(11/18-5/20)
Challenge
Finding the right-sized engineering team as the business ebbed and waned.
Action
Nov 2018 – Mar 2019
Two months after joining, in Oct 2018, was surprised by request to provide KLO budget slashing engineering by 60%.
Having only a basic understanding of team members’ strengths and weaknesses, I anticipated the following year’s needs and then presented guidance w/SVP PROD & CEO to corporate parent COO.
We secured fiscal year funding to ensure team/business continuity @ 38 headcount.
Dec 2019
In Nov 2019, was informed we needed to reduce our 25 person Delhi team to 8 for the 2020 fiscal year. I looked over the skillsets of the team and – with a solid year under my belt and experience of who top performers were – decided who would stay.
Saved company $800K by reducing engineering headcount from 38 to 25.
Mar 2020
Then, with the onset of COVID, needed to further reduce team-size, for both India and Pakistan teams.
Given impact of COVID, made decisions leading to add’l $840K reduction from 25 to 9.
Results
- Adjusted team size as necessary to meet needs of the business.
