Process Improvement While Management Isn’t Looking (Guerilla Process Improvement) Earl Beede © 2002 Earl Beede & Construx Software Builders, Inc. All Rights

Process Improvement Process Improvement While Management Isn’t While Management Isn’t

LookingLooking(Guerilla Process Improvement)(Guerilla Process Improvement)

Earl BeedeEarl Beede

© 2002 Earl Beede & Construx Software Builders, Inc.© 2002 Earl Beede & Construx Software Builders, Inc.All Rights Reserved.All Rights Reserved.

ConstruxConstruxDelivering Software Project SuccessDelivering Software Project Success

construx software consulting training software projects construx.com 2

Introduction, PersonalIntroduction, Personal

14 years in IT14 years in IT 3 of those with DoD as a Quality 3 of those with DoD as a Quality

Assurance RepresentativeAssurance Representative Certified for Mechanical, Electronics, and SWCertified for Mechanical, Electronics, and SW

Several years at BoeingSeveral years at Boeing Several years in wireless (stint as QA and Several years in wireless (stint as QA and

SEPG manager!)SEPG manager!) Currently instructor/consultant at Currently instructor/consultant at

Construx SoftwareConstrux Software


Introduction, TopicIntroduction, Topic

The problemThe problem You want to do SPI, and “you” here is first You want to do SPI, and “you” here is first

person singularperson singular

Many presentations/books/articles have Many presentations/books/articles have THE CAVEATTHE CAVEAT ““Management support is critical…”Management support is critical…”

And there is a lot of truth to thatAnd there is a lot of truth to that


What Is Your GoalWhat Is Your Goal

Business Process Re-Business Process Re-engineeringengineering

Many of us have engaged in business Many of us have engaged in business process re-engineeringprocess re-engineering Much “re-engineering” simply shifted the work Much “re-engineering” simply shifted the work

upstream or downstream!upstream or downstream!

Whose process are you improving?Whose process are you improving? Misfire:Misfire: I want to make the world a better I want to make the world a better

place – for me!place – for me!

It's Not About LogicIt's Not About Logic


It’s Not About LogicIt’s Not About Logic

It’s the Culture, StupidIt’s the Culture, Stupid

The environment supports the The environment supports the current practicescurrent practices

Rewarding people for “bad” behaviorRewarding people for “bad” behavior If they didn’t act that way, what If they didn’t act that way, what

would they do?would they do? Misfire:Misfire: I can appeal purely to their I can appeal purely to their

logiclogic



Why Are You Not Doing “It” Why Are You Not Doing “It” Today?Today?

Current methods are scratching some itchCurrent methods are scratching some itch The current methods worked in an The current methods worked in an

earlier/other environmentearlier/other environment The current methods are a known devilThe current methods are a known devil The current methods deflect blameThe current methods deflect blame Misfire:Misfire: I can ignore the current bad I can ignore the current bad

practicespractices



Best Process SirensBest Process Sirens

Strong desire to implement this or that Strong desire to implement this or that “best” process“best” process

Increased production! Fewer defects!Increased production! Fewer defects!Less time and money! World peace!Less time and money! World peace! Has anyone a practical way to Has anyone a practical way to reallyreally measure measure

ROI in a level 1 shop?ROI in a level 1 shop?

Often a win to implement ANY process!Often a win to implement ANY process! Misfire:Misfire: My way My way mustmust be the right way! be the right way!

Story Telling DataStory Telling Data



Every Datum Tells a StoryEvery Datum Tells a Story

Goal: To tell our marketing information in Goal: To tell our marketing information in terms of dataterms of data

You will lose the opinion pissing contestsYou will lose the opinion pissing contests Data is there to support the marketingData is there to support the marketing

3 out of 4 doctors…3 out of 4 doctors…

Doesn’t need to be numbersDoesn’t need to be numbers Misfire:Misfire: They will believe me because I say They will believe me because I say

it is soit is so



What Data to Collect?What Data to Collect?

