As 2023 came to a close, we anticipated that 2024 would bring both challenges and opportunities, and it certainly delivered!
In this roundup, we review our articles from the past year, which offered insights into managing costs, working more effectively, and navigating today’s complex environment. We also explored the future of education and shared approaches for decision-making in uncertain environments.
To add a bit of fun, we've included some team highlights, giving you a glimpse of life at Cursor in 2024.
Decision-making in a time of uncertainty
If one thing was certain this year, it was uncertainty. From managing changing scopes to planning in unpredictable contexts, decision-making in 2024 required flexibility, speed and sometimes a new approach altogether…
Introducing The Cynefin Framework
Our article on planning for uncertainty focused on the Cynefin framework and explained how categorising challenges into four types: clear, complicated, complex and chaotic, can help leaders make decisions that match the nature of each problem.
Read the full guide in How to Plan for Uncertainty
Thinking beyond roadmaps
Traditional roadmaps often don’t cut it when plans change and the goalposts move at speed. In All Roadmaps Must Die, we advocated for outcome-focused planning, where teams prioritise high-impact features based on models like ICE (Impact, Confidence, Ease).
For an updated agile approach to planning, check out All Roadmaps Must Die
Building a future-proof education system
With technology advancing at pace and the workplace becoming increasingly skills-based, the education sector is at a crossroads. In our three-part series, The Future of Education, we explored how schools, colleges, and universities are reshaping their offerings to meet the demands of modern learners and employers alike.
Opening doors with flexible learning
In our conversation with Desmond Clarke from the Open College of the Arts, we explored how distance learning can be designed to fit the lives of today’s students, many of whom are balancing jobs, caregiving, or personal challenges. Clarke shared how the OCA provides flexible, online-first education that meets people where they are. For students who might not be able to attend a traditional campus, blended and flexible learning can make higher education not only accessible but rewarding.
For a deeper dive, read The Future of Education: Part I – Interview with Desmond Clarke
Reimagining vocational education
Andrew Chisholm from the Priory Federation of Academies Trust spoke with us about the government’s push towards T-Levels, a new vocational qualification aimed at addressing skills gaps in industries from engineering to healthcare. These career-focused qualifications represent a shift from academic-only pathways, helping students build practical skills that align with real jobs. For Chisholm, the introduction of T-Levels was less about filling classrooms and more about empowering students with realistic career paths.
Find out more in The Future of Education: Part II – Interview with Andrew Chisholm
Investing in industry partnerships and upskilling
At Lincoln College’s Newark Air and Space Institute, we saw how industry partnerships can support education systems that are forward-thinking and practical. Stephen Smith shared how Lincoln College is working with local employers to design curricula that directly respond to skill shortages, especially in high-demand areas like aerospace and engineering, and explored the government’s modular learning pilot, an innovative way to offer flexible, incremental upskilling, which funds individuals to complete specific segments of longer courses.
Read more in The Future of Education: Part III – Interview with Stephen Smith
Doubling down on efficiency
With rising costs and tighter budgets, efficiency was a focus for most businesses over the past year.
Smart strategies for managing SaaS costs
The key to smart ‘Software as a Service’ (SaaS) spending starts with a comprehensive audit of all subscriptions. Regularly review each tool, categorise it (love it, like it, tolerating it, or ready to cancel), and see where costs can be streamlined. We also recommend negotiating discounts for tools you rely on, as most vendors offer better rates on annual plans, especially when you’re willing to leave a testimonial. Likewise, when it comes to AI-powered upgrades, don’t jump in unless the tool truly supports your core tasks and goals.
To dive deeper, see Smart Guide to Saving on SaaS Software
Delivering more by doing less
Sometimes the key to real progress is focusing on less, not more. Earlier this year, we took a deep dive into how limiting multitasking and using strategies like Kanban boards and Work In Progress (WIP) limits can help teams break free from the traps of overcommitment and incomplete tasks. Prioritising fewer, higher-impact tasks allows for quality completion and a clearer sense of accomplishment, rather than racing against a never-ending to-do list.
Read more in our article Deliver More by Doing Less
2024 stats from the Cursor team
To round off the year, here are a few fun stats we gathered from the Cursor team about our year so far…
