[thelist] calling IT managers

[Steve Cook]

Hi Teresa,

hmm, sounds like an interesting challenge. I guess you are looking for some
kind of project management structure. I have come from a background where we
built a system from scratch, with input from several of the project managers
over time. Looking back on it, this was very successful, but could have been
implemented more quickly if we had used an existing methodology.

I moved from that company to a large web company here in Sweden, who use a
couple of different models for different areas of their work. These were
models bought in from business consultancies. Their project management model
was called PPS and comes from a company called Tieto Enator
(http://www.tieto.com/). Their system development model is called The
Rational Unified Process (RUP) and comes from Rational Software
(http://www.rational.com). These are both the sort of service that doesn't
come cheap, but ensures that everyone in your organisation will be talking
the same language and working to the same kind of process (there are plenty
of other companies offering such services).

If you are looking to build from scratch, I would definitely recommend
holding some kind of seminar to educate your team on the process plan you
will be using internally. Listen to their contributions to the process as
well however. You may perhaps want to split up such sessions, so that
project managers have more information than production team members. Those
in production don't really need to know about many of the areas of the
planning stage for instance, whicle everyone needs to know about document
management or change management techniques.

How about this? - Start by having interviews with people from several areas
of the production team. Use these to build a picture of what little
structure already exists. Tailoring your approach so that it includes
whatever working elements are already there will kae it easier for the team
to swallow. Then build your process flow so that you can convey it to the
rest of the team. You may want to involve PM's etc in this process. Then
when you are ready, roll out the new structure with a start-up workshop and
filler workshops for those who need extended information. Focus on it being
a way for everyone to speak the same language and a way of removing the more
painful parts of the current process and you should be able to sell it
without people thinking it's an imposition rather than an aid.

I hope this helps a little and good luck - sounds like an exciting new
position :-)

.steve

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> -----Original Message-----
> From: Teresa_Molina at hartehanks.com 
> [mailto:Teresa_Molina at hartehanks.com]
> Sent: den 3 augusti 2000 17:36
> To: thelist at lists.evolt.org
> Subject: [thelist] calling IT managers
> 
> 
> Hey 'Volters:
> 
> The situation: I'm heading off to my new job as a manager of 
> client-side content
> shortly, and I'm getting a bit trepidatious about the move. 
> It seems that the
> company exists in a start-up-like state of chaos; there's no 
> organization,
> processes, work flow, etc. fully in place. My organizational 
> skills are
> excellent, but I'm wondering if any of you who manage a team 
> of Web develolpers
> (doing HTML, JavaScript, a little Perl, etc.) have any 
> suggestions. Books or
> articles on creating smooth processes and managing quality 
> control would be much
> appreciated. Any tips from personal experience would also be welcome.
> 
> Thanks a bunch,
> Teresa
> 
> 
> 
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