Team-Based Software Development

“Team-based development”

The real key to software successy

Paul RamsayNational Consulting ManagerNational Consulting ManagerEquinox Limited

27 J ne 200727 June 2007FINAL – Version 3

www.equinox.co.nz© equinox limited 2007

Agenda

The challenge The realityThe reality The experience The keysThe keys


The customer expectation

Time Now

QualityCost PerfectFree

Functionality Everything and more!Functionality Everything and more!


The development dilemma


The vendor solution


The reality …

PeoplePeoplemake it happen

Process can be

p

P

make it happen

Process can bethe “glue” that holdseverything together

Process

ToolsTools can enhanceproductivity and

efficiencyefficiency


… in that order!

Despite the platitudes that “people are our greatest asset” people really are your greatest asset – there is no substitute for quality

Good people will always overcome poor or non-existent processes or tools

“An undisciplined carpenter with a power tool becomes a d di i li d t ”dangerous undisciplined carpenter”

The latest methodology or tool won’t save you – there are no silver bulletsno silver bullets


People – look for attitude, diversity and depth

Diversity

Depth

“Kii mai koe ki ahau he aha te mea nui o te ao? Maaku e kii atu ki a koe - he tangata he tangata he tangata"“If k d h t i th t t thi I ld“If you asked me what is the greatest thing, I would

tell you - it is people, it is people, it is people"


People – develop the “tool-box” concept

Skills:The tools you have in your toolbox (“know what”)

Knowledge:What tool to use and when (“know when”)

Experience: Experience:How to apply the tool (“know how”)

“What’s in your bag of tricks?”

( )


People – teamwork makes the dream work

Teamwork: is productive is creative builds character produces new leaders promotes a sense of

belonging


Process – tailored to fit

Needs to be tailored to the culture and characteristics ofNeeds to be tailored to the culture and characteristics of your organisation – “one size fits one”

Can either be an accelerator or a brake depending on how p git is applied

High Complexity

Formal Processes

Low Complexity Agile

Processes

Low Flexibility

High Flexibility


Process – three key approaches

Agile Visible Responsive Adaptive

Iterative Incremental

“The Learning Spiral”http://www.nald.ca/fulltext/abc/undcur/p50.htm

“Don’t try and drink the ocean”p p


Process – managing the lifecycle

N hi i i Nothing exists in isolationDevelopment does not Development does not end with delivery

Software will continue to Software will continue to change – increasing complexity and decayp y y

Design for maintenance Actively manage y g

changes


P ti i d t d i i lProcess – supporting mindsets and principles

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/solutionaccelerators/msf/default.mspx


Tools – integrated development environment

Development languageUser Version control

Build management

User

Test management Defect management

IDE

Content Context Project management Tracking and reporting

Content Context


Tools – Visual Studio Team System

Business Business AnalystAnalystAnalystAnalyst Web Clients and Web Clients and

XML Web ServicesXML Web Services

Operations, QA Operations, QA and Help Deskand Help Desk ThirdThird--Party IDEsParty IDEs


QEII National Trust

C t D t b Covenant Database Development

Managing covenants toManaging covenants to protect natural features on private land

First development using Microsoft VSTS Team Foundation ServerFoundation Server

Six month project Team of five peoplep p www.openspace.org.nz


NZAID

Scholarship SystemScholarship System Development

Managing scholarships to undertake post-secondary study or vocational training

Five month project Team of seven people www.nzaid.govt.nz


Schering-Plough Animal Health

VetPlan System Redevelopment

Original developed by Equinox in 1997 to manage customer loyalty rebate systemloyalty rebate system

Redeveloped in 2007 using latest Microsoft technologies

Six month project Team of seven people http://www.spah.co.nz


Three primary keys to a successful team

Co-location Communication Collaboration


Co-location

Facilitates team interaction and communication Greater ability to focus on the task at hand with less Greater ability to focus on the task at hand with less

unrelated distractions Improved ability to respond to issues as they ariseImproved ability to respond to issues as they arise Closer working relationships both within the team and with

the customerthe customer Reduced administrative overhead with less “traditional”

monitoring and reporting requiredg p g q


Communication

G d i ti kill Good communication skills are essential

As a team grows the As a team grows the number of communication “channels” can grow gexponentially

A common technical l ti i tsolution is to use a

common “bus” or shared repository to replace all the point-to-point connections


Collaboration – people

Stakeholders andSponsorp

Monitoringand Reporting

Project ManagerProcessCustomisation

Task Allocation

Development TeamProcess

Guidance

and Tracking


Collaboration – teamwork

Combine skills, experience and judgement

Break down barriers between departments and disciplines

Forming, storming, norming and f iperforming

“Keeping the band together”


Collaboration – tools


Some final observations

Know and trust the team Know and trust the team Invest in training and development – “the grass is always

greenest where it is watered”greenest where it is watered Don’t reinvent the wheel – reuse and improve Collect relevant data unobtrusively with no developer Collect relevant data unobtrusively with no developer-

perceived interference Always do a post implementation review and apply theAlways do a post implementation review and apply the

lessons learned to your next project – “deliberate learning” Finally, remember it is all about the business and y,

delivering business value


Possible next steps

I di id l Individual Look to leverage off what you already know and do Learn about teams and team dynamics Learn about teams and team dynamics

Team How can we work more effectively as a team? How can we work more effectively as a team? What principles and practices do we need to adopt?

OrganisationOrganisation Focus on your greatest asset Encourage team-based delivery supported by innovative g y pp y

processes and tools


Thank you

Questions and discussion

[email protected]


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