The Engineering Protocol Stack
A layered model — CPU, RAM, LAN and WAN — for understanding and training the human side of engineering leadership with the same rigor we apply to the technical side.
Your brain, your team, and your organization, seen as a technology stack
Just like a computer system is organized in layers — processor, memory, local network, external network — this book organizes engineering leadership into four layers that depend on each other. Each layer has its own typical "bugs," and fixing a problem at the wrong layer rarely works. The book gives you a clear map of the parts of the job that never came with documentation.
Your processor
Task management, focus and priorities: how your "processor" executes day-to-day work.
Your memory
Working memory, learning, and mental load: using your temporary storage for what actually matters.
Your team
Roles, career paths and team dynamics: from a group of people to a high-performing team.
Your organization
Stakeholders, cross-team collaboration, and managing upward: connecting your team to the rest of the world.
Latest posts
From a Group of People to a Team: What Changes in the LAN Layer
Having several people work together isn't the same as having a team. The difference lies in roles, processes, and a shared identity.
Your Working Memory Is RAM, Not a Hard Drive
We're great at connecting ideas and generating new ones, but pretty bad at storing loose data. Using memory for what it's for changes how...
Why Multitasking Makes You Slower (and What to Do Instead)
We can't really multitask: we just move our attention very quickly from one thing to another, and every switch has a cost.
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