Mike Kuphal's Thoughts

Over the past handful of months I’ve been working daily with various GenAI models. Here is what I believe each excels at right now:

– ChatGPT: Exceptional at generating human-like text, engaging conversation starters, and answering questions. Its wit and conversational tone make it perfect for social media content, chatbots, and customer service.

– CoPilot: A fantastic coding buddy that excels at code completion, debugging, and transforming the way we write code. Its syntax error-fighting skills and code optimization capabilities make it a must-have for developers.

– Meta AI: Impressive context understanding and real-time image/video generation capabilities make it a powerhouse. Its ability to analyze complex data and generate stunning visuals makes it perfect for data analysis, research, and creative projects.

– Gemini: Analytical and reasoning abilities shine in multi-modal input situations. Its expertise in refining search results and uncovering hidden insights makes it a valuable tool for researchers, analysts, and problem-solvers.

– Perplexity: Skilled at handling complex queries and offering deep dives into specific topics. Its expertise in providing refined answers and insights makes it perfect for knowledge seekers, students, and professionals looking to expand their expertise.

Each model certainly has its own unique strengths. By knowing which model to use for a specific task, we can streamline our workflow, increase productivity, and achieve better results.

Which of these AI models are you using regularly? What have you found works best for specific actions or tasks?

#AI #GenerativeAI #TechCommunity #Innovation #ChatGPT #CoPilot #MetaAI #Gemini #Perplexity

You’ve just deployed your latest update to production, and suddenly your system is unstable or crashing. What do you do?

With recent advancements in deployment tooling and practices, I now believe that establishing processes and norms to favor quick rollbacks is finally worth the extra up front effort—whereas just a few years ago, I felt the cost and overhead were too burdensome, often defaulting to a Fix Forward approach.

Much of this change in thinking has to do with advancements in fully automated deployment capabilities coupled with solid “immune system” capabilities built into the deploy process.

Case in point: Slack opts for rollbacks over hotfixes for several key reasons, all aimed at maintaining stability and efficiency, coupled with their fully automated deploy advancements:

1) Speed and Safety: Rollbacks are generally faster to execute than hotfixes. When an issue is detected, rolling back to a previous stable version of the software can be accomplished in minutes. This rapid response is crucial in minimizing downtime and the impact of bugs on users and operations.

2) Reduced Complexity: Hotfixes require identifying the problem, developing a fix, testing the fix, and then deploying it—a process that can be time-consuming and prone to errors, especially under the pressure of an ongoing incident. Rollbacks, on the other hand, simply revert the system to a known good state without the need to immediately solve the underlying issue in a rush.

3) Avoiding Quick Fixes Under Pressure: Developing fixes during an incident can lead to rushed decisions and potentially faulty coding as developers may feel pressured to resolve the issue quickly. Rollbacks eliminate this pressure, allowing for a more thoughtful and thorough investigation and solution to the problem at a later time.

4) Reliability of Known Good State: By rolling back to a previously stable release, Slack ensures the reliability of their service based on tested and proven software versions. This reliability is crucial for maintaining trust and functionality, especially in a high-stakes environment like Slack’s operations.

5) Strategic Long-term Fixes: After a rollback, the team can take the time to properly diagnose the issue and develop a more comprehensive and well-tested solution, rather than applying a quick fix. This approach often leads to better quality and more durable software improvements.

By favoring rollbacks, organizations like Slack prioritize operational stability, reduce risk, and ensure a high-quality user experience, while still enabling thorough enhancements.

What has your experience been—rollback or hotfix? Is it worth the investment to truly enable rollback as the preferred approach? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below!

#DevOps #SoftwareEngineering #DeploymentStrategies #ITOperations #CloudComputing

Have you ever witnessed a colleague confidently present, only to realize they’re missing key insights? This scenario is a classic example of the Dunning-Kruger effect.

This cognitive bias reveals a paradox: individuals with limited knowledge in an area often overestimate their competence, while true experts often underestimate theirs. In the workplace, this can lead to overconfidence and poor decision-making, impacting team dynamics and project outcomes.

Why does this matter? It’s not just about spotting the bias in others; it’s a reminder for us to practice introspection and humility. Recognizing our limitations and valuing continuous learning reshapes our approach to expertise – it’s not about what we know, it’s about being open to what we don’t know.

👉 Dive into this post https://bit.ly/3RU1Faz to explore how the Dunning-Kruger effect manifests in various aspects of life, from business decisions to everyday interactions. Learn about its causes, its impact on personal and team growth, and how fostering a culture of feedback and self-awareness can help us all avoid the pitfalls of overconfidence.

🔍 Have you encountered the Dunning-Kruger effect?

5 Steps to help combat a culture of false urgency at work

1) Recognize the Signs of False Urgency: Leaders should be aware of chronic overwhelm, reactivity, and frequent fire drills, which are indicators of false urgency. Recognizing these signs is the first step in addressing the issue.

2) Pinpoint the Source of Urgency: False urgency often stems from anxiety, such as fear of disappointing clients or being seen as uncooperative. Leaders need to identify the underlying reasons for urgency and challenge limiting beliefs to reframe their approach.

3) Prioritize Ruthlessly: Leaders should focus on prioritizing important tasks over urgent ones. Techniques like creating psychological distance can help in maintaining focus on what truly matters, thus avoiding the trap of false urgency.

4) Employ Strategic Procrastination: Use strategic procrastination to allow time for creativity and insight. This involves managing stakeholder expectations and allowing more time for tasks to be completed, leading to better outcomes.

