When was the last time you assembled a piece of IKEA furniture?

You probably spent hours decoding those infamous instruction manuals, wrestling with wooden dowels, and maybe even ending up with a few mysterious "extra" pieces. But here's the thing - despite all that frustration, I bet you love that furniture more than the pre-assembled stuff in your home.

Why? Because you built it yourself.

Your blood, sweat, and tears (and maybe a few choice words) went into creating it. That wobbly table or slightly uneven bookshelf becomes your wobbly table, your slightly uneven bookshelf.

And that's exactly what's missing in most software development teams today.

After 20+ years of building software products and leading development teams, I've discovered that this simple principle - when people build it themselves, they care more about how it turns out - could revolutionize how we think about software development.

🎥 Want to dive deeper? Watch my full discussion about developer ownership and engagement. I share real examples from my experience leading development teams and practical strategies you can implement today. Watch the full video on the Product Driven YouTube Channel.

The IKEA Effect in Software Development: Why Developer Ownership Matters

Building great software isn't just about writing clean code. It's about creating a sense of ownership and pride in what's being built.

Let me share something that's been bothering me throughout my entire career as a tech founder and CTO. I've noticed that many software developers get stuck in a cycle of just waiting to be told what to do. They become code machines rather than product builders.

The Psychology Behind Building

When people assemble their own IKEA furniture, they tend to value it more highly than pre-assembled pieces - even if the end result isn't perfect. Why? Because they invested their time, effort, and creativity into building it.

The same principle applies to software development.

When developers are merely handed specifications and told to code, they're essentially assembling someone else's furniture. But when they're involved in the planning, decision-making, and problem-solving process, they become craftsmen building their own creation.

Breaking Down the Walls

At my previous company Stackify, I learned this lesson the hard way. Initially, we kept our developers isolated from business discussions, thinking it would help them focus on coding. But something interesting happened when we started including them in product planning meetings:

• They asked better questions

• They proposed more innovative solutions

• They caught potential issues earlier

• They took more initiative in solving problems

The code wasn't just code anymore - it was their product.

Making It Work in Practice

Here's a simple example from one of our Full Scale clients. Their CTO was concerned about needing more developers, but what they really needed was more people who understood their product. The solution wasn't hiring more developers - it was involving their existing developers in product discussions.

When developers understand the business context:

• They make better technical decisions

• They solve problems more independently

• They feel more connected to the product's success

• They stay with the company longer

The Long-Term Impact

The IKEA effect isn't just about short-term engagement. When developers feel ownership over what they're building, it creates a virtuous cycle:

1. Greater understanding leads to better technical decisions

2. Better decisions lead to more trust from leadership

3. More trust leads to greater involvement

4. Greater involvement leads to stronger ownership

One sentence tells it all - when people build it themselves, they care more about how it turns out.

Start Small, Think Big

You don't need to reorganize your entire development process overnight. Start with simple steps:

1. Include developers in product planning discussions

2. Share user feedback directly with the development team

3. Ask for their input on feature priorities

4. Let them present their work directly to stakeholders

Remember this key principle: The more your developers understand about what they're building and why, the better they'll build it.

The Bottom Line

Just like that IKEA bookshelf you spent hours assembling, the products your developers help shape from start to finish will be the ones they're most proud of - and usually the ones that turn out the best.