What data can you get your hands on?What data can you get your hands on? Should be some relationship between the Should be some relationship between the

process you want to improve and the data that process you want to improve and the data that surrounds yousurrounds you

Estimate vs. Actual of anything!Estimate vs. Actual of anything! Number of changes/re-definitionsNumber of changes/re-definitions Defect countsDefect counts Make it upMake it up Misfire:Misfire: Looking for killer data Looking for killer data



Presenting Unpopular DataPresenting Unpopular Data

I’ve noticed…I’ve noticed… Use cube walls, break rooms, project Use cube walls, break rooms, project

rooms, etc.rooms, etc. Status reportsStatus reports Turn into storiesTurn into stories Bottom line, don’t use as a hammer, use Bottom line, don’t use as a hammer, use

as a featheras a feather Misfire:Misfire: I’ll use this data to prove you I’ll use this data to prove you

wrongwrong



Don’t Worry About PrecisionDon’t Worry About Precision

Goal is to tell an accurate story, not Goal is to tell an accurate story, not necessarily a precise onenecessarily a precise one Accurate: I am between 3 and 7 feet tallAccurate: I am between 3 and 7 feet tall Precise: I am 73.23449018 inches tallPrecise: I am 73.23449018 inches tall

Use the data to emphasize other points, Use the data to emphasize other points, not be the pointnot be the point

Misfire:Misfire: The data needs to be perfect to be The data needs to be perfect to be usedused

I Don't Know, Do You?I Don't Know, Do You?


I Don’t Know, Do You? I Don’t Know, Do You?

Management's ignoranceManagement's ignorance

Management’s pride is typically in Management’s pride is typically in knowing big picture itemsknowing big picture items

Never debate opinionsNever debate opinions ““Interesting, why then do you think that the Interesting, why then do you think that the

data shows…”data shows…” Use a non-confrontational approachUse a non-confrontational approach

Email, status reports, etc.Email, status reports, etc. Misfire:Misfire: My opinion is better than your My opinion is better than your

opinionopinion


I Don’t Know, Do You? I Don’t Know, Do You?

Killer QuestionsKiller Questions

Establish a series of questions that have Establish a series of questions that have no known objective answerno known objective answer Do you really know the status of your Do you really know the status of your

projects?projects? How many defects do we expect to be in the How many defects do we expect to be in the

software?software? How long does it take us to do design?How long does it take us to do design?

Misfire:Misfire: I will take your word for it I will take your word for it

Closing the BorderClosing the Border


Closing the Border Closing the Border

Your information needsYour information needs

Have a clear, detailed understanding of Have a clear, detailed understanding of the information you need to get your tasks the information you need to get your tasks donedone

Create checklists for inputCreate checklists for input A list of statements that needs to be true to A list of statements that needs to be true to

proceedproceed

Mark all those who fail “acceptance”:Mark all those who fail “acceptance”:REWORKREWORK

Misfire:Misfire: I will accept whatever is given me I will accept whatever is given me



AlliesAllies

Others impacted by poor suppliersOthers impacted by poor suppliers Testing is a great candidate (if not you!)Testing is a great candidate (if not you!)

Assist them in creating “acceptance” Assist them in creating “acceptance” checklistschecklists

Talk with their managementTalk with their management Remember: focus on their benefitRemember: focus on their benefit

Misfire:Misfire: I can do this alone I can do this alone



Warning!Warning!

This is not a license to be a jerkThis is not a license to be a jerk BusinessBusiness success is the goal success is the goal

Don’t engage in process-shiftingDon’t engage in process-shifting Can’t “Just say no”Can’t “Just say no”

But can say, “I will need to slide the ‘target’ to But can say, “I will need to slide the ‘target’ to do rework”do rework”

Misfire:Misfire: I don’t have to accept non-perfect I don’t have to accept non-perfect workwork

The Living DeadThe Living Dead


The Living Dead The Living Dead

Using lessons learnedUsing lessons learned

Create a corporate memoryCreate a corporate memory End of projectsEnd of projects End of phasesEnd of phases End of deliverablesEnd of deliverables

Knowing what you do now, rewind the Knowing what you do now, rewind the clock andclock and What would you do the sameWhat would you do the same What would you do differentlyWhat would you do differently

Misfire:Misfire: Not remembering Not remembering ourour own past own past


The Living Dead The Living Dead

Not in VainNot in Vain

Every attempt is a push against the Every attempt is a push against the flywheelflywheel

Short term results are nice but not Short term results are nice but not necessarynecessary

Evolving awarenessEvolving awareness Marketing, marketing, marketingMarketing, marketing, marketing Misfire:Misfire: I give up I give up


Contact InformationContact Information

Earl BeedeEarl Beede

[email protected]@Construx.com

www.construx.comwww.construx.com

(425) 372 - 0100(425) 372 - 0100

Software ProjectsSoftware Projects Consulting/CoachingConsulting/Coaching SeminarsSeminars

[email protected]@construx.com

www.construx.comwww.construx.com

ConstruxConstruxDelivering Software Project SuccessDelivering Software Project Success

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Process Improvement While Management Isn’t Looking (Guerilla Process Improvement) Earl Beede © 2002 Earl Beede & Construx Software Builders, Inc. All Rights