Blog

June 4, 2021

Greg Thomas

Have Need Want for Requirements

On a new project, it’s easy to get rolled over by the tsunami of requests and requirements coming your way. Priority is becomes a game of “what isn’t a 1”? A simple way to approach this with your team is to start with three buckets; Have, Need, Want. Any requirement discussed has to go into one of those buckets, there is no fourth bucket. Each bucket is represented as follows; Have – we can’t go out the door or show previews to our customers without these features. Need – These are very important if not there, it won’t be great.

June 3, 2021

Greg Thomas

Manager Estimates

Manager’s don’t estimate workloads. They challenge the estimate, playing devil’s advocate, poking holes where they see them, but they do so with the goal of helping the developer get better at the task in being more precise. They don’t do it to knock them down or crunch their numbers furthers. There is no mythical person month that makes work go faster. If you want it done right, you put in the time and you get it done. They insulate failure for their team that are providing the estimate. If your Manager is estimating your work for you, chances are the

June 2, 2021

Greg Thomas

Questions? Comments? Criticisms?

Years ago (too many) I had a professor that would end every lecture with… Questions? Comments? Criticisms? Every lecture. The class was not over until this was said. I have found myself saying it now when at a project or working with a customer. Questions – Did I skip over anything? Need anything else explained? Comments – Could I be doing something better? Criticisms – What am I messing up that I need to get better at? Simple and to the point.

June 1, 2021

Greg Thomas

What it Feels Like Leading a Team

If you are doing it right, this is what it feels like. It seems unpleasant, but it really isn’t, it’s tricky at first but as you get rolling you’ll get better and better. At the beginning, you are pulled in every different way as you try to find your focus, routine and delivery schedule that lines up with what your team needs to grow and deliver. The hard part is committing to giving it your all and not letting go when things look bad.

May 31, 2021

Greg Thomas

The Hidden Feature

If you are doing it right, you know what the Hidden Feature is. It’s the thing that makes your client fall off their chair. When they talk about it, their voice goes up an octave and they start waving their hands around in the air. It keeps them up at night as they worry about it. It’s their baby of the project and they know, deep down they know, that if it comes to light, it will be the best thing in the project. This is the Hidden Feature and thi sis the feature that if you make happen will