
- (39:31) - Cost Consciousness and Budget Management
- (43:52) - Communicating Budget Changes to the Team
- (47:52) - Final Thoughts and Feedback
