What VPs of Engineering care about in 2024?

The first Engineering Leaders Forum of 2024 gathered engineering leaders to discuss the crucial topics of measuring engineering organizations and the strategic implementation of artificial intelligence (AI). The event highlighted the importance of using multiple metrics to avoid skewed incentives and emphasized the interconnectedness of stability and throughput, as noted in the book "Accelerate." A significant discussion point was the use of Test-Driven Development (TDD) to ensure that testing is not merely codifying existing bugs, but rather serves as a collaborative contract among teams. In terms of AI, the forum revealed a shift in attitudes, with about half the companies utilizing AI code assistants like Co-pilot. This tool was seen as beneficial for junior developers, enhancing satisfaction rather than direct productivity, while senior developers were less enthusiastic about its use. Concerns about AI focused on its potential to reduce developer accountability and affect code quality, while issues like intellectual property and data protection seemed less pressing than before. The forum concluded by pondering the future size of engineering organizations in the face of growing AI integration.