SharePoint world of ECM and Information Management : Consulting

2008 MVP Award

Michael — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 23:05:10 GMT

Hurray, got the 2008 MVP Award today! They re-awarded me again, since year 2005 in [.NET/C#] area for my achievements in “online consulting” ;)

But this year I’m Australian MVP!

Thinking about changing the area and become SharePoint MVP in the next year :)

Mirror: 2008 MVP Award

Check your project health

Michael — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 11:23:07 GMT

As we all know the most projects are ~~suck~~ not good as they should be. So, the early understanding of the project health is really vital for the success.

Today I've found the good and simple project health checklist. Consulters should print it and use as questionnaire in first day with client :)

Mirror: Check your project health

23.5 Rules of Thumb (podcast)

Michael — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 11:40:00 GMT

Recently finished watching the classic "23.5 Rules of Thumb" video of Jim McCarthy about the rules which each of IT person should follow. Jim tries to explain what happens in dev world from the pragmatic perspective and his explanations reveal the things which we usually tend to ignore.

Fantastic podcast. Highly recommended

Some cites to summarize his video

Shoot down all those who dumb and active.
Software is always late or is nonfunctional... too
Developers are in dreamland, they are away from reality. You need QA who is pragmatic
Know what u dont know
Learn how to cope with uncertainty
Deliver everyday
Work as team and express your ideas
Achieve the quality u decided to achieve.
Have a short milestones
Be accountable for the small deliverables
User in-out approach, and never trap into out-in approach
Avoid "software dream syndrome"
Don't change the release date, concentrate on milestones
Present the "low tech" to the customer, not your long-term strategic vision
Design the software to build on time
Most software sucks
Software should have a purpose
Make software useful and usable
Establish shared vision in your project and company
Ship quickly in frequent cycles to keep customer happy
Be in ship mode.

Mirror: 23.5 Rules of Thumb (podcast)

MS Project on WM Devices

Michael — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 09:01:36 GMT

Today I've found the interesting tool PocketPlan from www.twiddlebit.com guys. IT allows your to use MS Project on WM Devices.

I found it really useful when u are working as consulter and very often you live on the road in virtual network space, with limited access to your IT infrastructure. An such tools allows you to to control situation in such environment.

Mirror: http://laflour.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!7575E2FFC19135B4!860.entry

Teddy Bear factor IS a "paradigm shift"

Michael — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 21:16:45 GMT

"The significant problems we face cannot be solved at the same level of thinking we were at when we created them" (c) Albert Einstein

Discussing the recent post about "Teddy Bear factor" with my mate Basil, I realized that Teddy Bear factor reflects the Einstein idea.

We need the "paradigm shift" to solve our problem and "paradigm shift" applied when we try explain our code verbally to whoever stay next to us. At that moment we are on next level when we created the problem

So that's how "Teddy Bear" factor works

Wining the client

Michael — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 09:42:57 GMT

When you are moving to consulting role from development you need to understand that there is something else except pure development. This "something else" is rather tiny thing which may be missed easily.
If you look back to development or lead role your will see that the "product delivery" was the major area of responsibility. In consulting - it's absolutely the same, plus new "keeping the client happy" role :)

What does it mean for you?

Just forget about your technical readiness. No matter how you are good technically - it means nothing for client :) You need step above delivery into "meet client's expectations" position. It brings your to number communication between client's business holders to understand their needs and client's "massaging" (Chris I suppose it's your copyright) to rule the project into right direction. You are becoming responsible to deliver your promises on time and control that everything is done.

There is a number of other items which mostly depends on your charisma and communication skills helping your being proactive with client. Your need to be heard by the client, bringing the clear understanding of what's going on. Heroic silent coding is the thing you must never do as a consulter on-site.

mirror: Wining the client