All articles
Successful stand-up meetings produce effective teams
I'd like to believe that business professionals don't like unnecessary meetings, especially in day to day work. However, over the years I've come to understand that many professionals in all different types of industries simply enjoy being busy. It becomes a safe and familiar justification or excuse for not producing key results or taking big leaps forward. I often hear: I'm too busy, I have too…
Waterfall to Agile: how to transition a team
Embracing change is always discussed as a positive attribute. However, it's easier said than done. In my experience people tend to resist change. This is amplified when discussing changing technology or existing technology stacks since it will impact many people or groups of people and not simply 1 person. I don't fault people for being hesitant to change. Change takes time and effort which…
When corporate management gives up on your team
Picture this, you grind day after day on a web application or website platform that very few people appreciate and that many complain about, yet it's critical to business operations. You bring a positive attitude to work despite having your ticket queue full each and every day. You and your team work hard to make improvements and squash bugs. You've dealt with and suffered through a handful of "…
Retire legacy systems: reduce burden, improve results
As a junior developer you learn and get quite intimate with many legacy systems. It's almost like a rite of passage, you finish school, interview, get a job and your first project is working on a legacy system the rest of the team hates. Or if you are new on a team you pick up a legacy tool or app that no one else wants to touch. Funny thing is, as you go through the ranks and become more senior…
Onboard an offshore team into your company
Outsourcing is usually considered a bad word, meaning taking jobs away from your business or hiring cheap labor. When the topic of outsourcing software development or any technical position comes up in business discussions it often conjures up thoughts of incompetent staff, extremely slow turn around times or unresolved issues. While problems can impact any group, outsourced or in-house,…
Be a successful manager: Leadership by Example
As a leader you determine the excellence and attitude of your team. My time in the Army exposed me to Leadership by Example and how important it is to be involved in all facets whether that's leading, talking, listening, working, observing, etc. When you lead by example, you set the standard and define the expectations of what's possible. Actions will always speak louder than words. When you do…
How do you effectively join a development team?
Joining a new software development team can be daunting and more so if you are asked to improve a team or were hired to improve a team. When I was in the military, after I completed the Basic Leader Course I was tasked with managing people in my unit that I had previous relationships with in Korea. I went from being a solider and…
Priority setting: start doing impactful work today
Development work is stressful. Developers and development managers usually hope their work circumstances will magically change for them. They might not necessarily have the knowledge, experience, motivation or desire to proactively or passively improve their own day to day work situation. Instead of simply waiting and hoping for luck to change your circumstance, you need to become a manager or…
Create amazing support teams and delight your users
I am going to be honest, I despise working with tier 1, help desk or support staff. It's not the staff; the people for the most part are trying to do their best to help solve problems. My contempt is for their leadership and/or managers who in my opinion, don't seem to care about the user experience or people who use their product or service. This might seem a bit harsh or even hypocritical…