Transcript
Tom Walsham / @tomwalsham - - Oct 3rd, 2015
Lessons learned from customizing process through agency growth from 15-60 employees
Scaling process
Tom Walsham Director of Product The Working Group @tomwalsham
25 Years writing Code
15 Years working in Online / Tech
10 Starts annually with TWG clients
WHY SHOULD I LISTEN TO THIS GUY? ARE THE AFTER-SESSION BEERS STARTING SOON?
THE DEVELOPERS ARE NOT TINY HUMANS
@tomwalsham
TWG - 2015 : 65678 Employees
Product Mgr (6)
Developer (40)
Designer (6)
Other (16)
WHY ARE WE ALL HERE? WHAT’S IT ALL ABOUT?
Predictability
The purpose of process
Quality Productivity
LongevityProfitabilityVersatility
Client happiness, studio cashflow, margin, all stem from this
If you measure it, you will improve it. A process of KPIs for Quality will produce better output
A strong development and production process enables faster execution.
Understanding clients in a long-term account view alters approach
Combining predictability and planning, project scope can be managed to improve profit
Providing the cornerstone for growth, and adapting to changing market conditions
01 02 03
04 05 06
EstimationAs close to reality as possible given little info
Evolve QAImplementation of QA systems & team Sprint zero
Formalized discovery process & documents
ResourcingA better dovetailing to improve margin
Results DrivenCreation of quality assurance as a discipline
ToolchainStandardizing tools to reduce friction
Unicorn riding Harnessing unicorns to create rainbowsProcess Milestones
PREDICTABILITY
QUALITY
VERSATILITY
PROFITABILITY
LONGEVITY
PRODUCTIVITY
AWESOMESAUCELIFE IS A ROLLERCOASTER
[Do] Read Awesome Books
[Don’t] Get your process from a book
ACQUIRE THE PROCESS EQUIVALENT OF ‘STREET SMARTS’
@tomwalsham
I will tell you that our system is broken
“HE ONLY SOUNDS SMART OUT OF CONTEXT
- Donald Trump
@tomwalsham
WE’LL ASK FOR ESTIMATES, THEN TREAT THEM AS DEADLINES!
@tomwalsham
Predictability : Estimation
If developers think in terms of hours, let them estimate in hoursAvoid Abstractions
Always be improving the process. Estimation is a fine art
You can always discount it later, but don’t lie to yourself internally
Do Retrospectives
Add It All Up
WE WERE A DEVELOPMENT SHOP WITH NO QA FOR 10 YEARS. HORRIFYING
@tomwalsham
Quality : Evolve QA
Dedicate 2 days of Sprint to end-end
testing
Developer Peer Review of stories
Effective QA is expensive.Inadequate QA is even more expensive
Small QA team ‘Parachute’ in pre-
release
Named QA resource in client-facing
budgets
Full lifecycle QA team member from Planning -> Release
YOU DO NOT NEED TO CHANGE YOUR GLASSES. BLURRED TO PROTECT TOP SECRET THINGS
@tomwalsham
Profitability : Resourcing
2013-2015 2015-????
Future Resource PlanningMultiple Projects Per Person
Integrated Vacation Tracking
Day-Level TrackingPivot View per Project
Weekly Resourcing
Request / Approval ProcessNo Project-level RollupsFailed around 25 resources
Will need refactor beyond 100 Only 75% accurate
Before long, people get very confused that the process is the content
“UBIQUITOUS INSPIRATIONAL STEVE JOBS QUOTE
- Steve Jobs
@tomwalsham
I HOPE THE LITTLE ANIMATED GIF WILL PLAY IN KEYNOTE
@tomwalsham
Longevity : Results Driven Projects
Under Construction
Merely measuring something has an uncanny
tendency to improve it
“TECHNICALLY THIS QUOTE IS A RIPOFF FROM LORD KELVIN’S 150 YEARS PRIOR
- Paul Graham
@tomwalsham
WHAT A CHEAP TRICK. REUSING THE SAME SLIDE. LAZY.
Predictability
The purpose of process
Quality Productivity
Longevity Profitability Versatility
Client happiness, studio cashflow, margin, all stem from this
If you measure it, you will improve it. A process of KPIs for Quality will produce better output
A strong development and production process enables faster execution.
Understanding clients in a long-term account view alters approach
Combining predictability and planning, project scope can be managed to improve profit
Providing the cornerstone for growth, and adapting to changing market conditions
01 02 03
04 05 06
Business Dev Scheduling Estimation Resourcing Hiring Production Design Process Toolchain Communication
THE LEGOS OF AN STUDIO
@tomwalsham
Documentation Quality Assurance Support Account Mgmt Career Growth Marketing Contracts Human Resources Handoff
01
02
03
Target small wins. Review. Repeat.
OH SHIT! I HAVEN’T BEEN LISTENING. WHAT IS THIS ABOUT?
@tomwalsham
Sketch feasible Process
Identify Target Goal
Select Discipline
top related