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Software Development: a Source of Frustration?

Episode 1 - 20 Aug 2015

I've been lucky enough to work with the software development teams of some amazing companies. But too often I found that the software development process was... BROKEN.

Chief among the causes:

  • Building things that somehow... miss the mark
  • Building the right things... but taking too long about it

If either - or both - of these things are true of software development in your organisation, you won't need me to tell you that it's incredibly frustrating. Not just for you, but for everyone involved.

It's time to change the record.

I don't pretend to have all the answers. But there are a couple of key themes, best summed up as follows:

  • Do the thing RIGHT
  • Do the right THING

Doing the thing right is about helping the entire team - Developers, Lead Developer, Product Owner, and Business Owner - to pull in the same direction, so that the whole Software Development process is aligned.

Aligned around what?

Aligned around Doing the right thing!

  • Creating software that is USEFUL
  • Creating software that fulfils a REAL CUSTOMER NEED
  • Creating software that is PROFITABLE

That's what 'Development That Pays' is all about.

Every week - in 5 minutes or less - we'll dive into some aspect of software development. Not the technicalities of writing code, but the practicalities of what it takes for teams to create PROFITABLE SOFTWARE.

If you've ever wondered how things are done at Sainsbury's, The Economist, or BBC Worldwide, you won't want to miss an episode.

Already in the pipeline are episodes on:

  • Recruiting
  • Training
  • Software Testing
  • Finance
  • Agile

They're all designed to help you and your team to do the right THING, and to do the thing RIGHT.

Are you a Lead Developer?

Or a Product Owner?

Or a Business Owner?

If so, I have question for you:

Is your software development function a well-oiled machine?

Or is it... ever so slightly... dysfunctional?

Hi. My name is Gary Straughan.

I've been lucky enough to work with the software development teams of some amazing companies

But too often I found that the software development process was... broken :(

Chief among the causes:

  • Building things that somehow... miss the mark
  • Building the right things... but taking too long about it.

If either - or both - of these things are true of software development in your organisation, you won't need me to tell you that it's incredibly frustrating.

Not just for you, but for everyone involved.

It's time to change the record.

I don't pretend to have all the answers, but there are a couple of key themes:

  • Do the thing RIGHT
  • Do the right THING

Doing the thing right is about helping the entire team -

Developers, Lead Developer, Product Owner, and Business Owner

  • to pull in the same direction, so that the whole software development process is aligned.

Aligned around what?

aligned around doing the right thing!

  • Creating software that is useful

  • Creating software that fulfils a real customer need

  • Creating software that is profitable

That's what 'Development that Pays' is all about.

Every week - in 5 minutes or less - we'll dive into some aspect of software development.

Not the technicalities of writing code,

but the practicalities of what it takes for teams to create profitable software.

If you've ever wondered how things are done at

  • Sainsbury's
  • The Economist
  • or BBC Worldwide

you won't want to miss an episode.

Click the big red button and I'll get a new episode to you every Wednesday.

Already in the pipeline are episodes on

  • Recruiting
  • Training
  • Software Testing
  • Some gentle Finance
  • even a spot of Agile

All designed to help you and your team to

  • do the right THING
  • and to do the thing RIGHT

Click the big red button, and I look forward to seeing you on the other side.