Agile Methods in a Waterfall World: Speaking In Code

Starting up a new project, and I'm definitely having fun with it. At first glance, it looks like a fairly small, departmental application, but it is actually part of a web of disconnected processes and local databases (ie. "a mess") that support some fairly important master data. Also, the folks I'm working with are much more comfortable in a "waterfall world", with formal requirements followed by code, test, and deploy. Lots of opportunity for process coaching and new methods -…

Best Practices for Process Documentation: Use Cases (3 of 3)

21 September, 2008
Project Management, Knowledge Management
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I've been writing about iterative documentation and checklists, and it's easy to see how these are applicable to a number of common IT processes ... Build a server Apply OS patches Move new code into production Initiate a project / programming request Unfortunately, there are plenty of other areas in IT that you think should / could have a definable process ... yet there is always some magic to them, a variable recipe that's difficult to capture in a cookbook…

Best Practices for Process Documentation: Iterations (2 of 3)

Last time, I wrote about checklists, and showed the example of the B-17 preflight. Simple, fits on a single page, and hits all the critical steps, in just the right amount of detail. Plenty of processes in the IT department are made That Much Better if they are accompanied by detailed, effective Process Documentation. Of course, that's all motherhood and apple pie - everyone agrees that the existing checklists are great. But how do you get started? I mean, assuming…

Best Practices for Process Documentation: Checklists (1 of 3)

I've written before about process documentation and the need for checklists - especially for repeatable and complex processes that you may not perform every single day. A written process solves a multitude of issues: Security: For complex processes with integrated platforms, a detailed list keeps you from forgetting key settings, switches, and process steps that you might forget Reality: No matter how "advanced" or "highly engineered" these systems are, there is always something that must be done in just the…

Does Excel 2007 VBA have Sneaky Hidden Issues?

25 August, 2008
Hands-On
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I've done a lot of coding over the past few years, on a number of platforms - but since I'm not a full time developer, it's typically limited to VBA, PHP, SQL, some simple web stuff. Still, I've developed some tools that people use - and need to carry forward as the underlying technology moves along. And so, as I've finally made the leap to Office 2007, I had to come to terms with yet another VBA upgrade. I remember…

Facilitating Innovation: Establishing an Environment of Possibilities

I'm exchanging email with someone interested in establishing a skunk works, and they are asking some very interesting questions about the nature of innovation and the ingredients for an "environment of possibilities" ... The Current Environment ... things are ... [as they are] because someone already tried unsuccessful alternatives ... [This] begs the question: when it is required, how can rapid innovation be achieved? Rapid innovation comes when the environment allows it and the skill sets enable it. An "environment…

Sample Interview Questions for MS Project

17 August, 2008
People Management
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I still get interesting, unsolicited pings from the meebo widget on my blog site. I've got a Pidgin plugin that connects to meebo, so when it says I'm available, I am definitely at the keyboard, hacking away at something - and usually able to answer the quick message. Still, sometimes I'm amazed at the depth and detail of the inquiries. Last week, I got into an interesting conversation with someone about MS Project interview questions. At first, I thought they…

Where to Start? (2 of 2) Metrics & Measurements

Bullet point #1 in your executive-friendly PowerPoint about "Achieving Operational Excellence in IT" covers Process and Procedure; so how do we measure our effectiveness? I'm a big proponent of Metrics and Measurements as well - but often times the biggest challenge is where to start? Measure the Unmeasured In most organizations (especially manufacturers!), the business has plenty of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) that tell them how much productivity they are seeing, how much money they are saving, and how they…

Where to Start? (1 of 2) Process and Procedure

5 August, 2008
Tech Management
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If you need a one-slide, three-bullet, PowerPoint special for describing the basic tactics for "How to Achieve Operational Excellence", try these: Process and Procedures Metrics and Measurements Continuous Improvement The first two are nicely alliterative, but you might consider substituting Standards and Processes as your lead-off if we're talking about an IT, Finance, or Engineering department. Now What? Of course, now you have to generate the details; the "motherhood and apple pie" routine only lasts thru the first meeting. Here's…

Enterprise 2.1: Exiting the Trough of Disillusionment

"What will you do with that car if you actually catch it?" -- what the cat asked the dog (from the Chicago Reader, circa 1989) So you've gone all "Enterprise 2.0", spinning up a wiki, a blog, and a SharePoint or Drupal server inside your firewall. Now what happens? The groundswell of interest in "cool tools" brings a wave of users and a burst of feed reader activity - for a few weeks. Before long, however, the organization will get…