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, job analysis

Extreme Workloads: Smart or Stupid?

A colleague emailed me this question today: “I’m looking for Agile and extreme programming jobs, and I keep seeing stuff like this. Are there really people searching for jobs described as having extreme workloads?” Here’s what he saw: “incumbent regularly works under deadlines and is capable of handling extreme workloads” Ok, I have several reactions

MPD, project management

Construction Metaphor Doesn't Work for Me

  Matisse has an interesting post, Software is like Building Construction. He talks about iterative design and the interdependencies of people with deliverables as being common to construction and software. In my opinion, he’s not all wrong, but he’s not all right. I agree that there are plenty of design-build firms who wait until the

HTP

Update on Blog Housekeeping

If you read this blog via an aggregator, you may not notice the changes. But I have succesfully updated my blogroll and made all the monthly archive pages appear. If you think I’ve missed your blog in the blogroll, please send me an email. Until I update the whole site, I’m done with blog housekeeping

MPD

Positive Results With One-on-ones

  Via Keith’s A Few Good Posts by Ed Gibbs, I read Better Feedback Loops With One on Ones. Sounds like one-on-ones are helping Ed and his team. Last week, I had dinner with a manager (also using Scrum) who has had great results with one-on-ones. It’s always nice to hear positive news about a

MPD

When is Continuous Integration Not?

I’m a big fan of continuous integration. For me, that means that as developers implement small pieces, they check in the changes, verify the changes with a local build and smoke test, promote the code to the mainline, check again, and they’re done. I’ve been having a long discussion with one of my clients about

MPD

Working on My Inbox

Merlin’s been doing a series of posts about emptying your inbox. I decided he was right.Here’s the philosphical statement in Inbox Zero: Articles of faith that helped me see a new possibility: Admitting you simply don’t have the time to participate in a 10-times-daily email exchange with someone is difficult to admit. But what’s the

MPD, writing

Ready to Write, Finally

You may have noticed a long time between posts here. I was traveling virtually all of March, and had a tough time with finishing all my client work and making time to blog. Once I was home, I had a tough time with jet lag. I believe I’m unlagged and ready. I have ton of

HTP, job analysis

Continuous Recruiting

I’ve been traveling virtually all of March. (You can probably tell, eh?) I’m leaving Albuquerque today and spoke with some folks from Chili’s, the restaurant chain.They’re opening a new restaurant in this area, and are hiring over 100 people. I asked about turnover and they said that yes, they do have a fair amount of

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