Process Improvement
While Management
Isn’t Looking
(Guerilla Process Improvement)
Earl Beede
© 2002 Earl Beede & Construx Software Builders, Inc.
All Rights Reserved.
Construx
Delivering Software Project Success
Introduction, Personal

14 years in IT
 3 of those with DoD as a Quality
Assurance Representative

Certified for Mechanical, Electronics, and SW

Several years at Boeing
 Several years in wireless (stint as QA and
SEPG manager!)
 Currently instructor/consultant at
Construx Software
construx software  consulting  training  software projects  construx.com
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Introduction, Topic

The problem


Many presentations/books/articles have
THE CAVEAT


You want to do SPI, and “you” here is first
person singular
“Management support is critical…”
And there is a lot of truth to that
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What Is Your Goal
Business Process Reengineering

Many of us have engaged in business
process re-engineering

Much “re-engineering” simply shifted the work
upstream or downstream!

Whose process are you improving?
 Misfire: I want to make the world a better
place – for me!
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It's Not About Logic
It’s Not About Logic
It’s the Culture, Stupid
 The
environment supports the
current practices
 Rewarding people for “bad” behavior
 If they didn’t act that way, what
would they do?
 Misfire: I can appeal purely to their
logic
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It’s Not About Logic
Why Are You Not Doing “It”
Today?

Current methods are scratching some itch
 The current methods worked in an
earlier/other environment
 The current methods are a known devil
 The current methods deflect blame
 Misfire: I can ignore the current bad
practices
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It’s Not About Logic
Best Process Sirens

Strong desire to implement this or that
“best” process
 Increased production! Fewer defects!
Less time and money! World peace!

Has anyone a practical way to really measure
ROI in a level 1 shop?

Often a win to implement ANY process!
 Misfire: My way must be the right way!
construx software  consulting  training  software projects  construx.com
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Story Telling Data
Story Telling Data
Every Datum Tells a Story

Goal: To tell our marketing information in
terms of data
 You will lose the opinion pissing contests
 Data is there to support the marketing

3 out of 4 doctors…
Doesn’t need to be numbers
 Misfire: They will believe me because I say
it is so

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Story Telling Data
What Data to Collect?

What data can you get your hands on?

Should be some relationship between the
process you want to improve and the data that
surrounds you

Estimate vs. Actual of anything!
 Number of changes/re-definitions
 Defect counts
 Make it up
 Misfire: Looking for killer data
construx software  consulting  training  software projects  construx.com
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Story Telling Data
Presenting Unpopular Data
I’ve noticed…
 Use cube walls, break rooms, project
rooms, etc.
 Status reports
 Turn into stories
 Bottom line, don’t use as a hammer, use
as a feather
 Misfire: I’ll use this data to prove you
wrong

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Story Telling Data
Don’t Worry About Precision

Goal is to tell an accurate story, not
necessarily a precise one


Accurate: I am between 3 and 7 feet tall
Precise: I am 73.23449018 inches tall

Use the data to emphasize other points,
not be the point
 Misfire: The data needs to be perfect to be
used
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I Don't Know, Do You?
I Don’t Know, Do You?
Management's ignorance
Management’s pride is typically in
knowing big picture items
 Never debate opinions



Use a non-confrontational approach


“Interesting, why then do you think that the
data shows…”
Email, status reports, etc.
Misfire: My opinion is better than your
opinion
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I Don’t Know, Do You?
Killer Questions

Establish a series of questions that have
no known objective answer




Do you really know the status of your
projects?
How many defects do we expect to be in the
software?
How long does it take us to do design?
Misfire: I will take your word for it
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Closing the Border
Closing the Border
Your information needs

Have a clear, detailed understanding of the
information you need to get your tasks
done
 Create checklists for input

A list of statements that needs to be true to
proceed
Mark all those who fail “acceptance”:
REWORK
 Misfire: I will accept whatever is given me

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Closing the Border
Allies

Others impacted by poor suppliers

Testing is a great candidate (if not you!)
Assist them in creating “acceptance”
checklists
 Talk with their management



Remember: focus on their benefit
Misfire: I can do this alone
construx software  consulting  training  software projects  construx.com
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Closing the Border
Warning!

This is not a license to be a jerk

Business success is the goal
Don’t engage in process-shifting
 Can’t “Just say no”



But can say, “I will need to slide the ‘target’ to
do rework”
Misfire: I don’t have to accept non-perfect
work
construx software  consulting  training  software projects  construx.com
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The Living Dead
The Living Dead
Using lessons learned

Create a corporate memory




Knowing what you do now, rewind the
clock and



End of projects
End of phases
End of deliverables
What would you do the same
What would you do differently
Misfire: Not remembering our own past
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The Living Dead
Not in Vain

Every attempt is a push against the
flywheel
 Short term results are nice but not
necessary
 Evolving awareness
 Marketing, marketing, marketing
 Misfire: I give up 
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Contact Information
Earl Beede
Construx
Delivering Software Project Success
Earl.Beede@Construx.com
www.construx.com
(425) 372 - 0100
 Software Projects
 Consulting/Coaching
 Seminars
sales@construx.com
www.construx.com
construx software  consulting  training  software projects  construx.com
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