Management

The T-Rex Company

Innovative, high-tech systems vendors face specific organizational challenges. In order to succeed in a world where these types of organizations have become the drivers of business and industry, old-fashioned, matrix-based organizations need to become agile “T-Rexes.” Adopting a simple organizational pattern can make this possible. Read…

Management

The Dying Diplodocus

Many technology enterprises are having a very tough time dealing with ever-shorter development cycles. It’s clear they’re going to have to restructure in a fundamental way. But what is the right strategy? And can they handle such significant change? Read…

Management

Processes Stink!

Standards can be useful in software development. A “clean and well-defined” collection of Best Practices (only recently known as “good practices”) is potentially a useful idea. On the other hand, in the hands of an inexperienced person, powerful standards can lead to disastrous effects. Are they on the verge of extinction? Read…

Management

Rational Agility

Is it possible to be agile in a complex, real-time, embedded environment? How does it jive with the heavily regulated, ISO 15504/CMMI, product safety-oriented processes increasingly demanded by the OEMs? In my presentation at the embedded world conference in February 2012, I have argued that the difference between ‘agile’ and ‘rational, controlled’ project organizations is in fact an age-old misunderstanding in terms. Read…