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.

agile, MPD

Immortalize Your Agile Team on Video

Do you want to immortalize your agile team? Would you like to contribute to the research about how agile teams collaborate? If so, have I got a deal for you. My friend and colleague, David Socha, a professor at the University of Washington, in the Seattle area is writing a grant  for the NSF to […]

management, MPD

How Easy is Good Management?

Bad management is easy. Well, let me rephrase that. It’s easy to perform management badly. But, it’s not so easy to perform management well. From the outside, it can seem as if management is effortless. But that doesn’t mean that good management is easy. Early in my management career, I returned home one day, plopped

Agile Job Search, HTP

Don’t Have a Zombie Profile on LinkedIn

Are you new to LinkedIn? Maybe you’re a new grad or in transition, or at the start of your job search? You aren’t sure what to put on your profile, so you don’t have anything? You have a zombie profile. Don’t do it. Don’t leave your zombie profile up and ask people to connect with

hiring strategy, HTP

How Many Essential Skills Do You Require?

I read Latest figures increase digital skills gap fears as marketers struggle to fill jobs. (Tip of the hat to John Sumser.) What’s the problem? What kinds of people are hiring managers looking for? “companies seek the ‘all-in-one’ marketing and technologically capable employee” Well, that’s the problem of too many essential skills. Look, it’s great

HTP, interview

How Do You Signal That You Are Ready to Listen?

I just read How to Listen. (Tip of the hat to Naomi Karten who tweeted it.) I’ve been saying for years that great interviews are collegial conversations. The interviewer wants to learn enough about the candidate to know: can the candidate do the job and fit our culture? The candidate wants to know: can I

MPD, project management

How Does Your Software Grow? Do You Know?

I read Metrics with Impact by Michiel van Genuchten and Les Hatton in the July/August IEEE Software, pp 99-101 last week. They discuss a metric: Compound Annual Growth, CAGR for software. CAGR is interesting to me, because I’ve actually measured it before. Here are some graphs (no numeric data) to describe what happens in different

newsletter

How Do You Change?

How Do You Change? I’ve been working with people who want to transition to agile. They read about it. They hear stories about. They realize the benefits if it. But they haven’t yet done the hard work of actually transitioning. When I arrive on site, ask a few questions, meet with their management team, inevitably

HTP, interview

How NOT to Look for Cultural Fit

I saw this post in ere.net, Do You Look for Cultural Fit or Innovation, as if you could somehow separate the two. Oh my, the confusion about cultural fit abounds. Let me set the record straight. Cultural fit is  NOT about a person’s preferences outside of work. It’s not about what you would to a

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