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.

Agile Job Search, HTP

Career Manifesto

From Andy Lester comes a pointer to Hugh’s The Career Manifesto”. Andy’s writing a book called “Pragmatic Job Hunting” (working title). If you’re looking for a job, consider subscribing to Andy’s feed. Labels: candidate, career manifesto

MPD, thinking

Take Time to Think

I’m catching up with my blog reading. Several posts caught my eye, all dealing with taking time to think: When you take time to think between sessions, the sessions may go faster. You’ll almost certainly have a better outcome. (Esther and I learned this on Behind Closed Doors.) See Ron Jeffries’ take on thinking: Shooting

MPD

When to Spend Time Architecting

  Thierry poses a question I’ve heard in several of my PM workshops this week and last week: When should the team do the architectural work? Thierry’s concerned if his team continues to implement by feature, how can the team do the architectural work? If they take an iteration or two to deal with architecture,

MPD

An Attempt at Pictures for Implement by Feature vs. Architecture

Joshua asked me to clarify what I meant by implementing by architecture. Here’s my picture-story.   When a team implements by architecture, they tend to be functionally-based teams implementing across the architecture. When a team implements by feature, they are cross-functional teams.   When teams implement by feature, they do what’s needed in whatever part

MPD, risk

Implement the Most Valuable Features First

  Scott points out Software Product Delivery – 20 Rules? that you should do the riskiest part of the project first. (He explains that you modify that given what’s most important.) I’d add a further refinement: that what’s most important better provide the most value. If it doesn’t, do the most valuable parts first. You

implement by feature, measurement, MPD

Measuring Project Completion Progress

  I taught my project dashboard workshop today. One of the things most people want to measure is progress towards project completion. But you can’t measure project completion progress unless you have completed features: developed, integrated, and tested features. A completed feature is done enough for someone to use. Implementing by architecture leaves all the

MPD, product ownership

High Flying Internet Access

I’m flying over the Mediterranean Sea right now. And I have high speed wireless access. Pretty darn amazing. I’m using the system Boeing developed and is abandoning. I suspect price might have been an issue. On my flight, the price is free–because the service is being shut down. For me, high speed internet access is

MPD, writing

Book Status as of Dec 1, 2006

True confessions: I was hoping to finish the draft (of Successful Project Management) for technical review today. I didn’t. I knew on Tuesday and called Daniel to let him know where I was. This past week I focused on finishing chapters. I have about 16 chapters and one appendix. I don’t know if the book

MPD, thinking

Adapting is Key

  Bruce sent me a pointer to this post, There is no spoon. I have to admit, I don’t understand the spoon part. I suspect there’s a reference to a move I haven’t seen. (Fellow writers: be aware that many of your readers do not share your popular culture norms 🙂 But if you read

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