Every engineering team pays a tax. The question is: how much?

In this episode of Tech Council, Duncan Mapes and Jason Ehmke spotlight the unspoken, underestimated cost of audit prep, compliance checklists, and spreadsheet-driven project tracking - the administrative tax.

Administrative tax is the accumulation of compliance requirements, audit demands, spreadsheet sprawl, and redundant manual workflows that keep smart people from doing the work they were actually hired to do.

If you’re a CTO or engineering leader aiming to operationalize strategy while scaling cleanly, this episode offers a data-driven roadmap.

Top Takeaways:

• The administrative tax is a significant burden on organizations
• Regulatory pressures have intensified in recent years, impacting operational efficiency
• Perverse incentives can lead to inefficiencies and increased workload
• App managers are often the most affected by administrative tax
• Maintaining a clear inventory is crucial for effective management
• Automation can help alleviate the administrative tax burden
• Organizations need to measure their progress and define what 'good' looks like
• The Cobra effect illustrates how poorly designed incentives can worsen problems
• Effective governance is essential for managing administrative tax
• Smart people in organizations want to improve processes but face limitations

Mentioned in the Episode:

• Internal Tech Emails on X (Twitter) - https://x.com/TechEmails
• Internal Tech Emails post on X about Mark Zuckerberg’s memo about Strategy Tax - https://x.com/TechEmails/status/1944451283236303184

Connect with us:

Duncan Mapes

Jason Ehmke

DevGrid.io

DevGrid on LinkedIn

DevGrid on X

“10x engineers? Probably jerks.”

Jason and Duncan aren’t mincing words in this episode of Tech Council.

They’re calling BS on the myth of the superhuman engineer and making a case for the everyday professionals who care deeply, collaborate well, and raise the bar for everyone else.

This one’s for team leads, CTOs, and senior devs who want to build organizations where great work doesn’t depend on unicorns.

Hit play and rediscover the power of normal engineers.

Top Takeaways:

• The concept of the 10X engineer is often exaggerated and can be counterproductive
• Systems and teams are more important than individual talent
• Decentralizing responsibility can lead to a healthier team dynamic
• Caring about the right things can help shape a better engineering culture
• Designing an ecosystem for talent is crucial for organizational success
• AI tools are changing the expectations of engineering roles
• Specialization will still exist, but versatility will be increasingly important
• Creating an attractive work environment can help draw in top talent
• Great engineers are made through mentorship and support

Mentioned in the Episode:

In Praise of “Normal” Engineers by Charity Majors - https://charity.wtf/2025/06/19/in-praise-of-normal-engineers/

Charity Majors - https://charity.wtf/about/

Charity Majors on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/charity-majors

Connect with us:

Duncan Mapes

Jason Ehmke

DevGrid.io

DevGrid on LinkedIn

DevGrid on X

How do you go from launching apps to leading platforms?

This week on Tech Council, Duncan sits down with Chris Boyd—a mobile dev veteran turned platform engineering leader—to talk about what changes when your team grows, your stack evolves, and your priorities shift.

They talk React Native, metrics, AI, leadership, and what it takes to balance product demands with long-term engineering health.

Chris is also on the verge of launching something new—so you’ll get a peek behind the curtain of what’s next in agent development.

Hit play. This one’s packed.

Top Takeaways:

• Metrics are crucial for understanding app performance
• Leadership in platform engineering requires strong communication skills
• Addressing app quality issues can require drastic measures
• React Native is becoming the standard for mobile development
• Transitioning to a new tech stack should be gradual and strategic
• AI is reshaping the landscape of software development
• Personal development and growth are key in tech careers
• Building a strong team culture is essential for success
• Understanding the business impact of tech decisions is critical
• Continuous learning and adaptation are necessary in tech

Connect with Chris Boyd - https://chrisboyd.me/

Connect with us:

Duncan Mapes

Jason Ehmke

DevGrid.io

DevGrid on LinkedIn

DevGrid on X