At your service...
Business Plans to Action Plans
"Always have a plan." --Jason Rosenhouse
Whether starting a new company or a new endeavor, it is important to define the goal and how to get there. I've written multiple business plans, and just as importantly I've helped organizations execute on them. From quarterly plans to opening new offices, I help companies move from concept to completion, with upfront planning and regular checkpointing as they take action.
Process Development
"One size does not fit all; in fact, over time, one size will not continue to fit you."
Few organizations formally consider their development and operating processes. Many companies begin in chaos. Changes in team size, the market space, and competitive pressures alter the demands on the product, and thereby the development process. Companies need to design their processes around their needs. I help companies advance to their full potential.
Project Management
"The major problems of [software development] are not so much technological as sociological in nature.”--Peopleware
A good idea and great engineers aren't enough to produce a successful project. From requirements gathering, through design, production, and release, project management, direction, and coordination are critical for efficent use of resources.
Organizational Development
“Organizations which design systems are constrained to produce systems which are copies of the communication structures of these organizations.”--Conways’ Law
Successful companies need to have a thousand things work correctly. Setting up the proper framework is a critical step to set an organization on the right path.
Post Mortem Analysis
"Successful organizations are those which don't simply catch errors, but systematically root them out."
Whether the project succeeds, gets by, or fails, it's important to understand what worked and what needs improvement. The best companies regularly evaluate their teams and processes. An investment of just a few days can lead to improved teamwork and organizational efficiency. The post mortem will work with the engineering team and others involved in the project to provide concrete process change and actions going forward.
© 2006-2009 Mark A. Herschberg, all rights reserved