Product Maintenance vs. New Development on Web Sites, Mobile Apps and Other Digital Products

Maintenance of a digital business product (e.g. a Web site, mobile app, or software) refers to the work that includes modifications made after delivery to production to fix bugs, address compliance/security issues, or improve scalability/performance These modifications can be to the product’s software code, configuration, documentation, hardware, or surrounding network. Maintenance is often contrasted with… Continue reading Product Maintenance vs. New Development on Web Sites, Mobile Apps and Other Digital Products

Management & Technical Career Growth Tracks (v2)

This second version of the diagram illustrating technical career tracks reflects the following updates since version one: A product management track is now included. (Future updates may include other tracks like design, editorial and marketing.) There is no longer a contributor-level position on the people-management track. This is because most organizations do not have an… Continue reading Management & Technical Career Growth Tracks (v2)

Productive Business Meetings

Here are some suggestions for making business meetings more productive, efficient and effective. Based on readers’ feedback, I have split this article into the following separate blog posts. Use these Posted Signs for Productive Meetings in your meeting rooms and offices Consider using this template for requesting a meeting Consider using this format for your weekly… Continue reading Productive Business Meetings

A Memo on Leadership by a Colleague

I regularly ask other people for their advice, insights and knowledge about leadership and management. The following is a memo a colleague recently wrote for me on the subject. [memo begins] Loose your ego Leadership isn’t about you or what you can do and rarely are people motivated to make you look good. Itâ s… Continue reading A Memo on Leadership by a Colleague

Some Pathways for Career Development in a Product Engineering Organization

The diagram below illustrates some pathways for career development in an engineering-focussed product development organization. It shows an organization where software engineering is a major discipline. The pathways shown here map out career paths that we have seen work well in a number of organizations. (There are also other pathways that work well that are not… Continue reading Some Pathways for Career Development in a Product Engineering Organization

Trinity Method of Technology Management

In the Trinity Method of Technology Management, tasks and responsibilities are categorized under three types of roles: Creator, Guardian and Recycler. If you are the CTO or VP of Technology at an organization, your team needs to do three things effectively and regularly: Innovate; improve; create new products, features, services & processes Operate; maintain; execute… Continue reading Trinity Method of Technology Management

Management & Technical Career Growth Tracks

Described here is one way to enable technologists to grow their careers in your organization while still allowing them to focus on the type of work they are best at and enjoy most. The typical management career growth path does not suit some technical people. These information workers need to grow in their careers (gain… Continue reading Management & Technical Career Growth Tracks

What is Leadership?

Victory is not defeating others. Victory is winning others. The three skills that people in an organization have are leading, managing, and working. Every person has a combination of all three. I refer to a leader as someone who is strongest in leadership, a manager as one who is strongest in management and a worker… Continue reading What is Leadership?