Don’t test more, develop better
June 20th, 2006 // 7:29 am @ Tanmay // One Comment
The following quote by Steve McConnell emphasizes on importance of processes in software projects. Poor quality results from weak process structure. Processes that enable teams to do "right" things first time not only improve the overall effectiveness but also improve the quality. Test results are just a measure of the overall product quality. Testing by itself does not improve software [...]
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Do you have time?
June 20th, 2006 // 4:44 am @ Tanmay // No Comments
Lack of time is the biggest excuse for anything we are not willing to do. Powerful thought. Recently, one of the team members failed to take an important update from the project manager resulting in a communication gap. "Why din't you take the feedback as a part of our routine practice?", he was asked. "I [...]
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Mini Saga : Knowledge and Action
June 13th, 2006 // 2:35 pm @ Tanmay // One Comment
I was sketching on a blank paper – a book, few pens and a lit candle with slogan “Knowledge is Power”. I posted it on soft board over my desk. Next day, my boss saw the sketch and said, “Knowledge is of no use without actions. Action is more powerful.” Note: A mini saga is a [...]
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Think before you act
June 10th, 2006 // 9:01 am @ Tanmay // No Comments
Early start of the project always results in late finish – a lesson I have learnt specially for software projects which heavily depend on ones knowledge and understanding. It pays to spend quality time on understanding the project, the business need, the client and deciding the overall execution approach (externally with client and internally with [...]
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Introversion and Extroversion
June 5th, 2006 // 11:23 am @ Tanmay // No Comments
Stickyminds.com is running an excellent article on understanding introverts and extroverts by Naomi Karten. Project teams often have both these types and managing them requires us to understand each of these personality traits and manage them accordingly. My comments on Naomi's article as on Stickyminds.com: One of my introvert team member came up to me [...]
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Performance Management through KRA’s
June 5th, 2006 // 10:34 am @ Tanmay // 14 Comments
People need to know what is expected out of them. Expectations from them are usually communicated verbally in one to one meetings or team meetings. However, as soon as they are back their day to day activities these expectations loose visibility. It helps to document performance expectations or Key Result Areas (KRA). My first introduction to [...]
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On Team Speed and Work Paces
May 24th, 2006 // 1:39 pm @ Tanmay // No Comments
Projects often comprise of team members and managers who work differently. Diversity in work patterns of team sometimes brings out best and often the worst. For a car to move smoothly all four wheels have to rotate at the same speed. Same might not be fully applicable to software projects, but project teams have to [...]
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Adaptable Requirements Management
May 23rd, 2006 // 12:39 pm @ Tanmay // No Comments
"Adapting Your Requirements Practices" by Ellen Gottesdiener is the current article on Stickyminds.com. Requirements management is core to software development activity and requirements management approach differs from project to project. Ellen says, "Some amount of requirements growth and change is normal. The practice of "playing around" with a product is an excellent way to explore [...]
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Opportunity in crisis
May 23rd, 2006 // 5:41 am @ Tanmay // One Comment
A few years back I was pulled into a huge and troubled documentation project. Since the project involved massive documentation effort and some Liasioning with government agencies and external consultants, no one was keen on taking up the work. Initially I was scared and confused on my abilities to work on such a huge documentation [...]
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Raising alarm bells
May 20th, 2006 // 10:30 am @ Tanmay // No Comments
For members of test team, it is very important to raise the alarm bells at right instances. With right instances, I mean that test team should raise the alarm bells well in advance even if they have slightest of apprehension about the product quality and resolution of bugs therein. Raising alarm bells is a very [...]
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