Sociomateriality explores the connections between our social interactions and the tangible or virtual artifacts around us. These artifacts are influenced by us, but they also have the ability to shape our comprehension and behaviors. As non-human actors, artifacts can exert their agency upon us.

Modern software engineering is shaped by two key trends:
• The increasing number of artifacts, ranging from user stories and UI designs to code, tests, and CI/CD scripts.
• The growing reliance on artifact-based communication among team members.

These trends underscore the evolving role of artifacts as agents of influence in organizational power dynamics.

In this talk, the speaker will introduce a simple mental model for understanding the architectures of power. Using this model, he will explore the agency of the artifacts we create and encounter in our work. He will then share practical insights on leveraging the power of artifacts to drive positive transformations and meaningful change in software projects.

- 35-45 Minutes
- No technical knowledge required