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.

hiring strategy, HTP

A Novel Idea: Hire the Unemployed

Did you read The Jobless Trap? In it, Paul Krugman asserts we are creating an underclass of long-term unemployed. This is what really stood out for me: This could happen because their work skills atrophy, but a more likely reason is that potential employers assume that something must be wrong with people who can’t find […]

agile, MPD

Personal Kanban and Iterations, Day 5

I am still making progress, although it’s more difficult to see my progress today. Why? Because I did not get as much to done. One of my readers asked a question about the Urgent queue  and the relative ranking of my ever-growing left hand column. How did I determine what to do, and what was

agile, MPD

Personal Kanban and Iterations, Day 4

I’m still chugging along, making great progress. I took some interruptions yesterday, as many people do. They are not reflected on my kanban. They are in my calendar, which I am not showing you 🙂 A potential client emailed, asked for a call. I said yes, and we arranged for a call that day. Could

MPD, workshop

London Workshops Almost Full, May 16 & 17, 2013

Are you considering joining me in my Coaching or Project Management workshops in London on May 16 or May 17, 2013? If so, please decide quickly. I have room for two more people in the coaching workshop. I have room for three more people  in the project management workshop. When those places are gone, they

agile, MPD

Personal Kanban and Iterations, Day 3

I’ve been busy crossing work off my list. And, as with all of us busy people, I’m adding more work to my list. I feel as if I’ve accomplished a lot this week. It’s just about time to rewrite my list, because with the cross-outs, it’s hard to see where I am. It’s time to

agile, MPD

Personal Kanban and Iterations, Day 2

I’ve made great progress on Day 1, and I wasn’t even in the office all day! You can see I’ve added more todos, at the bottom of my queue. I discovered two urgent todo’s. I had a call-back, to reschedule a doctor’s appt this week to next week, and to vote today. (We have a

Agile Job Search, HTP

Personal Kanban for Your Job Hunt

One of the problems with a job hunt is that it’s a big and complex project. You need to decide what to do and when. Who do you interview with? Is it time to iterate on your resume? Do you have enough references? Are you networking “right”? Add to that problem is that your emotional

newsletter

Knowing When an Agile Project is Done

Knowing When an Agile Project is Done I meet a number of new-to-agile folks who worry that an agile project might never be done. They use air quotes around the word “project” when they refer to agile projects. Just beause you use iterations or kanban for an agile project doesn’t mean it doesn’t have release

agile, MPD

Personal Kanban and Iterations, Day 1

I use a form of personal kanban inside one-week iterations to finish my work and notice what I am not doing. I do this to maintain a cadence of blogging and to finish work. Did you notice that word, finish? Sidebar: For those of you who don’t know what “kanban” is, it literally means “card.”

newsletter

Why a Project Charter Works

Why a Project Charter Works Do you know what the vision of your project is—the goal of your project? You might know your iteration’s goal. You might know what each feature needs. But do you know the goal for your project? There are two necessary pieces of information in a project charter: the vision and

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