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.

Articles

The Value of Taking Breaks

For me, writing has four main parts: researching or deciding what to write and organizing it, writing, editing, and publishing. You might think of these steps as analysis and design, coding, testing, and release. I like to keep my writing chunks small so that my editing occurs soon after my writing. Small chunks also means […]

Agile Job Search, HTP

Five Tips to Combating Ageism in Hiring, Part 3

In Part 1, I described your job search planning. In Part 2, I discussed what you can do to help your resume. In this part, I’ll talk about the interview. Any candidate needs to prepare for the interview. If you are worried about ageism, consider these tips for these challenges: Specify your value, first to

Agile Job Search, HTP

Five Tips to Combating Ageism in Hiring, Part 1

About a year ago, I wrote “Hiring Trap: Don’t Hire Anyone Older Than….” Unfortunately, ageism is still rampant. If you are a candidate over the age of 40, you have encountered ageism. If you are also unemployed while you are looking for a job, you might feel as if you are up the proverbial creek.

newsletter

Build Your Agile Leadership

Build Your Agile Leadership In your organization, agile has helped your teams improve their value delivery. Although the teams retrospect, you expected more improvement. You think your agile journey might be stuck. Maybe it’s time for you to build a culture of agile leadership. Tip 1. Make your work transparent. Do other people know what

agile, MPD

How Agile Changes Testing, Part 4

In Part 1, I discussed the agile project system. In Part 2, I discussed the tester’s job in agile. In Part 3, I discussed expectations about documentation (which is what the original question was on Twitter). In this part, I’ll talk about how you “measure” testers. I see a ton of strange measurement when it

agile, MPD

How Agile Changes Testing, Part 3

In Part 1, I discussed how an agile approach changes testing. In Part 2, I discussed how the testers’ job changes. In this part, I’ll talk about expectations. Since the developers and testers partner in agile, the testers describe their approach to testing as they work with developers on the code. (This is the same

agile, MPD

How Agile Changes Testing, Part 1

Last week, I attempted to have a Twitter conversation about agile and testing. I became frustrated because I need more than 140 characters to explain. This is my general agile picture. For those of you can’t see what I’m thinking, the idea is that a responsible person (often called a Product Owner) gathers the requirements

agile, MPD

How Agile Changes Testing, Part 2

In Part 1, I discussed the project system of agile. In this part, I’ll discuss the need for testing documentation. In a waterfall or phase-gate life cycle, we needed documentation because we might have had test developers and test executors. In addition, we might have had a long time separating the planning from the testing.

agile, MPD

Waving the Agile Flag?

I spoke with a potential client last week. She said, “I’m waving the agile flag. But no one cares.” I wrote a Pragmatic Manager to sort through what I wanted to say to her. Read it at Feeling Alone on Your Agile Journey. If you feel stuck in the middle, or you’re alone, or you

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