5) Vet External Requests and Buffer Your Team: Leaders should filter external requests to protect their team from unnecessary urgency. This involves questioning the urgency of requests, discussing trade-offs, and empowering the team to push back against unrealistic timelines or demands.

Implementing these strategies can help create a more focused and productive work environment, reducing unnecessary stress and enhancing team performance.

More details here: https://bit.ly/3SCg90n

What separates good leaders from truly great ones? In “Good to Great”, Jim Collins shares the concept of Level Five Leadership, which really resonates with me. It’s not just a title; it’s a transformative approach that I continuously strive to embody in my professional journey.

Level Five Leadership stands at the pinnacle of executive capabilities, distinct from traditional management. These leaders blend unique skills and traits that elevate not just themselves but their entire organizations. Here’s what sets them apart:

👉 Personal Humility: They don’t chase the spotlight. Instead, they attribute success to their teams and external factors, embodying modesty and self-effacement despite their achievements.

👉 Professional Will: Their ambition is channeled towards the company’s welfare, not personal gain. They’re the torchbearers of sustainable results, prioritizing the organization’s long-term success over individual accolades.

👉 Fierce Resolve: These leaders are steadfast, committed to achieving the best long-term outcomes, irrespective of the challenges.

👉 Work Ethic: They’re the ‘plow horses’ of leadership, working tirelessly behind the scenes, focusing on what’s necessary, not what’s glamorous.

👉 Elevating Others: They prepare the next generation of leaders, ensuring the organization’s success continues beyond their tenure.

Under their leadership, companies don’t just grow; they transform from good to great, a testament to their lasting impact.

Collins’ research emphasizes that the shift from mediocrity to excellence in organizations often coincides with the emergence of Level Five Leadership. It’s a powerful reminder of the influence of leadership on corporate success.

Do these traits resonate with you? Do they remind you of leaders you’ve encountered? I’m eager to hear your thoughts and experiences. Let’s discuss in the comments!

#LevelFiveLeadership #GoodToGreat #LeadershipDevelopment #BusinessExcellence #ProfessionalGrowth #LeadershipGoals #CorporateSuccess #ExecutiveLeadership

Platform engineering is in fact, an evolution of infrastructure delivery… built upon core philosophies that underpin DevOps…. it is simply the next progression in delivering modern application infrastructure.

Components of platform engineering:
1. Automation and Infrastructure as Code (IaC)
2. Containerization and orchestration
3. Continuous Integration and Continuous Deployment (CI/CD)
4. Monitoring and observability

Benefits of platform engineering:
1. More consistent infrastructure
2. More scalable and reliable software
3. Better security
4. Faster feature delivery
5. Better cost control

https://bit.ly/45L2t7c

Business leaders must make sure they minimize the total cost of ownership (TCO) and reap the highest returns from their investments in public cloud.

Here are four ways to get started:
1. Unify operations and standardize governance across clouds
2. Make your on-prem data center as efficient and scalable as public cloud
3. Leverage existing skillsets to adopt cloud faster and more securely
4. Automate Networking and Security, Strengthen Ransomware Defense

https://bit.ly/3Lk6Dut

Not every application is meant for the cloud, especially many legacy apps that simply are not going away or being refactored anytime soon. Enterprises need to make optimal use of their on-prem infrastructure at the same time they leverage the benefits of public cloud.

Key Points to consider:
–> The Cloud Smart Approach is replacing the Cloud First mentality in non-born in the cloud companies. Cloud Smart focuses on maximizing both on-premises and cloud benefits, focusing on optimal performance and cost-effectiveness. This ensures each workload is executing on the optimal platform.
–> Hybrid Cloud is the New Norm: While previously seen as a transition to full public cloud, hybrid setups (on and off-premises) are now considered the optimal state for many enterprises, offering flexibility and cost optimization.
–> Planning is Crucial: Some organizations face negative ROI by hastily moving to the cloud without proper analysis, ending up with mismatched workloads.
–> Communication is Essential: Successful hybrid deployments require strong collaboration between infrastructure and software architecture teams.
–> Rising Hybrid Cloud Demand: Over 75% of enterprises use multiple cloud providers. Gartner predicts nearly $600 billion in end-user spending on public cloud services this year.

https://bit.ly/3QE4z3s

#CloudSmart #HybridCloud #EnterpriseTech

In today’s fast-paced business environment, two distinct but equally vital roles have emerged: Optimizers vs Regenerators. Understanding these roles is not just a matter of strategy; it’s a key to thriving in a competitive landscape.

🌟 Why does this matter? The intersection of Optimizers and Regenerators is where true business innovation lies. In a world that’s constantly changing, the synergy of creating new paths (Regenerators) and perfecting existing ones (Optimizers) is invaluable.

Reflect on your approach: Are you pioneering change as a Regenerator, or are you driving excellence as an Optimizer? Perhaps you blend both approaches in your work.

Embracing both roles can lead to remarkable achievements. While Regenerators push the boundaries of what’s possible, Optimizers ensure these innovations are practical and efficient.

🚀 As a leader, entrepreneur, or changemaker, how do you balance these roles? How do you see these dynamics unfolding in your industry?

🗣️ Let’s start a conversation: Are you a Regenerator, an Optimizer, or a blend of both? How do these roles manifest in your work?

#BusinessStrategy #Leadership #Innovation #Sustainability #FutureOfWork