Extra Episode Content
Here's where you can get some extra downloadable content for the various episodes...Cross-Functional Team Assessment Worksheet
Are you running a truly cross-functional team or a feature factory in disguise? Featured in Episode 4 of Engineering Evolved ("Cross-Functional Teams vs. Feature Factories: What's Actually Different?"), this comprehensive assessment helps engineering leaders evaluate their team's autonomy, identify dependencies, and plan transformation.
Download the Cross-Functional Team Assessment Worksheet to access eight detailed evaluation frameworks: the Five Capabilities Check measures end-to-end ownership and decision authority, the Team Autonomy Audit reveals how decisions actually get made, the Dependency Debt Score quantifies coordination overhead, and the Feature Factory Red Flags identify output-focused antipatterns. The worksheet also includes the Acid Test (can your team run experiments without approval?), quarterly health check questions, action planning templates, and a 30-60-90 day transformation roadmap.
Whether you're diagnosing team dysfunction or planning organizational redesign, this worksheet provides the structured framework you need to move from feature delivery to outcome ownership.
The First 90 Days Framework
Navigating the first 90 days of a modernization initiative is critical to long-term success. Our comprehensive framework, featured in Episode 9 of Engineering Evolved, provides engineering directors at mid-sized companies with the tactical guidance needed to build credibility, execute quick wins, and establish momentum.
The framework includes a detailed 90-Day Modernization Roadmap Checklist with week-by-week action plans and stakeholder mapping templates, a Quick Win Selection Framework to help you objectively evaluate and choose the right project to build political capital, a one-page Quick Reference for at-a-glance guidance, and ready-to-use Communication Templates for stakeholder updates, announcements, and handling pushback.
Whether you're stepping into a new role or launching a transformation initiative, these resources provide the practical playbook you need to make those critical first three months count.
Build vs. Buy Decision Framework
Should you build it in-house or buy a vendor solution? Featured in Episode 11 of Engineering Evolved ("The Build vs. Buy Decision Framework for Platform Engineering"), this comprehensive framework helps engineering leaders at mid-sized companies make smarter technology decisions that balance strategic value, maintenance burden, and time-to-value.
Download the Build vs. Buy Decision Framework to access a detailed evaluation rubric covering four critical factors: Maintenance Burden (quantifying ongoing costs), Time to Value (understanding urgency and delivery timelines), Strategic Differentiation (identifying competitive advantages), and Exit Costs (assessing vendor lock-in risks). The framework includes scoring guides for each factor, decision matrices that tell you when to build, buy, or defer, and real-world examples from platform engineering teams.
Whether you're evaluating CI/CD platforms, observability tools, or internal developer platforms, this framework provides the structured approach you need to make decisions that won't haunt you in six months.