Idea map.

The book's 11 mental models, its 32 chapters, and the 33 blog posts the chapters draw on. Point at anything to see what it connects to.

Mental modelsChaptersBlog postsStart hereI · FoundationsII · CommunicationIII · KnowledgeIV · LearningV · LeadershipVI · ExecutionVII · OrganizationsVIII · FutureAsync by Default: Cross-team communication as a typed, routed protocol.Async by DefaultHierarchical Context: Organizational knowledge with an address and inheritance.Hierarchical ContextThinking Out Loud: Capturing reasoning so judgment becomes learnable.Thinking Out LoudThe AI SDLC: The software lifecycle rebuilt around agentic execution.The AI SDLCThe Engineering Leadership Stack: Every layer designs a larger system, not more headcount.The Engineering Leadership StackAdministrative Gravity: The operational overhead AI can finally remove from leaders.Administrative GravitySpan of Improvement: Measuring leaders by improvement, not span of control.Span of ImprovementContext as Infrastructure: Treating knowledge as a maintained system, not scattered docs.Context as InfrastructureLearning Streams: Searchable expert thinking as a first-class artifact.Learning StreamsOrganization as a Product: Designing the org itself as an intentional, iterated product.Organization as a ProductOrganizational Context Readiness: Whether a company can provide reliable evidence about how it actually operates.Organizational Context ReadinessIntroduction: The Operating ModelIntroduction: The Operating ModelOne Change Through the SystemOne Change Through the SystemWhy Software Engineering Changes with AIWhy Software Engineering Changes with AIWhat Is the AI SDLC?What Is the AI SDLC?From Agile to AI-Native DevelopmentFrom Agile to AI-Native DevelopmentAsync by DefaultAsync by DefaultDecision RecordsDecision RecordsContext over MeetingsContext over MeetingsHierarchical ContextHierarchical ContextContext as InfrastructureContext as InfrastructureWhat Async Can't Teach YouWhat Async Can't Teach YouThinking Out LoudThinking Out LoudLearning StreamsLearning StreamsMentorship in AI-Native TeamsMentorship in AI-Native TeamsThe Engineering Leadership StackThe Engineering Leadership StackAdministrative GravityAdministrative GravityOperating the Improvement BacklogOperating the Improvement BacklogSpan of ImprovementSpan of ImprovementThe AI-Executable TicketThe AI-Executable TicketAgentic DevelopmentAgentic DevelopmentMulti-Agent EngineeringMulti-Agent EngineeringEvaluation and Release EvidenceEvaluation and Release EvidenceHuman in the LoopHuman in the LoopEngineering EconomicsEngineering EconomicsAutonomous SDLC and Self-Learning PipelinesAutonomous SDLC and Self-Learning PipelinesThe Organization as a ProductThe Organization as a ProductContinuous LearningContinuous LearningCulture in Async OrganizationsCulture in Async OrganizationsOrganizational Operating SystemsOrganizational Operating SystemsApplying the Book: From Operating Model to Company PlaybookApplying the Book: From Operating Model to Company…Looking AheadLooking AheadRecursive Self-Improvement and Organizational ChangeRecursive Self-Improvement and Organizational Change2025.mkii - Vibe Coding Enterprise Transformation2025.mkii - Vibe Coding Enterprise Transforma…Agile SDLC With Vibe Engineering: How AI Extends Agile Without Breaking ItAgile SDLC With Vibe Engineering: How AI Exte…Async by Default: A Cross-Team Communication Protocol for the AI-Native SDLCAsync by Default: A Cross-Team Communication…From Execution Speed to Adoption Limits: Rethinking Work Time in the AI EraFrom Execution Speed to Adoption Limits: Reth…The Maximum Velocity of a TeamThe Maximum Velocity of a TeamHierarchical Context: An Architecture for the AI-Native EnterpriseHierarchical Context: An Architecture for the…The Future of Software Careers After AI Becomes NativeThe Future of Software Careers After AI Becom…Software Factory Isolation vs. Team Software FactoriesSoftware Factory Isolation vs. Team Software…What Async Can't Teach You: Rebuilding Apprenticeship in the AI SDLCWhat Async Can't Teach You: Rebuilding Appren…Beyond the Team: Rethinking Engineering Organizations in the Age of AIBeyond the Team: Rethinking Engineering Organ…Redefining the Task: The Unit of Work in an AI-Native SDLCRedefining the Task: The Unit of Work in an A…Engineering Management Evolution in Agentic EngineeringEngineering Management Evolution in Agentic E…Building the Most Business-Valuable Version of Yourself: From AI Assistance to a Personal FactoryBuilding the Most Business-Valuable Version o…The Team That Never Stops ImprovingThe Team That Never Stops ImprovingAI-Free FridaysAI-Free FridaysThe AI-Executable TicketThe AI-Executable TicketThe Software Factory Needs Vision and a Way to LearnThe Software Factory Needs Vision and a Way t…From Manual to Agentic OrchestrationFrom Manual to Agentic OrchestrationThe Software Engineer's Multi-Agent FlowThe Software Engineer's Multi-Agent FlowThe Engineering Leadership Stack: Designing Systems That Grow People, Software, and OrganizationsThe Engineering Leadership Stack: Designing S…A Manager's Guide: Safe Introduction of Multi-Agent WorkflowsA Manager's Guide: Safe Introduction of Multi…How Teams Learn to Trust in the Age of AIHow Teams Learn to Trust in the Age of AIPath to the Dark FactoryPath to the Dark FactoryStop Measuring Motion: Engineering Value in the Age of AIStop Measuring Motion: Engineering Value in t…The New Engineering Job: Building a Software Factory That Never SleepsThe New Engineering Job: Building a Software…Stretching the Limits of AI SDLC: From Autonomous Agents to Self-Learning PipelinesStretching the Limits of AI SDLC: From Autono…The Great Software RebuildThe Great Software RebuildHuman Dynamics, Not Boston DynamicsHuman Dynamics, Not Boston DynamicsThe Maximum Velocity of a CompanyThe Maximum Velocity of a CompanyFrom Book to Playbook: Applying the AI-Native Engineering Organization to Your CompanyFrom Book to Playbook: Applying the AI-Native…Looking Ahead: Stronger Models, Better Harnesses, Different WorkLooking Ahead: Stronger Models, Better Harnes…The Coding Language of the Future Might Not Be for HumansThe Coding Language of the Future Might Not B…Beyond Software Factories: The Rise of AI-Powered Factories for EverythingBeyond Software Factories: The Rise of AI-Pow…

The map as a list, by mental model

Async by DefaultCross-team communication as a typed, routed protocol.
Hierarchical ContextOrganizational knowledge with an address and inheritance.
Thinking Out LoudCapturing reasoning so judgment becomes learnable.
The AI SDLCThe software lifecycle rebuilt around agentic execution.
The Engineering Leadership StackEvery layer designs a larger system, not more headcount.
Administrative GravityThe operational overhead AI can finally remove from leaders.
Span of ImprovementMeasuring leaders by improvement, not span of control.
Context as InfrastructureTreating knowledge as a maintained system, not scattered docs.
Learning StreamsSearchable expert thinking as a first-class artifact.
Organization as a ProductDesigning the org itself as an intentional, iterated product.
Organizational Context ReadinessWhether a company can provide reliable evidence about how it actually operates.