Knowledge and Power - A Sociotechnical Systems Discussion on the Future of SRE

Explore a thought-provoking conference talk that delves into the sociotechnical aspects of Site Reliability Engineering (SRE). Gain insights from a collaborative discussion between industry-leading SRE professionals and socio-technical systems researchers as they examine the interplay of knowledge and power in software systems. Discover practical considerations for balancing operational load with feature delivery, and learn about the importance of team knowledge sharing and risk reduction. Reflect on philosophical inquiries into SRE's history, practices, and values, while considering promising new directions for the field. Acquire fresh perspectives on how knowledge and power structures influence organizational dynamics and shape the understanding of SRE work. Engage with topics such as incident investigation, qualitative analysis, dashboard usage, management pressures, OKRs, systems thinking, and potential future implications for software systems and regulation.

Introduction
Knowledge and Power
Systems Perspective
Incident Investigation
The Role of Knowledge
The Importance of Experience
Qualitative Analysis
Dashboards
Power
Management
Pressures and constraints
OKRs
Systems Thinking
The Future
Implications for Software Systems
Regulation
Call to Action