Is succeeding at web and software development projects important to you? Me too. I've spent most of my career — spanning nearly two decades — working on getting them done, getting them done on-time and on-budget, and getting them done in a way so that stakeholders, clients, and my development team are all happy. I've learned a lot along the way!
Below are articles I've written based on what has worked for me, in the hope that they'll help others achieve positive outcomes for their own projects. They're grouped by topic.
Project Management Principles
Foundational ideas for leading projects well — the why behind the how.
A Short Guide to Estimating Software Projects
Why software estimates go wrong, and how to make them less wrong.
A Short Guide to Writing Software Requirements
A pragmatic approach to capturing what a software project needs to do.
PJ's Rules of Project Management
A discussion of what a project manager really does, and some ideas for how to do it well.
Seven Tips for Talking to Difficult Clients and Stakeholders
Transitioning to / Understanding Agile
Adopting Agile in the real world, where teams aren't textbook and clients don't follow scripts.
A "How To" for the Daily Scrum
The right and wrong ways to do the daily scrum, and how to tweak it to your needs.
An Agile Case Study
An example of applying Agile principles to a Waterfall project.
Coaching Self Organizing Teams
It takes the right coaching to make self organizing teams work effectively.
What Agile Software Development Really Means
For Leaders and Stakeholders
For executives and decision-makers buying or sponsoring software work.
Developers Are Not Commodities
Developers are not all the same. Development teams are not all the same. And that matters.
How to Hire a Digital Agency and Get What You Pay For
The Agile Marketing Manifesto
Our approach to marketing influences our approach to software development.
Why Prioritization Fails
Project Management Nuts and Bolts
Practical tactics, templates, and checklists for day-to-day project work.
A Website Checklist
A detailed checklist for website projects, including references.
A Website Project Kickoff Questionnaire
Questions you should ask before starting a new website design project.
How and When to Write a Requirements Document
What to consider before sitting down to write the "requirements document."
How to Make Remote Meetings Effective
Managing Data Intensive Projects
What to Know Before You Start a Project
Short Topics
Quick reads and lessons drawn from a couple of decades in the trenches.