Engineering Excellence: Insights from November's Architecting Manchester Event

By Joe Parker.

To close out 2024 on a high note, Architecting Manchester hosted a special November event, and let me just say—it was one for the books. Instead of the usual presentation format, we tried something new: a panel discussion paired with an audience Q&A.

The topic? Engineering Excellence—what it means, how to achieve it, and why it matters.

With a lineup of industry heavyweights and thought-provoking questions, the event brought fresh perspectives to some of the most pressing challenges in modern software engineering.

Let’s dive into the key takeaways.

About the panel:

The panel was moderated by Rick Boyce, Chief for Technology at AND Digital, and featured an incredible group of experts:

• Aleks Obrazcova, Lead Tech Architect at On The Beach
• Anna Dick, CTO at Capsule
• Lee Sanderson, Principal Software Craftsperson at Codurance

Together, they tackled big questions like:

• What does “engineering excellence” look like in practice?
• How can teams achieve peak performance?
• What role do frameworks like DORA metrics play?

Each panellist brought unique insights, blending technical expertise with real-world experiences.

What is Engineering Excellence?

The panel agreed that engineering excellence goes beyond just writing good code—it’s about creating value for the business, fostering a strong team culture, and ensuring sustainability in processes.

One key point was that excellence starts with clear, shared goals and a collaborative mindset. By aligning teams with these objectives, organisations can create a foundation for success.

Building High-Performing Teams

When it came to team performance, the conversation focused on the importance of psychological safety, continuous learning, and strong mentorship. The panel emphasised that high-performing teams thrive in environments where collaboration and curiosity are encouraged.

A particularly interesting insight was that investing in people—not just tools—is crucial to achieving long-term success.

Measuring Maturity and Performance

The discussion on metrics like DORA (DevOps Research and Assessment) metrics highlighted their value in assessing engineering maturity. However, the panel cautioned against over-relying on numbers. Metrics should serve as tools to guide discussions about improvement, rather than as end-all-be-all goals.

Ultimately, engineering excellence is about finding the balance between measurable outcomes and qualitative factors like team morale and customer satisfaction.

Audience Q&A:

The interactive Q&A brought a fresh energy to the event, with attendees asking insightful questions about balancing speed and quality, managing tech debt, and scaling teams effectively.

One recurring theme was the challenge of maintaining culture as teams grow. The panels’ advice? Scale deliberately. Make time for reflection, and ensure every hire aligns with your core values.

Key Takeaways

Reflecting on the discussion, here are three lessons that stood out:

• Engineering excellence is holistic. It’s not just about technical output but about aligning people, processes, and purpose.
• Culture is critical. High-performing teams thrive in environments where trust, collaboration, and growth are prioritised.
• Metrics are guides, not goals. Use them to inform, not dictate, your journey toward improvement.

What’s Next?

The November event was a fantastic way to wrap up 2024, leaving us all inspired to raise the bar in engineering practices.

If you couldn’t make it this time, don’t worry—2025 is packed with exciting events, starting with a hands-on workshop in January. Keep an eye on our Architecting Manchester Meetup page here for updates.

And if you ever want to chat about engineering practices or making sure your next hire aligns with your core values, I’m all ears. Feel free to reach out anytime—let’s connect.

See you there!