I’ve been writing random and sometimes organized thoughts in this blog for quite a while now and I just took a closer look at the statistics of people who have read my stuff. So, I want to Thank every one of you who have read my materials and I hope that you all continue toContinue reading “Hello World! Thank You, World!”
Category Archives: content
Swim Lane Diagrams
Since when did Swim Lane Diagrams take the place of more rigorous Software Engineering Requirements gathering models like: Process Models, Data Relationship Models, State Transition Diagrams, Use Cases and Event Models? I’ve been managing several smaller projects lately and if they have any kind of Analysis efforts and documented Requirements, they are only represented inContinue reading “Swim Lane Diagrams”
Starting your own PMO
If your organization does not have a PMO or has one that has been disappointing in its benefits, then this discussion may be for you! I have an opinion that there are “Five ‘P’s in PMO”: Project, Program, Portfolio, Process, and People. Others don’t necessarily agree with me but then they are not writing THISContinue reading “Starting your own PMO”
Project in Trouble?
Despite all of our best efforts, some projects end up in trouble and they need to be ‘saved’ or ‘shut down’! Making the ‘shut down’ decision is very difficult but must be considered once a project that is in trouble is identified. Some of the questions I have used in the past to determine whetherContinue reading “Project in Trouble?”
What Users Say Translated to Software Engineering!
I need a report that shows me how much I spent yesterday! Not an atypical ‘requirement’ from a business users’ point of view, huh? What do you as a Software Engineer DO with this and similar statements? Let’s start with a couple of questions that we can use to expand and clarify on a statementContinue reading “What Users Say Translated to Software Engineering!”
Software Engineering: How do you start?
There are interesting challenges in applying the art and science of Engineering Disciplines to Software Analysis and Design. If we accept the notion that we need as complete a collection of Requirements as possible either for a full blown application solution (change or new) or a SPRINT to add functionality to either an existing applicationContinue reading “Software Engineering: How do you start?”
The First 90 Days
When I have been asked what I would do in the first 90 days of a new project as the Project Manager, my responses have typically included some or all of the following as a “Self-Orientation Start Up Plan”: 1) Gather the latest project documentation available from the following sources: a) Portfolio Management files forContinue reading “The First 90 Days”
Orthogonal Views…
A current definition provides us this: or·thog·o·nal [awr-thog-uh-nl] adjective 1. Mathematics . a. Also, orthographic. pertaining to or involving right angles or perpendiculars: an orthogonal projection. b. (of a system of real functions) defined so that the integral of the product of any Continue reading “Orthogonal Views…”
Modeling for Money!
One of the basic principles of Software Engineering is the creation of visual models to demonstrate the project team’s understanding of the discoveries we are collecting from the users who are driving our discussions. The type of drawings were proscribed by several authors of the time but regardless of the style of the drawing, theyContinue reading “Modeling for Money!”
The Software Engineering Handbook
Information Technology (IT) has been moving towards a “Popcorn Culture” for many years where our Practitioners are regularly looking for a quick POP of a little progress in technology. When I was growing up in the world of computer programming, we were taught that this work took planning, design, testing, and re-work before a productContinue reading “The Software Engineering Handbook”
The Path To Inkc 