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

Changes to Blog URL and Feed

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I’ve converted to WordPress as my blogging platform and now have changed the URL for the blog and the feed. You can see this post because of magical redirection. The URL is now https://www.jrothman.com/blog/htp. The feed is now https://www.jrothman.com/blog/htp/feed. Let me know if you have problems.

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blog, MPD

Blog changes

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In the past couple of weeks, I’ve migrated from Blogger to WordPress (with the excellent help of Kim Black). I expect you can still read the blog and that the feeds are still coming through. If you’d like to update to the new addresses, here they are: Managing Product Development is now at https://www.jrothman.com/blog/mpd/ The

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MPD, project management

How to Give the Project Team Just Enough "Pressure"

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In For a more productive team, put the pressure on (within reason), Chris Hoover recommends a little pressure to help the procrastinators un-procrastinate, and help people get their work done on time. I only sort-of agree. Everyone has their own amount of pressure, and what’s good for you is not good for me. But working

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HTP, interview

Don’t Ask About Physics

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I met a software developer recently, who studied physics as an undergrad. He’s now working in an IT organization on financial processing software. He’s part of the interviewing team for his organization. They’re trying to hire 6-7 more developers before the end of the year. He told me, “I like to ask a question about

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MPD

Release-able vs. Demo-able

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Last week, when I was at the Much Ado about Agile 2 conference in Vancouver, I had a conversation with Dan Rawsthorne. He said he wants to make sure his teams have demo-able software, not necessarily release-able. Interesting. So what would have to be true for an agile team to have “just” demo-able software, not

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Articles

Are Your Pants on Fire or Do You Suffer From Split Focus?

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Imagine you’re working on or managing a project. You’re dealing with risks and making technical decisions–pretty much humming along. The project isn’t easy, but you’re making progress. One day, you arrive at work and your boss says, “Stop working on that project. Work on this one instead.” You do. A week later, the same thing

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MPD

Feedback is NOT Coaching

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At SD earlier this week, I led a tutorial about coaching. Imagine my surprise when I asked people why they were there, and some of them said, “I have a person who’s not doing so well. I need to coach them.” Uh, no. You need to give that person feedback. Feedback is information about the

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