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

Working on Multi-Site Projects, Staying in Touch

I’m in Israel right now, doing an assessment. That means that I’m the one at “another” site for my US projects. Staying in touch is hard. I’m between 7 and 10 hours ahead of everyone I need to work with. Not easy to stay in contact. I do some reasonable things while I’m here: rent

HTP

A Little Blog Housekeeping

If you read this blog via a newsreader instead of a browser, you may not notice I’ve been slowly making changes. I have finally figured out how to have Blogger automatically generate the archive links in reverse chronological order on the left (when you look at the page in a browser). Unfortunately, I must have

hiring strategy, HTP

A Perfect Example of Insufficient Cultural Fit

Larry Summers has been ousted as the President of Harvard. (I’m based in the Boston/Cambridge area, so you can imagine the news coverage here.) If you look at the facts, it’s clear to me, he was canned because he didn’t fit the culture of the institution. (See the USA Today editorial and the Time article.)I

MPD

Feedback While Pairing

I’d recommended a group consider pair-programming as a technique to help everyone learn more about the system. One of the developers came up to me later and said, “How do I give feedback while pairing?” I said “Nicely,” and promised more specifics. Here are my guidelines for pairing feedback: Explain the effect on me for

MPD, writing

Editing Writing

  I just completed an article for a magazine. The original version was about 1400* words long, so the editors removed the last couple of paragraphs, made other minor modifications, and returned the article to me. I accepted most of their edits, added back the “missing” paragraphs, and sent them a note explaining their version

Interview, MPD

O’Reilly’s Pick of the Week

  This is way cool: Roy‘s interview with me, “Hiring Techies and Nerds” is O’Reilly’s Pick of the Week. The first part of the interview is about hiring issues. But the last 20 minutes or so is about management and project management. If you haven’t heard it already, enjoy!

HTP, interview

When It’s the Candidate’s Time to Ask Questions

Tester extraordinaire Mike Kelly pointed me to Interviewing the Interviewer: Beyond Getting the Job. If you’re a candidate, you should read this. Dave lists a bunch of questions that help a candidate see the culture of the organization. And yes, I’ll take this as another ding to post my cultural fit article.

Interview, MPD

December Interview Posted

  In December, when I was in Israel to teach for Sela, Roy Osherove and I recorded an interview mostly about Behind Closed Doors. We had fun and the recording shows it. Enjoy, and if you have comments, please leave them here or on Roy’s post

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