how to avoid screwing up technology @ dps europe, 2/5/15
TRANSCRIPT
How to avoid
screwing up
technology...
Paul Lomax, CTO, Dennis Publishing
@PaulLomax
The problem with
technology is
people.
Product Managers
Requirements
Discovery
Do I buy, build or
rent?
“If it flies, floats or fornicates, always rent it..
It's cheaper in the long run.”
– Felix Dennis (1947-2014)
Writing code
should be a last
resort.
"We'll just build our own..."
How much
work your
developers
think is
involved.
Stuff they
haven't
thought of.
Pragmatism
Technical debt.
Sunk costs.
Legacy systems.
"We've already got one of
those."
Be lean &
agile.
1. Eliminate waste
2. Amplify learning
3. Decide as late as
possible
4. Deliver as fast as
possible
5. Empower the team
6. Build integrity in
7. See the whole
Adopt lean principles
Adopt agile principles
www.agilemanifesto.org
But beware half-arsed agile!
While the items on the top sound nice in theory, we’re an
enterprise company, and there’s no way we’re letting go of the
items on the bottom…www.halfarsedagilemanifesto.org
Fear commitment
Enterprise
Recap
● It's about people, not technology.
● Empower product managers.
● Ban 'requirements'. Focus on objectives.
● Write code as a last resort. Rent it (cloud).
● Look out for the iceberg under the water.
● Ensure pragmatism and collaboration.
● Avoid 'sunk cost' issues. Fear commitment.
● Avoid waste, test & learn, embrace change.
● Act like a start-up not like an enterprise.
Picture credits
Men's Fitness: http://www.mensfitness.co.uk/
Product Management Venn diagram: http://www.mindtheproduct.com/
Iceberg: http://ralphclevenger.com/portfolios/earth/
I'll Know What I Want When I See It: http://sharpsuits.net/Home
Baby Squirrels: http://www.flickr.com/photos/_crazysanman/2391480258/
Lean Startup: http://lean.st/
Agile Manifesto: http://blog.theworkinggroup.ca/
Dilbert on Requirements: http://dilbert.com/strips/comic/2006-01-29/
XKCD on Arbitrary Condiments: http://xkcd.com/974/