> Essentially, yes. Having ICs be DRIs is an increase in the scope of what the job is. It means one person has to build the thing, communicate with senior stakeholders, and make the trade-off decisions that get it across the line. In a non-DRI model, the engineer usually handled the first while the engineering manager or product manager handled the other two.

- Quoting James Stanier

I really appreciate all my prior career experience consulting because it really gave me the first two. But I was still insulated from the third because I would present options and opinions to the client but it would ultimately be their call. My role now as an integral employee is to be able to do all this + the social manoeuvring that might be necessary as well.