It’s not every day one gets called a freak.
But it’s all in a good cause, including the bullying 🙂
But then, being called a “dude” more than makes up for that. When I grow up, I want to pursue the “Dudist Way”. But first, I have to finish the “Toyota Way“.
But seriously… We need to make an effort to be taken more seriously. All that “freaky”, extreme, surfer-dude stuff is great to attract the “innovators”, the people who are attracted to new, shiny toys. But that phase is over, as Jutta Eckstein said at XP2005.
So, who do we approach now?
- Project Managers? Yes, but only the ones who have a problem. Those “who don’t have problems” don’t need us, they’re doing fine. Do you know a project manager who has difficulties ascertaining the true state of their project? Who has trouble meeting their deadlines? Who has quality or morale problems? Brittle software? Requirements shifting like sand dunes? Talk to them. Ask them “what’s your worst problem?” See if you can find a potential solution and try it out.
- IT Managers? Most of those that I meet don’t have any problems. Well, except customers… If we didn’t have those, life would be great. Yes, but the dole pay sucks.
- IT Architects? They’re too busy inventing Rube Goldberg contraptions in their ivory towers to have problems. No problem, no sale.
- Marketing Managers? Yes. Talk to them and ask them what they would wish from IT. A way to really steer the content of the software, without spending countless hours listening to technical mumbo-jumbo? A way for customer feedback to be translated quickly in changes to the product? Being able to see and show running, stable systems almost from day one of the project? Who knows, you might be able to grant them one wish…
- Sales Managers? Yes. Talk to them and ask them what they would wish from IT. Being able to know when the software will be released and what features will be in it, so that they can make reliable promises to their customers? A way to delight their customers by responding rapidly to their wishes and frustrations? Create value by early delivery? Having confidence in the consistent quality of the system? Who knows, you might be able to grant them one wish…
- Finance Managers? Yes. Talk to them and ask them what they would wish from IT. Would they like to make regular small IT investment decisions instead of pouring sacks of money into mega-projects that (might) deliver a long time in the future? Would they like more insight in the state of the project to make their investment decisions? Would they like to see the system delivered earlier, so that they earn (part of the) value sooner? Would they like better insight in the costs and value generated by projects? Who knows, you might be able to grant them one wish…
- Human Resource Managers? Yes. Talk to them and ask them what they would wish from IT. A way to keep people motivated and working at their best? A way to build and sustain high-performing teams? Who knows, you might be able to grant them one wish…
- The CEO? Yes. Talk to them and ask them what they would wish from IT. A way to have IT strategy and execution integrated with the rest of the company’s functions? Integrated and clear investment plans that show how IT delivers value to the company? Reliable execution of the company’s plans? Having a clear insight into the real state of each project and being able to react when new information is gained? An organisation that keeps improving? Who knows, you might be able to grant them one wish…
Do you want an agile business? Agile Software development is not enough.
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Go out and talk to the business people in your organisation.Which wish will you grant? |
