April 7, 2008 – Scope Creep in Tent City
April 7, 2008
The city of Ontario, California had a problem: a large number of homeless people. To address this, the council decided to create “Tent City” using the land around the airport. They supplied tents, water and toilets. Government agencies supplied... Read more...
March 31, 2008 – Estimating Lessons Learned – Communicating the Results
March 31, 2008
Back in December my 1997 Plymouth Neon was totaled when someone rear-ended me, forcing my car into the next one. It is an odd feeling to look into your rearview mirror and know that the car behind you isn’t stopping. The insurance company sent me... Read more...
March 24, 2008 – Estimating Lessons Learned – Estimate Creation
March 24, 2008
No matter which estimating type you use, there are common steps to creating one. Lesson 6 - Include your Team. Don’t estimate in a vacuum. Using the team sets you up for success on two fronts. First, the estimate will be more accurate. They know the... Read more...
March 18, 2008 - Estimating Lessons Learned - Agile Methods
March 18, 2008
One of the most pathetic looking sights on the highway is a man walking, head down, with a gas can. He represents the ultimate in poor estimating practices. It is bad enough that he ran out of fuel, but he was probably already late or he would have stopped... Read more...
March 10, 2008 – Estimating Lessons Learned - Traditional
March 10, 2008
Estimating is probably the hardest part of any project. My wife will attest that my ability to estimate when I will leave work is inversely proportional to the importance of me getting home at a specific time. The plan will be for me to only work until... Read more...
March 3, 2008 – Estimating Lessons Learned – Side Track
March 3, 2008
After last week’s blog entitled “Estimating Lessons Learned” I received the following comment: “On the contrary-publishing an estimate of 1,433 hours may be entirely appropriate, unless there's a general disclaimer and/or policy noting that all... Read more...
February 26, 2008 – Estimating Lessons Learned - Intro
February 25, 2008
“How long to add text messages to the data transfer communication link?” the director asked. The project manager was obviously hesitant to give an answer. “We haven’t really considered it yet. Why do you ask?” “I’m heading to a meeting... Read more...
February 19, 2008 – Welcome Aboard!
February 20, 2008
"Welcome aboard!" is, unfortunately, the only orientation some Newbies ever receive when starting a new job. If they are lucky someone shows them where the restrooms are...and how to find their way back. I can’t say how or why it happened, but I recently... Read more...
February 11, 2008 – Did You Get What You Wanted?
February 11, 2008
It was the perfect gift. Our daughter’s CD / Cassette player stopped functioning in time to add it to the Christmas list. We found just the right one on line for about $60. Unfortunately by mid-January it quit. It didn’t start skipping or playing... Read more...
February 4, 2008 – When the Plan Fails
February 4, 2008
In an on-shore / off-shore set up you need to expect the unexpected. Half you your team is in a foreign country, half way around the world. You’re never quite sure what time it is where you live, let alone where ever they are. Languages, especially... Read more...