Consulting Services

Assessments (Process, Project, Function)

If you know there are issues in your organization, but you're not sure where, consider an assessment. I have performed process assessments for an entire product development process, project assessments for a particular project, and functional assessments to see how a particular functional group is proceeding.

Take a look at the assessment page for the details.

Clients have raved about my actionable reports. They also found the facilitation of action steps or problem-selection eased their transition to new ways of thinking and more importantly, working.

Measurement Coach

It's not easy to decide what to measure, for how long, and at what frequency. If you'd like some quantitative data about what your organization is doing--or is not--consider some measurement coaching.

Facilitation

There are times when the decision-makers in an organization are "stuck." I facilitate both structured meetings and informal communications. Some clients have found my project retrospective facilitation especially helpful.

Workshops and Training

See the Workshop list for the current list of workshops. I focus on management training: project management training, and a vareiety of management training. I offer training for entire project teams, such as the estimation training or the hiring training.

I can add some mentoring or more formal consulting to make sure the workshop content sticks.

Executive coaching and management mentoring

Sometimes, you just need to talk to someone, another experienced manager who's encountered similar problems. I can structure a coaching engagement to answer your questions, and help you see how to be most effective.

I'm starting a new group coaching session in January 2009 to improve your productivity at work.

Speaking engagements

I provide dynamic keynotes and presentations in addition to the workshops. I customize these speaking engagements for your organization.

Process Improvement Coach

If you're having trouble making changes or you're overwhelmed, you may need a coach to help you plan which changes to make when and how. You're still in charge, I just help you succeed.

Project Management and mentoring

If you're changing project lifecycles, or have had trouble making your procects succeed in the past, consider a project management coach. I provide project management expertise (on all lifecycles, including Agile) and mentoring for projects and/or project managers. I work with you to determine what you already do well, and what you need to change for the future.

Sometimes, I suggest a Project jump start to make sure you can succeed.

At other times, I offer specific project consulting. Sometimes, that's in the form of estimation, WBS organization, timeboxing, or general problem-solving for your project.

Interim (contract) Management or Project Management

If you need a temporary manager or project manager, I can fill in while we look for my replacement. I've worked as first-line through senior manager in development, test, documentation, and customer service groups, as well as projects and programs from 3 people to 100+ people. In the past, I've held these interim jobs for no more than two months while we look for my permanent replacement. I help you hire the appropriate manager, developing phone screens, auditions and other interview questions, and reference check questions.

Expert witness services

I have expertise in all phases of software product development, so I can provide expert assessment of software products and processes.

Products

I've written several books:

The books are all available from their publishers and from online and independent bookstores. Want to buy in bulk? Talk to the publisher or to me.