2024-09-15 EE leads early F24 sync

Owned by Nolan Haines
Last updated: 2024-09-15 by Ryan Scomazzon
3 min read

Meeting goal: Make a plan to run this term effectively without being extremely taxing on the leads. Give Ryan tips do do the lead role effectively.

I (Ryan) am using this doc both as meeting minutes and to document thoughts I have about what was discussed to have a written plan.

Attendance

@Nolan Haines

@Jerry Tian

@Ryan Scomazzon

 

  • PMs

    • Delegate as much work as possible to PMs

    • This is to help leads and to give PMs more responsibility that will ease them into a lead role in the future.

    • Set clear roles/expectations

    • PM roles that will be useful:

      • Peggy 2 PM

      • Board bring up PM

      • Board validation PM

      • Bootcamp PM

      • Integration PM? - Not needed now but can delegate if needed

      • Fixed wing PM - Not needed now but can delegate if needed

    • Discussed briefly who might be good for each role. Will reach out to them soon.

  • Lead work distribution

    • Ryan will have to lead most of the hands on work since he is onsite

    • Nolan can’t help with as much due to being remote but can help with any schem/board reviews that are needed and any overhead that he can help with online.

    • PMs can be more involved

  • Schematic Reviews

    • Give feedback on fundamental design aspects before nitpicking small things like via placement. Give more specific feedback once the design is more finalized.

    • Doing schematic reviews is a difficult task for leads as lots of experience is necessary to do it well.

    • Leads mentioned Daniel Keven as good resources for improving on doing this.

    • An improved confluence doc would be nice.

  • Bootcamp

    • Bootcamp PM can alleviate work from leads.

    • Look at Nolan's bootcamp reviews as a starting point.

    • Bootcamp reviews from Farris Daniel and Kevin are good references.

    • Run more work sessions

  • New boot campers/members

  • Keeping members motivated

    • This term is very assembly heavy. We don’t want members to feel like they are being hired by an assembly line.

    • Make the goals for the term clear from the start but make sure to emphasize how valuable assembly/testing is for the team and their resume to keep things exciting and make it sound interesting.

    • We should assign members a specific (already designed) board that they are in charge of assembling

      • This can give them a sense of ownership in this board and in what they are doing rather than just doing labor for other people project.

      • This should help for motivation.

      • This might be less efficient than doing assembly sessions for specific boards but retaining member motivation in the fall term is important.

      • Still hold assembly sessions for high priority boards.

      • Set expectations of when the boards needs to be finished

    • PMs can handle delegating boards and providing support. Assembly will be the responsibility of the PM and the person who claims the board.

    • EE subteam socials?

  • Near future priority for bringup

    • Tracking Antenna

    • Pi interface

    • LED board motor mount

    • @Daniel Puratich @Nathan Green for thoughts

  • Things that would be nice to get done

    • Improve the Schem/PCB review doc so leads can do a better job on this.

    • Automate passive component creation - Meghan suggested this

  • Asana

    • Powerful task management tool. We don’t use it enough

    • See if we can get the sub team onboard with using it and assign tasks this way.

    • Open it up in an EE meeting and show people how it works and what tasks need to be done.

  • General

    • Take advantage of senior members for important tasks.

    • Continue Peggy 2 Assembly doc

    • For small tasks, just ask in EE channel and maybe refer to it in the next announcement.

    • Think of things for WEEF funding

    • Get a toaster oven

    • Don’t spend too much Time on WARG as a lead, if it gets too much ask other leads or advisors for help delegating.