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.

HTP

What Hiring Managers Look for in a Resume

A colleague suggested I chat with a more junior person about his job search. I’m trying, but I’m having trouble understanding what this guy does. His resume is too long and doesn’t have what I need in it. I don’t think he’s alone, so here’s what hiring managers look for on a resume. Your address. […]

HTP, job analysis

Change Adjectives to Abilities

I taught my “Hiring for Agile Teams” workshop at ADP today, and finally have words for something I’ve seen for a while. When I ask people to describe qualities, preferences, and non-technical skills, they say things like “easy-going” or “intuitive” or something else that describes behavior. Since I love behavior-description questions, you’d think this would

MPD, portfolio management

Abandoning vs. Killing Projects

John Cook, wrote a lovely post, Peter Drucker and abandoning projects, explaining how Drucker talks about abandoning projects. (John, thanks, I will definitely be referencing Drucker in the PPM book.) I haven’t been using the word “abandon” when I describe stopping projects. I’ve been using the word “Kill” and the concepts of permanently stopping projects

MPD

PSL Podcast, Part 2 Posted

I finally finished editing the second part of the PSL podcast. You can find it here. We have only two registrations available for PSL in Sweden left. Take a look at the information page if you think you’d like to participate.

agile, MPD

"Thoughtful" Agile Isn't

I was exploring the idea of co-teaching with someone I met several years ago. He now teaches at a local university and no longer works in industry. He wants to teach some kind of agile workshop with me. He said, “I want to teach a thoughtful kind of agile. The kind where you work in

HTP, interview

Questions From the Debates

I’ve got election fever, I admit it. In the VP debate last week, the moderator asked a useless question: “What  is your achilles heel?” (I’m probably paraphrasing the question.) Both candidates treated it as the weakness question, and didn’t answer the question. They each turned the question around to their strengths. What a surprise (not!).

MPD

Resorts Aren't Necessary for Strategic Planning

I’m sure you’ve read of the AIG scandal by now. (Here is the Fox News story and here is the CNN story.)  Shame is too small a word for those executives. I would love to know where their entitlement comes from. I’d squish it like a bug. Maybe they went to the resort to do

MPD, podcast

Podcast Interview Posted

A couple of weeks ago (!), Tobias Fors and Magnus Ljadas interviewed me via skype. I have finally finished the editing of the podcast and it’s posted here. It’s also in iTunes, in the Pragmatic Manager podcast feed. Yes, I need a new microphone. It’s on my list, but not for this week 🙂

MPD, personal, portfolio management

Starting and Finishing

I had coffee with a friend Saturday night. She said, “Our family has a tradition of starting many projects to see what we can stick with. If you don’t start a project, you can’t finish it.” She’s right. You certainly can’t finish something you don’t start. But the real question for all of is: Should

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