Ad Hoc Engineering: Problems, Risks, and Solutions
Published: 2023-03-02 15:59:13

Have you ever worked in a team that lacks structure and relies on individual heroics to get work done? If so, you might be experiencing Ad Hoc Engineering, the lowest level of engineering team maturity. In this blog post, we'll explore the problems associated with Ad Hoc Engineering, the risks of not addressing them, and the solutions and tools that can be used to improve your team's performance.


## What is Ad Hoc Engineering Maturity Level?
Ad Hoc Engineering is the lowest level of engineering team maturity. It is characterized by teams that are reactive and rely on individual heroics to get work done. They have no real process in place and often rely on the experience of individual team members to complete tasks. This can lead to chaos and disorder in a team, resulting in individual team members feeling overwhelmed or unsure of what to do next.


## Role of Engineering Managers
Ad Hoc Engineering can lead to several risks that can impact the team's productivity and performance. Without a clear framework and structure for work, individual team members may feel overwhelmed or unsure of what to do next. The reactive nature of their work and lack of structure can also lead to burnout, disengagement, and a lack of career growth opportunities for developers.

This is why engineering managers play a critical role in creating an environment that fosters growth and progress. They should provide a clear vision for the team, establish basic processes and communication channels, and encourage more collaboration through team-building exercises. Managers should also be available to answer questions and provide feedback when needed, to help team members feel more confident in their work.

According to the survey conducted by CodinGame, developers are most motivated when they feel like they're making progress, and they're working on challenging projects that help them grow their skills. This is why engineering managers play a critical role in creating an environment that fosters growth and progress. They should provide a clear vision for the team, establish basic processes and communication channels, and encourage more collaboration through team-building exercises. Managers should also be available to answer questions and provide feedback when needed, to help team members feel more confident in their work.

## How Ad Hoc Engineering Management Affects Motivation, Productivity, and Growth of Developers
Ad Hoc Engineering can hinder developers' opportunities for growth and progress, resulting in demotivated and unproductive team members. Without clear guidance and support from their engineering managers, individual team members may feel overwhelmed, unsure of what to do next, and ultimately disengaged from their work. This can lead to a decrease in productivity and a lack of career growth opportunities for developers.

For example, when developers don't have access to clear goals and objectives, they may be uncertain about what they need to accomplish. This lack of clarity can cause them to become demotivated, and they may struggle to stay on task. Additionally, when team members are working in isolation, communication may be ad hoc and inconsistent. This can cause misunderstandings, errors, and delays that can impact the quality of the work and the team's productivity.

## Solutions and Tools to Address Ad Hoc Engineering
To address the problems associated with Ad Hoc Engineering, establishing basic processes, implementing communication channels, and promoting collaboration among team members are essential. A Git system like Gitlab can also help to improve communication and collaboration, enabling developers to track changes and versions of code. The tool also facilitates the review and feedback process, improving the quality of work and the speed at which it is done. By creating a structure and framework for work, team members can work more effectively and achieve their goals.

For example, establishing basic processes like a checklist for code review or a documentation template can provide a clear framework for work to be performed, helping team members feel more confident in their roles and responsibilities. Implementing communication channels like a designated Slack channel or a regular team meeting can help to establish clear lines of communication between team members, ensuring that everyone is on the same page. Promoting collaboration through team-building exercises or pairing can encourage team members to work together and build relationships, improving communication and building a stronger sense of community within the team.

## Risks of not addressing problems at Ad Hoc Engineering Level
The risks associated with Ad Hoc Engineering can lead to several negative consequences for the team's productivity and performance. As we mentioned earlier, the reactive nature of work and the lack of structure can cause burnout, disengagement, and a lack of career growth opportunities for developers. In addition to these risks, there are other negative consequences associated with Ad Hoc Engineering that can impact the team's overall productivity.

For example, a lack of documentation and communication can lead to miscommunications, misunderstandings, and mistakes. This can result in errors, rework, and delays, ultimately leading to poor quality work. Moreover, without a clear framework and structure for work, individual team members may feel overwhelmed or unsure of what to do next. This can cause chaos and disorder in a team, resulting in individual team members feeling overwhelmed or unsure of what to do next.

## Conclusion
In conclusion, Ad Hoc Engineering is detrimental to team success, but it can be mitigated by implementing basic processes, communication channels, and fostering collaboration among team members. By creating a structure and framework for work and providing guidance and support to team members, engineering managers can help developers feel more confident in their work and motivated to grow their skills. With these measures, teams can move towards higher levels of engineering team maturity, improving their performance and delivering better outcomes for the business. The role of engineering managers is critical in mitigating the risks associated with Ad Hoc Engineering, and they should establish a clear vision, provide guidance and support, be available to answer questions, and monitor progress closely.

Implementing basic processes, communication channels, and fostering collaboration can provide a clear framework for work to be performed, helping team members feel more confident in their roles and responsibilities. Using a Git system like Gitlab can help to improve communication and collaboration, enabling developers to track changes and versions of code. These measures can help create structure and foster teamwork within the team, allowing them to work more effectively and achieve their goals.

As software development is a team sport, it's important for managers to establish a clear vision for the team and encourage them to work towards it. According to the survey conducted by Stack Overflow, over 54% of developers cited "bad management" as the most frustrating part of their job. This is a clear indication of the importance of good engineering management in a team's success. With the guidance of engineering managers, teams can move towards higher levels of engineering team maturity, improving their performance and delivering better outcomes for the business.

#### Read about the other levels:
- [Level 2. Repeatable Engineering: Promoting Consistency and Quality in Dev Team](https://blog.getace.io/all-posts/repeatable-engineering-promoting-consistency-and-quality-in-dev-team)
- [Level 3. Defined Engineering: Navigating Common Problems at Level 3](https://blog.getace.io/all-posts/defined-engineering-navigating-common-problems-at-level-3)
- [Level 4. Managed Engineering: Empowering Teams with Data-Driven Decision Making](https://blog.getace.io/all-posts/managed-engineering-empowering-teams-with-data-driven-decision-making)
- [Level 5. Optimized Engineering: The Key to Unlocking the Potential of Your Development Team](https://blog.getace.io/all-posts/optimized-engineering-the-key-to-unlocking-the-potential-of-your-development-team)