Zacharias Beckman
Scrum versus Kanban
Pawel Brodzinski makes a very succinct and key observation regarding the differences of Scrum and Kanban (and also links to a handful of opposing views by Ken Schwaber, David Anderson and Mike Cohn). If you want to figure out how Scrum and Kanban differ, this is a great starting point — be sure to check [...]
Thinking creatively by taking your ideas to trial
You can put your ideas to the test by putting them on trial. A very successful team building and idea vetting exercise is to literally organize a mock trail, with prosecuting and defending teams and even a jury. Not only is it fun, but it can be eye-opening: “It was one of the better things we’ve done in a long time,” says Richard D. Fain, chairman and C.E.O. of Royal Caribbean Cruises.
Trying to change the world can be dangerous
Trying to change the world (or at least the professional one)? It can be dangerous, as Julia Kirby writes in Harvard Business Review: It’s one thing to be the agent of change in an organization that realizes it needs it; it’s quite another when you’re the only one in the room convinced of that. Be [...]
Tackling the global project problem
Launching a global project presents many problems that are completely foreign to most project leaders and managers. Understanding the cultural differences, communication differences, and interpersonal relations of a global team is only the beginning. Business environment, local regulatory and compliance issues, and international laws scratch a bit deeper, but managing a global project is more complicated than most project managers anticipate.
How big is cloud computing, really?
How big is Cloud Computing? How much do we rely on it today, and how much more tomorrow? One thing is clear: With distributed computing everywhere, in our laptops, our smart phones, our tablets and iPads, everyone has one thing in common: We all want to connect to something. That something is rapidly turning out [...]
The changing face of the U.S. job market
Is the U.S. experiencing a jobless recovery, or facing something much more fundamental? Is the changing economic landscape and emerging global economy causing a structural shift in the very nature of our workforce? The influence of the global economy is undeniably bringing about changes that are both new and unanticipated. As information flows around the [...]
Dealing with negativity in the team
You are leading a star project team working on a challenging project when you noticed a particular team member spreading negativity, rumors among peers. You are afraid this negative behavior will bring whole team’s morale down. What would you do in this situation? Every individual is different, and every situation is going to require a different response, but here are a few strategies that can bring the situation back to an even keel.
Do hackers make the best testers?
The most valuable asset a Software Tester can have is an attitude of gleeful problem discovery. Someone that loves to break systems, discover their imperfections, and explore their weaknesses makes a great tester. But, to be really good, a product tester really has to care about the quality of the product.
Successfully applying lessons learned
Capturing lessons learned at the end of a project sounds like a great idea. Who wouldn’t want to reflect on what was done right, what could be done better, and then apply those lessons to the next project? Unfortunately, few organizations take the time to build the right kind of lessons learned system, and that means critical information is being lost.
“The key to a successful project is in the planning,” or is it?
Is the key to a successful project in the planning, as the axiom goes… or have we already been lost in the trees? My problem with this is that it’s a very narrow, incomplete answer to a much larger scope problem. Creating the project plan is important, but it’s not “the” key to project success [...]
Connect
