Introducing the OKR ScoreCard
Introducing the OKR ScoreCard So let’s assume we’re using OKRs now. We’ve come up with some Objectives and tried to find meaningful measures for our Key Results that we think will help us ensure we’re going in the right direction. It’s important to remind ourselves that OKRs are just a tool. Using an ORK framework […]
The agility Challenge for Embedded Software
The agility Challenge for Embedded Software If you’ve ever worked for a business that has it’s core focus in the embedded software space, I suspect you are more likely to have had to tolerate software development practices from 20 years ago. If you’ve read many books on Agile software development, DevOps or other modern practices, […]
Focus on outcomes with OKRs
Focus on outcomes with OKRs If you’re interested in a way to tap into your team or companies creative potential, generating alignment and delivering tangible value, then OKRs should be your first port of call. I was fortunate enough to have met, and worked closely with Ragan McGill while I was at DisplayLink. Ragan had experienced both […]
7 practical steps to increase accountability in agile teams
7 practical steps to increase accountability in agile teams At the points in my career that I have seen senior management push back on the adoption of agile methodologies, the main areas of contention has been around the feeling of losing “control” over the delivery roadmap. Agile methodologies accept and embrace the fact that the […]
Complexity as a software metric
Complexity as a software metric I’ve never been completely sold on Cyclomatic Complexity as a metric, it maps to linearly independent paths through code which may be useful to get an indication on the level of testing an application needs, assuming code coverage is not available (another metric that needs to be treated with caution), […]
The ugly side of “No Surprises” Management
The ugly side of “No Surprises” Management I get it… I think… “No Surprises” management is intended to ensure that people aren’t hiding bad news from their colleagues (let’s face it, usually their boss or some other superior) so that we’re not horribly surprised at the last minute that, for example, our project is 6 […]
Autonomous teams vs ‘resource’ management
Autonomous teams vs ‘resource’ management How often have you heard the phrase “We don’t have the resource” or “How many resources will it take?” Quite apart from the dehumanising nature of the word “resource” (should we, in response, say “that’s a good question, management resource number 3”?), people are not automatons who are all equally […]
Why The Bottleneck Is Everything
Why The Bottleneck Is Everything This is probably the least intuitive idea that I’ve come across in my working career, but when explained and demonstrated, possibly one of the most important.Here it is: it is inefficient to have everyone working at 100% effort, 100% of the time.This seems wrong – we’re paying for these people, […]
Motivation 2.0
Motivation 2.0 How are you engaging your team? Are you running a regular appraisal cycle where everyone’s individual score is totted up and ultimately dictates financial reward (pay increase, bonus, share options) or, on the other side of the scale, performance improvement plans? How are you finding this? Do people who get the financial rewards […]
What is Agility?
What is Agility? Strictly speaking, ‘agile’ is an adjective, a descriptive word… like “nimble” & so the more obvious title “What is agile?” probably would have made a small, hardcore, fraction of people up-chuck a little in their mouths. (I am not so offended on this one, but tell me something is “addicting” and I […]