Category Archives: estimates

Kanban with kids

Posted on June 29, 2014 by Big_GH

I recently had a day at home with my kids and we decided (well I decided) that we’d try a new game.  I explained the rules: “Today we are going to get lots of jobs done, but before we do … Continue reading →

Posted in agile, estimates, kanban, planning, Project Management, software development | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Who Said the Software’s Late?

Posted on April 16, 2014 by Big_GH

We are always hearing about software projects being late.  My current experience tells me that my own software team will deliver their software later than planned. So why is that?  Let’s firstly get the assumption that the team is somehow … Continue reading →

Posted in agile, costs, estimates, information, planning, process, Project Management, software development | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Building Roads

Posted on May 14, 2013 by Big_GH

We are often told when managing software projects that things should be more predictable, more repeatable and that our projects are less in control than others.  As we saw previously, I’m not convinced. I’ve been watching with interest over the … Continue reading →

Posted in agile, estimates, planning, Project Management, software development | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Progress – Part 3 (What still needs improving?)

Posted on March 14, 2013 by Big_GH

In the previous parts, we looked at how things used to be in the development team, and then looked at how things are now.  This time, lets look at the areas that still need improving. As a small company trying … Continue reading →

Posted in estimates, peopleware, planning, process, Project Management, software development | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The True Cost of Developing Software

Posted on August 20, 2012 by Big_GH

How much does it cost to develop software? I remember in my early days of software development I worked for an outsourced software development company and we followed a Waterfall approach to software development.  We had neat phases that we … Continue reading →

Posted in costs, estimates, planning, software development | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Planning Genius or Stupidity?

Posted on May 10, 2012 by Big_GH

Here’s a little story of a project I was recently involved in. I always enjoy the chance to watch and learn from other people’s work, so with an external Project Manager I was looking forward to this one. Things started … Continue reading →

Posted in estimates, information, listening, planning, process, Project Management | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

A Tale of Two Projects

Posted on January 15, 2011 by Big_GH

I’ve recently had the opportunity to be part of two similar projects each being run using a different methodology. Both projects ran for a year, with the second project a continuation of the first. Let’s look at the various aspects … Continue reading →

Posted in estimates, motivation, peopleware, planning, process, software development | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Thoughts behind Project Management Alchemy

Posted on November 14, 2010 by Big_GH

I had intended this follow up to Project Management Alchemy to be written a little quicker than it has been.  However, my work has taken me on a couple of foreign trips (to Copenhagen and New York) and my free time … Continue reading →

Posted in estimates, listening, motivation, peopleware, planning, process, reading, software development | Leave a comment

Project Management Alchemy

Posted on September 28, 2010 by Big_GH

In this post I wanted to share some of the magic tricks I’ve picked up over the years that can help turn even the worst projects into golden triumphs.  In this day of software development and virtual worlds we can … Continue reading →

Posted in estimates, humour, planning, process, software development | 1 Comment