Comments for Life of a Software Program Manager http://lifeofaprogrammanager.wordpress.com A first person accounting of what it is really like to manage a commercial software product. Fri, 11 Jan 2008 23:36:35 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 Comment on Dopod S300 / Qtek 8500 Mini-Review by celpjefscycle http://lifeofaprogrammanager.wordpress.com/2006/06/08/dopod-s300-qtek-8500-mini-review/#comment-879 celpjefscycle Fri, 11 Jan 2008 23:36:35 +0000 http://lifeofaprogrammanager.wordpress.com/2006/06/08/dopod-s300-qtek-8500-mini-review/#comment-879 Thanks for information. many interesting things Celpjefscylc Thanks for information.
many interesting things
Celpjefscylc

]]> Comment on What is More Important? Time or Quality? by Music-Band http://lifeofaprogrammanager.wordpress.com/2006/06/12/what-is-more-important-time-or-quality/#comment-838 Music-Band Sun, 05 Aug 2007 17:07:14 +0000 http://lifeofaprogrammanager.wordpress.com/2006/06/12/what-is-more-important-time-or-quality/#comment-838 Hey I was surfing the web and i saw this site, pretty cool. Currently im running and adult site:<a href="http://www.vnvnation.biz/queries.html" rel="nofollow">Reachton</a> k, just want to say hi :) Can i link you from my site? im looking for quality content like yours. If no let me know if i can add u in exchange for a montly fee or something. Hey

I was surfing the web and i saw this site, pretty cool.
Currently im running and adult site:Reachton
k, just want to say hi :)
Can i link you from my site? im looking for quality content like yours. If no let me know if i can add u in exchange for a montly fee or something.

]]> Comment on Comment if you see me ….. by Adam Phillabaum http://lifeofaprogrammanager.wordpress.com/2006/06/08/comment-if-you-see-me/#comment-732 Adam Phillabaum Sat, 21 Apr 2007 18:29:04 +0000 http://lifeofaprogrammanager.wordpress.com/2006/06/08/comment-if-you-see-me/#comment-732 I'm reading your blog for the first time, and really like it. I'm looking forward to some more content :-) -- Adam I’m reading your blog for the first time, and really like it. I’m looking forward to some more content :-)

–
Adam

]]> Comment on Comment if you see me ….. by Samnior http://lifeofaprogrammanager.wordpress.com/2006/06/08/comment-if-you-see-me/#comment-730 Samnior Tue, 17 Apr 2007 19:47:25 +0000 http://lifeofaprogrammanager.wordpress.com/2006/06/08/comment-if-you-see-me/#comment-730 http://www.ferm.techus.info Good site! Thanks! http://www.ferm.techus.info

Good site! Thanks!

]]> Comment on Wow, this is really cool – Stream Sirius to your phone by Shaun http://lifeofaprogrammanager.wordpress.com/2006/06/06/wow-this-is-really-cool/#comment-251 Shaun Fri, 17 Nov 2006 02:47:42 +0000 https://lifeofaprogrammanager.wordpress.com/2006/06/06/wow-this-is-really-cool/#comment-251 I have Sirius streaming on my T Mobile MDA. Sounds great. However, the buffer fills up after about 6 minutes of music or Howard. Is there any way to open up the buffer? I have Sirius streaming on my T Mobile MDA. Sounds great. However, the buffer fills up after about 6 minutes of music or Howard. Is there any way to open up the buffer?

]]> Comment on Finally, a (somewhat) fair comparison of Windows Mobile vs. Blackberry by Peter http://lifeofaprogrammanager.wordpress.com/2006/06/08/finally-a-somewhat-fair-comparison-of-windows-mobile-vs-blackberry/#comment-49 Peter Tue, 15 Aug 2006 13:38:36 +0000 https://lifeofaprogrammanager.wordpress.com/2006/06/08/finally-a-somewhat-fair-comparison-of-windows-mobile-vs-blackberry/#comment-49 as-94783-sa hello as-94783-sa

