Life is a system of checks and balances. In a company, the business team argues for increasing profits and decreasing time spent while the engineering team pushes for the time and resources required to build a good lasting product. In a country’s administration, the government concentrates on policies and reforms while the media keeps them in check through vetting and debate.

In both these cases, it might seem like there is a constant tug of war between the two groups. Like they are on opposing sides. That is how it should be. We have to advocate for the things that we understand best. That is our job. An unchecked government can grow tyrannical. Without advocacy, the business team will never understand the long term costs of technical debt.

We all have our roles to play. It is not our job to advocate for the other side. When we don’t do our part, it is the institution that will suffer for it.

There is only one key thing to keep in mind in all this. Making sure that everybody is aligned in what the shared goal is.