Author name: Johanna

I help you identify and solve the problems that prevent you from releasing systems, hiring the right people, deciding which project to work on next. I take a pragmatic approach: what will work best for you, now? Some people call me a focuser. Some call me an accelerator. When I work with people, first we define our goal together. Typically, it's to get a better product out the door faster. I work with my clients to help managers figure out how to do the managing better, and how the technical contributors can contribute better, not to create a by-the-book system. I work with you, your staff, and your current product development practices. Together, we learn what works well for you and what doesn't. I believe in changing only what needs to be changed at the current time, to maximize your success. We work together to develop a blueprint for the future, and to build in capacity to recognize and implement change.

MPD, portfolio management

Cost of Delay: Why You Should Care, Part 6

I’ve outlined five potential costs of delay in the previous five posts: The delay from not releasing on time, part 1 The delay from multitasking,part 2 The delay from indecision, part 3 The delay from technical debt, part 4 The delay from other teams as part of a program, part 5 The real problem is

Agile Job Search, HTP

Six Tips for Editing Your Resume

Along with my series about interviewing tips, I thought you might need a few tips for editing your resume. Here they are: Write a first draft of your resume. Write it in reverse chronological order, with your most recent job first. Now, put it away for a few days, while you do other things. Your

MPD, portfolio management

Cost of Delay Due to Other Teams’ Delay, Part 5

Imagine you have a large program, where you have several teams contributing to the success of one business deliverable. You are all trying to achieve a specific date for release. One team is having trouble. Maybe this is their first missed deliverable. Maybe it’s their second. Maybe they have had trouble meeting their deliverables all

Articles

Management Myth 26: It’s Fine to Micromanage

Sharon poked her head into Heath’s cubicle. “Hey, Heath, are you done yet with that fix?” Heath turned around. “Sharon, you asked me that less than an hour ago. I’m not done yet.” “Well, I need to know when you will be done. Oh, and I need to know if you’re using the design we

Agile Job Search, HTP

Putting Your Best Foot Forward at Campus Job Fairs

Today’s guest post is courtesy of William Reynolds. You’ve worked hard for years earning your college degree. You’ve slaved away at your own projects and developed your technical knowledge base. Now you feel ready to play a vital role programming, troubleshooting or engineering for a high-profile company or organization — but have you prepared for

MPD, portfolio management

Cost of Delay Due to Indecision, Part 3

In Part 1, we discussed the cost of delay of not shipping on time. In Part 2, we discussed the cost of delay of multitasking. In this part, we’ll discuss a cost of delay due to management indecision. Here’s a problem I encounter often. A middle manager calls me, and asks for an estimation workshop.

MPD, portfolio management

Cost of Delay Due to Multitasking, Part 2

In Cost of Delay: Not Shipping on Time, Part 1, I introduced you to the notion of cost of delay. I said you could reduce the cost of delay by managing your projects: have shorter projects, using release criteria, or selecting a lifecycle that manages the risk. Sometimes, you don’t have short projects, so projects

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