hello

]]> Comment on What is More Important? Time or Quality? by Mr Angry http://lifeofaprogrammanager.wordpress.com/2006/06/12/what-is-more-important-time-or-quality/#comment-10 Mr Angry Mon, 12 Jun 2006 23:24:05 +0000 http://lifeofaprogrammanager.wordpress.com/2006/06/12/what-is-more-important-time-or-quality/#comment-10 Glad to see you aren't a zealot for one way or the other, judging each situation on its merits is always important for me. I remember a story by an FBI profiler; after the FBI's Waco disaster, Janet Reno asked him to do an anlysis of typical hostage/seige situations and what could be expected what percentage of the time. In the end he refused to do it because he said each case needed to be judged on its own merits. If he told them <i>this</i> is likely to happen 80% of the time, the pressure will be on to follow the 80% rule <i>all</i> of the time. This is the wrong thing to if you're in a "20%" situation but it can be really hard to argue this. Glad to see you aren’t a zealot for one way or the other, judging each situation on its merits is always important for me. I remember a story by an FBI profiler; after the FBI’s Waco disaster, Janet Reno asked him to do an anlysis of typical hostage/seige situations and what could be expected what percentage of the time. In the end he refused to do it because he said each case needed to be judged on its own merits. If he told them this is likely to happen 80% of the time, the pressure will be on to follow the 80% rule all of the time. This is the wrong thing to if you’re in a “20%” situation but it can be really hard to argue this.

]]> Comment on What is More Important? Time or Quality? by Tom Harris http://lifeofaprogrammanager.wordpress.com/2006/06/12/what-is-more-important-time-or-quality/#comment-9 Tom Harris Mon, 12 Jun 2006 20:13:10 +0000 http://lifeofaprogrammanager.wordpress.com/2006/06/12/what-is-more-important-time-or-quality/#comment-9 Well I'm glad and humbled to find a real program manager reading my talk about quality. As the writer of the <a href="http://talkaboutquality.wordpress.com/2006/06/12/on-time-delivery/" rel="nofollow">On Time Delivery</a> post, though, I'd like to stress a different aspect than the one you addressed. You suggested that "The underlying question here is how do you make the decision when you can’t deliver on scope, quality, and timeline, how do you choose what to sacrifice?" I read some of your <a href="http://lifeofaprogrammanager.wordpress.com/tag/journal/" rel="nofollow">journal entry</a> and saw the part about the "bug bash". While 500-item bug lists are not uncommon, I wonder, in those situations, whether perhaps quality has already been sacrificed. I believe that when you look from the developers' side of things (those people who work for you), you can find that you don't have to sacrifice quality in order to maintain scope and timeline. Rather, that better quality from the beginning will result in more features delivered on time. It's also more enjoyable for them than "eat[ing] meals in the office". And probably more fun for you than "red-eye" on Thursday morning. I feel you also left a number of questions unanswered. Some from my original posting (you quoted them; I'd be interested in your response). Others raised by what you wrote. For example, why can quality "slip" in a business process automation application? Will <a href="http://sixsigmatutorial.com/SOX/Sarbanes-Oxley.aspx?ref=aw&mt=exact&skw=sox&bkw=sox&gclid=CPaVx__IwYUCFRt9EAodszQpxw" rel="nofollow">SOX</a>, for example, allow such a "slip"? Or why would you "Let the product manager determine which aspect of the project to sacrifice," especially if one of the options you've opened for him or her is to sacrifice the quality that's got your name on it? Well I’m glad and humbled to find a real program manager reading my talk about quality. As the writer of the On Time Delivery post, though, I’d like to stress a different aspect than the one you addressed.

You suggested that “The underlying question here is how do you make the decision when you can’t deliver on scope, quality, and timeline, how do you choose what to sacrifice?”

I read some of your journal entry and saw the part about the “bug bash”. While 500-item bug lists are not uncommon, I wonder, in those situations, whether perhaps quality has already been sacrificed.

I believe that when you look from the developers’ side of things (those people who work for you), you can find that you don’t have to sacrifice quality in order to maintain scope and timeline. Rather, that better quality from the beginning will result in more features delivered on time.

It’s also more enjoyable for them than “eat[ing] meals in the office”. And probably more fun for you than “red-eye” on Thursday morning.

I feel you also left a number of questions unanswered. Some from my original posting (you quoted them; I’d be interested in your response). Others raised by what you wrote.

For example, why can quality “slip” in a business process automation application? Will SOX, for example, allow such a “slip”?

Or why would you “Let the product manager determine which aspect of the project to sacrifice,” especially if one of the options you’ve opened for him or her is to sacrifice the quality that’s got your name on it?

]]> Comment on Comment if you see me ….. by Program Manager http://lifeofaprogrammanager.wordpress.com/2006/06/08/comment-if-you-see-me/#comment-8 Program Manager Mon, 12 Jun 2006 20:03:28 +0000 http://lifeofaprogrammanager.wordpress.com/2006/06/08/comment-if-you-see-me/#comment-8 I'm intentionally keeping my name private so that I am able to more openly post about topics related to my job. Thanks for the comment ping. I’m intentionally keeping my name private so that I am able to more openly post about topics related to my job. Thanks for the comment ping.

