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, project management

Pragmatic Manager Pages Updated

I just finished updating all my email newsletter (Pragmatic Manager) pages. I hadn’t announced my most recent newsletter, Making Waterfall (a Serial Lifecycle) Work For You, Part 1 (Vol 4, #1). I’ve reorganized the pages, so go here to read all the previous articles.

HTP, interview

When to Ask About Salary

Imagine this scenario. You have a number of openings, some for senior positions. Maybe you even work for a large company that’s highly attractive for potential candidates. To manage the phone screens and interviews, you send out a pre-interview set of questions. There’s a variety of questions, and the last one is about salary.Stop right

HTP, job analysis

Dilberterian Job Descriptions

Read Sidu’s Avoiding hell at work by spotting Dilbertian job descriptions.Sidu’s on target. That’s why I suggest you do a real job analysis, and write the ad and/or job description with other technical people. People who are not in the industry dumb down the descriptions and ads, and make them worthless for people to filter

MPD

Sightings of BCD, Manage It!, and Hiring the Best…

Tech Republic has the estimation chapter from Manage It!. There’s a great Manage It! review at Book Review: Manage It! Your Guide to Modern, Pragmatic Project Management. Michael Fransen enjoyed Behind Closed Doors: Secrets of Great Management. He posted a review. The session he took at Agile 2007 was “Hiring for an Agile Team,” based

MPD

Do You Think in Compass Directions or Postcards?

  Last week, at Agile 2007, I had a fascinating conversation about geography/directions with a colleague. I explained that I needed to visit someplace and walk or drive around until I really understood where everything was. He said, “Oh, you think in postcards.” I can read a map, and write down directions. It all makes

HTP, interview

Is the Question You Asked What the Candidate Heard?

Last week, at the Agile 2007 conference, I ran a tutorial called “Hiring for an Agile Team.” As part of the tutorial, I ask people to group themselves into threes, where one person interviews, one is the candidate, and one is the observer.It never fails. An interviewer thinks they’re asking one question, but the candidate

Books, MPD

Catching Up with Reviews of Manage It!

  Some lovely reviews of Manage It! were posted when I was traveling last month, and I didn’t remember to blog them. Sigh. Wagnerblog has a great review, focused the on schedule games chapter. (That chapter was a blast to write.) My good friend an colleague, Ken Flowers, wrote this review. Here’s the sentence I

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