[AlotOfReading]

Another perspective is that "glue work" is one of the best ways you can generate outsized returns for your effort. Your own efforts scale linearly because you're just one person. Improving everyone's efforts scales multiplicatively, and compounds iteratively.

[hresvelgr]

I agree with this, though the article presents an unfortunately realistic issue within larger orgs: optics. Glue work is ultimately a bet and convincing management that doing said work will result in magnified/bettered future outcomes is difficult. Glue work is easier to do when management trusts engineering.

[jhot]

My previous job was specifically to do glue work for the engineering team and it was my favorite job I've ever had by a mile. I loved doing things to smooth the other engineers jobs and they loved the productivity gains.

Company had to lay most of us off and my current job is similar but a way bigger company so the productivity gains are less apparent. But I will continue to seek out the glue work jobs as long as I can find them.

[scarface_74]

And when you get ready to interview and you are asked behavioral question to gauge the level of “scope” and “impact” you worked at, do you really want to say you spent all of your time doing glue work?

Even before I understood those concepts, I made it a point not to just be a “ticket taker”.