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

Management Myth, Myth of 100% Utilitization Posted

I have an article posted at Techwell, Management Myth #1: The Myth of 100% Utilization. This myth has always been a problem. It’s even more of a problem now as more organizations transition to agile. People need time to think. They need time to adapt to their current circumstances. They need time to create their […]

newsletter

Focus on One Thing at a Time

Rothman Consulting Group, Inc. Vol 8, #9: Focus On One Thing at a Time Dec 30, 2011                                                                                      ISSN: 2164-1196 In This Issue:

MPD, portfolio management

Announcing Peer Project Portfolio Coaching

If you missed my most recent Pragmatic Manager newsletter, Focus on One Thing at a Time, it’s posted. In it, I ranted about the delays of multitasking and introduced a new service: Peer Project Portfolio Coaching. I keep seeing people trying to make the transition to agile, still multitasking and not able to say No

Articles

Management Myth #1: The Myth of 100% Utilization

A manager took me aside at a recent engagement. “You know, Johanna, there’s something I just don’t understand about this agile thing. It sure doesn’t look like everyone is being used at 100 percent.” “And what if they aren’t being used at 100 percent? Is that a problem for you?” “Heck, yes. I’m paying their

newsletter

Three Myths and Three Tips

Vol 8, #8: Three Myths and Three Tips I have been fortunate this year to be working and speaking internationally. And, almost everywhere I go, some manager or project manager takes me aside. “Johanna, can I ask you a crazy question?” I always answer that I’m sure the question is not crazy. The manager shakes

Articles

Edit Those Epics

I’ve been working with folks making their transition to agile. One of the hardest transitions is for the managers and technical leaders. Managers are accustomed to working in timeboxes. To them, the iteration is a timebox. But, they also are accustomed to features spanning multiple timeboxes, and that’s not OK in agile. They are accustomed

blog, MPD

Looking for Advice on Article Tagging

I’m at the end of redesigning my website. I’m posting and tagging my articles now. These are the articles from several years ago I didn’t get around to posting because it was too much of a pain to do in Dreamweaver. Yes, I’ve transitioned to WordPress site. I’m planning to unveil it next week. I

Articles

Agile Architecture and Program Myths

I’ve been developing an agile architecture workshop with Rebecca Wirfs-Brock. Aside from more Murphy’s Law moments than a small project deserves, we’ve encountered a number of agile architecture and program myths. Here are three for your reading pleasure. (Just in case you aren’t sure, all of these are false–they are myths.) “We don’t need no

Articles

What’s an Agile PM to Do?

You interviewed with a team a month ago, and you were a little concerned. It didn’t seem as if they were keeping to their iterations. Their product owner wasn’t grooming the backlog often enough to keep the backlog filled for the release meeting. They seemed to have an awful lot of defects piling up at

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