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Otter Advisory Newsletter #3
May, 2021

Hello

This is the third edition of the newsletter. I spend a lot of time reading stuff, and I’ve experimented with a variety of tools to track interesting posts and links, I'll  post a few of these. I’ve  refreshed the website, so I can more easily publish now.  This month's version has a bit about AI, platforms, regulations and DevOps.

The newsletter is a miscellany of what I’ve read, written, watched or heard over the last little while. This may interest people who work in the world of HRTECH, SaaS, work tech etc, either as users, builders or investors.  I’ll do this once a month or so at first, and see how it develops.  Let me know what you would like to see here. Eventually I might even do some fancy formatting. Or not. 

Things I've written recently

• Platforms and enterprise applications. A critical view, using a great parable.

• My Haufe column (in German) looks at the importance of documentation.

• My unleash column.  Asking the the hard questions about AI.

Things I've read

•  Google stepping up on accessibility. At last.  Microsoft is way ahead here.

•  One of the best marketing campaigns in enterprise tech in a while. Celonis is making process cool again. 

• DORA research into DEVOPS. This is gold.

•  Oxford research on the gig economy. 

• McKinsey on the future of work.

• Serious data on gig economy, skills etc.. 

• Unfairness in hiring. 

• EU AI regulation announcement. . 

• Why AI is harder than you think.

• Platform fast or slow. Regulatory complexity and regulatory risk are two significant but often neglected factors in platform scaling decisions.

• Aptitude Research (Great stuff from Madeline) on Programmatic Advertising 

Someone to follow on Twitter

• Dr Nicole Forsgren

• Jez Humble

A blog to subscribe to

The A16z blog. I'm really impressed with the standard of research coming from them (most of the time).  This paper on cloud economics is especially thought provoking. 

A book to read

Evolution of New Markets.  Paul Geroski.  One of the best business books I've ever read.

Cloud Computing Law. Christopher Millard's latest edition. Just ordered it.

Something to listen to

• Vusi Mahlasela's latest album Shebeen Queen. 

• I have a chat with Jason Averbook on HRTECH:

Something to watch

More from my Oxford profs. Here is Marc Ventresca on Explore v Exploit. 

Come and talk Enterprise Product Management

Dave Kellogg and I are doing Clubhouse Sessions on Product Management. Thursday mornings at 8 am pacific for  a series of Enterprise SaaS Product Power Breakfasts where we will talk among ourselves, with invited guests, and with the audience about all things product. It is also available as a podcast, finally. Podbean

Itunes/apple.

A recent episode here.

If you would like to get in touch, click here to schedule a call or drop me a note.  If you were forwarded this, and would like to subscribe, you can do so via the website.