Stephen Cohen's Thoughts on Agile and Project Recovery
Just when is it good enough?
In theory, software development is precise. Some even argue it's a kind of engineering. ...
Author: stephen cohen Date: 11/27/2010
Who cares about your Agile development processes?
I find myself thinking that the software industry is far too focused on impressing itself instead of...
Author: stephen cohen Date: 07/12/2010
10 analogies for creating software (that aren't building construction)
Software has long suffered with the analogy of building construction. While it is certainly handy,...
Author: stephen cohen Date: 01/23/2010
Requirements are tools not weapons
Consider these requirements; · The system shall properly calculate the taxes due at the time of...
Author: stephen cohen Date: 11/29/2009
Fighting the Fear, Uncertainty, and Doubt
There are a few reoccurring themes in project recovery; Hold Fast, Don't Flinch, Lead calmly,...
Author: stephen cohen Date: 11/22/2009
It's just software ...
It's just software ... really, it's just software. It's not as important as your family, or...
Author: stephen cohen Date: 10/26/2009
Agile versus Formal modeling
In response to a recent discussion over at Yahoo on the requirements Engineering list, a question...
Author: stephen cohen Date: 07/10/2009
A risk-reward scale for evaluating project practices
So you’re seeking to improve things. You tried to implement a “best practice” or twelve … how did...
Author: stephen cohen Date: 03/10/2009
There are no right answers.
All troubled projects share one and only one characteristic. Things have gone wrong. ...
Author: stephen cohen Date: 03/09/2009
Introducing Project Practice Portfolios
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Author: stephen cohen Date: 02/15/2009
3 Problems that prevent delivery
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Author: stephen cohen Date: 02/13/2009
5 things that make a problem worth fixing
At it’s heart, recovery is about fixing problems. Before we get into individual and...
Author: stephen cohen Date: 02/12/2009
Implement EXPILCIT Governance
While speaking at the Dr. Dobbs' Architect and Design World conference last week Scott Ambler said...
Author: stephen cohen Date: 07/29/2008
Project Recovery MUST beat the odds
Predictions of failure rule the industry. Any number of organizations and people look at trends and...
Author: stephen cohen Date: 07/06/2008
We can make the choices others can't
Me: Why would you do that? Them: You just don't understand Me: Help me understand, what could have...
Author: stephen cohen Date: 07/02/2008
It's not about you
Software development is a world full of individual accomplishment and competition. It shouldn't be....
Author: stephen cohen Date: 03/02/2008
So you want to do project recovery?
I am seeing a gathering wave of players in the project recovery market. I have stumbled across a...
Author: stephen cohen Date: 02/26/2008
"You just don't understand ...."
I find it interesting that every project, well nearly every project, I am asked to recover begins...
Author: stephen cohen Date: 02/17/2008
Don't bring a well known solution to an unknown problem
Are you a SCRUM Master? A PMI certified Program Manager? Do you have a quick reference card for for...
Author: stephen cohen Date: 02/16/2008
Dealing with uncertainty
Once a project goes far enough off the rails to need recovery it is a good bet that the people...
Author: stephen cohen Date: 02/09/2008
Build Completely, Test Completely, Deploy Completely
There seems to be no clearer sign of a maturing project than the ability to build/test/deploy daily....
Author: stephen cohen Date: 02/08/2008
Is it project recovery or project rescue ?
Once a troubled project is recovered the team has learned, matured, and will go on to deliver again....
Author: stephen cohen Date: 02/07/2008
During Project Recovery don't expect to educate anyone
Let me propose the 1st Law of Project recovery; Projects are recovered by doing things well, not...
Author: stephen cohen Date: 06/07/2007
On every Recovery Project Someone Must Die
OK, First ... ITS A METAPHOR ... so no flames about me really taking a life ... That said; If you...
Author: stephen cohen Date: 06/05/2007
What does it mean to be Agile?
There is a pretty lively debate going around agile circles. It started with a simple question ......
Author: stephen cohen Date: 05/30/2007
All is forgiven on delivery
To my customers I beg your forgiveness. I know I am hard to deal with. I am demanding, unrelenting,...
Author: stephen cohen Date: 05/29/2007
Software Project Recovery is predictable
I often hear Agile and Project Recovery demeaned by those practicing more "formal" methodologies as...
Author: stephen cohen Date: 05/28/2007
Is Recovery a dirty word?
I have a serious marketing problem. It seems Recovery for a project is a dirty word. You see,...
Author: stephen cohen Date: 05/28/2007
Do we really need Status Reports?
Here's an interesting little quandary; if we all work closely together, and everyone knows...
Author: stephen cohen Date: 11/17/2006
Our Team, Our Environment, and Our Customers
Our first exercise is to do a little compare and contrast review of our team, our environment, and...
Author: stephen cohen Date: 11/17/2006
A quick word on Process.
Agile isn't anti-process, on the contrary, most Agile practitioners I know are very process...
Author: stephen cohen Date: 11/17/2006
Being Agile means It's OK to be wrong
Before we get too involved here, or at least before you decide to stop reading I need you to...
Author: stephen cohen Date: 11/17/2006