]]> Comment on Comment if you see me ….. by Tom Harris http://lifeofaprogrammanager.wordpress.com/2006/06/08/comment-if-you-see-me/#comment-7 Tom Harris Mon, 12 Jun 2006 19:52:26 +0000 http://lifeofaprogrammanager.wordpress.com/2006/06/08/comment-if-you-see-me/#comment-7 You are writing and reading. So am I. So yes, we see you. But what's your name? You are writing and reading. So am I. So yes, we see you. But what’s your name?

]]> Comment on The Value of Product Management by Life of a Software Program Manager » Blog Archive » What is More Important? Time or Quality? http://lifeofaprogrammanager.wordpress.com/2006/06/06/the-value-of-product-management/#comment-6 Life of a Software Program Manager » Blog Archive » What is More Important? Time or Quality? Mon, 12 Jun 2006 18:38:13 +0000 http://lifeofaprogrammanager.wordpress.com/2006/06/06/the-value-of-product-management/#comment-6 [...] Use your Product Manager. I made a previous post about the value of product management (link), and this is another benefit. Usually, product management owns the customer base and profit / loss accountability. (In your organization, this could be sales, marketing, or a business unit GM. In those cases, target them with this advice). At the end of the day, your team is not held accountable for P & L. Your team is responsible for fulfilling requirements provided by product management. You are not directly tied to the customer or the sales cycle (yes, I know this is slightly different in small companies, but realize that the roles are there, you are just wearing different hats). Let the product manager determine which aspect of the project to sacrifice. [...] [...] Use your Product Manager. I made a previous post about the value of product management (link), and this is another benefit. Usually, product management owns the customer base and profit / loss accountability. (In your organization, this could be sales, marketing, or a business unit GM. In those cases, target them with this advice). At the end of the day, your team is not held accountable for P & L. Your team is responsible for fulfilling requirements provided by product management. You are not directly tied to the customer or the sales cycle (yes, I know this is slightly different in small companies, but realize that the roles are there, you are just wearing different hats). Let the product manager determine which aspect of the project to sacrifice. [...]

]]> Comment on How to Hire Talent by Life of a Software Program Manager » Blog Archive » Upcoming Posts http://lifeofaprogrammanager.wordpress.com/2006/06/10/how-to-hire-talent/#comment-5 Life of a Software Program Manager » Blog Archive » Upcoming Posts Sun, 11 Jun 2006 03:36:54 +0000 http://lifeofaprogrammanager.wordpress.com/2006/06/10/how-to-hire-talent/#comment-5 [...] Comments (RSS) « Comment if you see me ….. How to Hire Talent » [...] [...] Comments (RSS) « Comment if you see me ….. How to Hire Talent » [...]

]]> Comment on Comment if you see me ….. by Dewayne Mikkelson http://lifeofaprogrammanager.wordpress.com/2006/06/08/comment-if-you-see-me/#comment-4 Dewayne Mikkelson Fri, 09 Jun 2006 03:43:22 +0000 http://lifeofaprogrammanager.wordpress.com/2006/06/08/comment-if-you-see-me/#comment-4 The joys of starting a new blog. One of the best ways I have found to get more commentors on your blog is to comment on other people's blogs. This looks like an interesting topic and I am looking forward to seeing more of your posts! The joys of starting a new blog. One of the best ways I have found to get more commentors on your blog is to comment on other people’s blogs. This looks like an interesting topic and I am looking forward to seeing more of your posts!

]]> Comment on SDLC in the Real World by Life of a Software Program Manager » Blog Archive » Upcoming Posts http://lifeofaprogrammanager.wordpress.com/2006/06/07/sdlc-in-the-real-world/#comment-3 Life of a Software Program Manager » Blog Archive » Upcoming Posts Fri, 09 Jun 2006 01:08:10 +0000 http://lifeofaprogrammanager.wordpress.com/2006/06/07/sdlc-in-the-real-world/#comment-3 [...] SDLC in the Real World [...] [...] SDLC in the Real World [...]

]]> Comment on The Value of Product Management by Life of a Software Program Manager » Blog Archive » Upcoming Posts http://lifeofaprogrammanager.wordpress.com/2006/06/06/the-value-of-product-management/#comment-2 Life of a Software Program Manager » Blog Archive » Upcoming Posts Fri, 09 Jun 2006 01:02:35 +0000 http://lifeofaprogrammanager.wordpress.com/2006/06/06/the-value-of-product-management/#comment-2 [...] The Value of Product Management [...] [...] The Value of Product Management [...]

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