Better late than never. Small Batches returns in 2025. In this episode, Adam shares his learnings over the past year through the works of the Zen master Kaizenji. This is special follow-up episode to the previous episodes on the Zen of Programming.

Small Batches will return in 2025. Until then, I recommend checking out the Complexity Lounge on YouTube, hosted by my friend Jocko Selberg.

In this episode, Adam reads haikus from The Zen of Programming (1988) by Geoffrey James. This book is unlike any programming book you've encountered. So, let's try something new for the podcast to showcase this poignant, accurate, and funny book.

Want more?

• 🚀 New listener? Start with the introduction.
• 🧭 Get the Small Batches Way guide to software delivery excellence 
• 🥋 Software Kaizen: My One-on-One System for Engineering Leadership
• 📘 The Zen of Programming by Geoffrey James

Chapters

• (00:00) - The Zen of Programming: Book Five

In this episode, Adam reads book four in The Zen of Programming (1988) by Geoffrey James. This book is unlike any programming book you've encountered. So, let's try something new for the podcast to showcase this poignant, accurate, and funny book. This episode features koans from the fabled zen Master Lan-Hsi.

Want more?

• 🚀 New listener? Start with the introduction.
• 🧭 Get the Small Batches Way guide to software delivery excellence 
• 🥋 Software Kaizen: My One-on-One System for Engineering Leadership
• 📘 The Zen of Programming by Geoffrey James

Chapters

• (00:00) - The Zen of Programming: Book Four

In this episode, Adam reads book three in The Zen of Programming (1988) by Geoffrey James. This book is unlike any programming book you've encountered. So, let's try something new for the podcast to showcase this poignant, accurate, and funny book. This episode features analects from the fabled zen Master Rinzai.

Want more?

• 🚀 New listener? Start with the introduction.
• 🧭 Get the Small Batches Way guide to software delivery excellence 
• 🥋 Software Kaizen: My One-on-One System for Engineering Leadership
• 📘 The Zen of Programming by Geoffrey James

Chapters

• (00:00) - The Zen of Programming: Book Three

In this episode, Adam reads book two in The Zen of Programming (1988) by Geoffrey James. This book is unlike any programming book you've encountered. So, let's try something new for the podcast to showcase this poignant, accurate, and funny book. This episode features folktales from the fabled zen Master Noa-Op.

Want more?

• 🚀 New listener? Start with the introduction.
• 🧭 Get the Small Batches Way guide to software delivery excellence 
• 🥋 Software Kaizen: My One-on-One System for Engineering Leadership
• 📘 The Zen of Programming by Geoffrey James
• ☕️ Small Batches #84 - Deming

Chapters

• (00:00) - The Zen of Programming: Book Two

In this episode, Adam reads book two in The Zen of Programming (1988) by Geoffrey James. This book is unlike any programming book you've encountered. So, let's try something new for the podcast to showcase this poignant, accurate, and funny book. This episode features chronicles from the fabled zen Master Ninjei.

Want more?

• 🚀 New listener? Start with the introduction.
• 🧭 Get the Small Batches Way guide to software delivery excellence 
• 🥋 Software Kaizen: My One-on-One System for Engineering Leadership
• 📘 The Zen of Programming by Geoffrey James

Chapters

• (00:00) - Intro

In this episode, Adam reads the preface, forward, and introduction to The Zen of Programming (1988) by Geoffrey James. This book is unlike any programming book you've encountered. So, let's try something new for the podcast to showcase this poignant, accurate, and funny book. 

Want more?

• 🚀 New listener? Start with the introduction.
• 🎁 Enter the FREE giveaway for a copy of "Release It!"
• 🧭 Get the Small Batches Way guide to software delivery excellence 
• 🥋 Software Kaizen: My One-on-One System for Engineering Leadership
• 📘 The Zen of Programming by Geoffrey James

Chapters

• (00:00) - The Zen of Programming - Intro

In this episode, Adam welcomes Dan Slimmon, an experienced Site Reliability Engineer (SRE) to discuss aspects of incident response and troubleshooting in software engineering. Dan explains his methodology for clinical troubleshooting, the importance of maintaining a common mental model, and techniques for leading effective incident response efforts. They also delve into the value of continuous ops reviews and ongoing mental model updates to prevent issues, emphasizing the need for structured processes and effective communication.

Want more?

• 🚀 New listener? Start with the introduction.
• 🎁 Enter the FREE giveaway for a copy of "Release It!"
• 🧭 Get the Small Batches Way guide to software delivery excellence 
• 🥋 Software Kaizen: My One-on-One System for Engineering Leadership
• 🧑‍🎓 Dan's course on leading incidents (Code SMALLBATCHES24 for 24% off!)

Chapters

• (00:00) - Incidents & Operations

In this episode of Small Batches, host Adam Hawkins welcomes Alex Nesbitt, a strategy expert and member of the Flow Collective, to delve into the nuances of strategic thinking. The discussion covers different types of strategies, pro-tips on strategic thinking, and how strategy relates to the concept of flight levels. 

Nesbitt shares insights from his extensive consulting career, touching on topics like identifying leverage points, the relationship between strategy and tactics, and why being strategic is often more critical than having a strategy. The episode also stresses the importance of having a clear vision, enabling organizational constraints, and the roles of resilience and maintenance in strategic planning. Alex mentions practical examples, resources, and tips to help software and business leaders enhance their strategic approach.

Want more?

• 🚀 New listener? Start with the introduction.
• 🎁 Enter the FREE giveaway for a copy of "Playing to Win"
• 🧭 Get the Small Batches Way guide to software delivery excellence 
• 🥋 Software Kaizen: My One-on-One System for Engineering Leadership
• 📘 Playing to Win by Lafely & Martin
• 📘 Good Strategy, Bad Strategy by Rumelt
• 📘 The Effective Executive by Drucker
• 🧠 Effectuation Theory

Chapters

• (00:00) - Intro