The SMB executive’s guide to engineering transformation
How to grow faster, build better products, and avoid the disruption that holds companies back.
The global marketplace isn't getting easier. Rising product complexity, supply chain pressures, and intensifying competition are putting engineering organizations under real strain. For small and medium-sized businesses, the stakes are especially high.
Engineering transformation (EX) offers a clear path forward. But how you pursue it matters just as much as whether you pursue it at all.
Reduce disruption to level up your engineering
The 2023 Engineering Transformation Study by Lifecycle Insights found that most companies achieve their engineering improvement goals at roughly the same rate, regardless of size or approach. What separates the best from the rest is how much disruption they experience along the way.
Value realizers rated their disruption at 3.2 out of 10, while poor realizers rated theirs at 8.4 out of 10. For an SMB, disruptions such as delays, growing costs and quality issues aren't just painful, they can be catastrophic.
What top SMB engineering performers do differently
The most successful organizations align three things at once:
- Technology
SMBs invest in new software (34%) and hardware (42%) at rates near or above top performers. - Process
Only 27% of SMBs formalize process changes, versus 42% of Value Realizers. This is where most fall short. - Organization
Just 31% of SMBs adjust roles and responsibilities, compared to 40% of Value Realizers.
When these three changes are made together and tied to clear goals, the impact is greater than any one change alone.
Download the report to get a practical framework for pursuing engineering transformation without the disruption.