In my time in software (Delivery, Sales, and Support), I’ve learned a few inevitable truths related to the dynamics of the groups within a Software Organization. I’m sure many would dispute some of these – so I’d love your thoughts, additions, and amendments. The best software companies are fully aware of the above. The…
Culture eats strategy for breakfast. – Peter Drucker If this is the case, why is Change Management, an effort to address the Cultural underpinnings of Change Initiatives, often seen as wasteful? We think about the technology, battle over price and then completely ignore that the technology being introduced is the “strategy” part of Drucker’s…
Sometimes we need permission to do something outside our routine. To take a jump. To be uncomfortable. I’m very much like that. I don’t need permission to do what I always do. But I do somehow, and for some reason, need permission to push my boundaries. I’m not sure why this happens. But one thing…
The other day I lost my keys and asked my daughter to help me look for them. However, her idea of “looking” was to stand in one place and occasionally turn her head. That was looking. If I were to represent what she surveyed in her “looking visually,” it would be comical. The best…
You get assigned an implementation. It’s terrifying – people are going to hate it. So, you pick a team. And now you and your team are shaking in fear. “Why me?” you ask yourself. “Why me?” asks everyone on the team. Here’s what you do. Panic. No, I’m kidding. First, lean into the fear….
In the book The Rise of the Creative Class, Author Richard Florida postulates that motivation for Creatives is more intrinsic than extrinsic. Extrinsic Motivation uses rewards or punishment to motivate the correct behavior. While Intrinsic Motivation involves using a personally rewarding factor to achieve a goal. In his research, Richard Florida found that 9 of…
The above cartoon was first created nearly 20 years ago. It’s incredible how appropriate it still is. Since its creation in 2003, several websites have expanded on the story. See http://www.projectcartoon.com/create/ if you want to create your very own version. What’s great about the cartoon and has made it last as long as it…
The implementation will be more than you thought. It will take more of your time. And be more complicated. It will require way more communication. You will lose a valuable person during the project, and it will force you to adjust. It will force you to include someone you never considered. No matter your…
Apple is notorious for being a “measure twice, cut once” kind of company. It works for them. On the other hand, Google is more “launch and iterate” in their approach, which works for them. When you implement Subscription-based software, you have a choice about which approach works for you. Therefore, it’s worth a moment…
The job of the implementation core team and program lead is to deliver the success criteria. But, for some, that is not enough. It’s not enough because they also have to ferret out the hidden success criteria for the project to be truly called a success. Hidden success criteria can be obvious but not…