This article discusses the challenges that arise in software engineering teams when urgent requests from executives disrupt the workflow. It highlights the impact of scarcity mindset on attention and decision-making. The author shares a scenario where an urgent request from a Vice President derails ongoing work, leading to rushed implementation, lack of quality control, and future issues. The cultural differences and hierarchical leadership styles in lower-cost outsourcing destinations are also mentioned as factors that affect decision-making. Strategies for mitigating these challenges are presented, including the role of product managers in shielding the team, maintaining a well-prioritized backlog, and physically separating external requests from the team’s work.… Read More C-Requests: amigdala hijacking in software