Software Project Survival Guide

At the age of 27, I was promoted to project manager, tasked with delivering a system for selling structured currency products across German bank offices. Despite my banking experience and familiarity with these products, I had never managed a software project of this scale, let alone one with such critical deadlines: delivering 21 products across 24 offices within 12 months. To make matters worse, the project had been stalled for three years with no results.

Long story short, our small team of programmers delivered everything on time and within nine months. I owe a huge debt of gratitude to Steve McConnell and his "Software Project Survival Guide" – it was instrumental to our success. The book's key concepts, which I'll summarize briefly, continue to guide me even today in my role as a supervisory board member for several financial institutions.

"Software Project Survival Guide" emphasizes meticulous planning and execution as the cornerstones of successful software projects. It advocates for clearly defining project scope, objectives, and deliverables from the outset, ensuring everyone understands the project's goals and user needs. The book stresses proactive risk management, urging teams to identify potential problems early and develop mitigation strategies. Thorough project planning, involving realistic scheduling, budgeting, and task breakdown, is crucial. Continuous project tracking, using metrics to monitor progress and identify deviations, enables timely corrective action. Maintaining high quality through reviews, testing, and defect tracking is essential. Open and effective communication among stakeholders, including regular status meetings and clear documentation, ensures everyone stays informed. Finally, the book highlights the importance of managing changes effectively, implementing a formal process for evaluating and approving modifications to scope, requirements, or schedules.

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#ProjectManagement

http://www.FrankSchwab.de

Published in SundayThoughts, all on 08.12.2024 9:30 Uhr. 0 comments • Comment here

A Case for Convenience as a Business Strategy

People value ease and efficiency.

When a business prioritizes convenience, it simplifies the customer journey, reduces friction, saves time and effort, increases accessibility, and offers options that cater to customer’s individual needs and preferences.

A well-executed focus on convenience can be a strong unique selling proposition (USP) because it directly addresses a major customer need.

By offering convenient solutions, businesses differentiate themselves from competitors and establish a strong brand identity. This can lead to increased customer satisfaction, loyalty, and positive word-of-mouth referrals. A focus on convenience can attract new customers who are actively seeking hassle-free experiences and value businesses that prioritize their needs.

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#Google #Apple #YourCompany #Convenience #Easeofuse

http://www.FrankSchwab.de

Published in SundayThoughts, all on 01.12.2024 9:30 Uhr. 0 comments • Comment here

Focus on the NEW

Throughout my professional career, I've been involved in change projects.

From introducing computer systems to manual bank branches in East Germany in 1990 as an apprentice, to establishing internet banking with over 100,000 new customers monthly at Germany's largest incumbent bank in 1999 as a manager, to developing the world's first API-based open banking platform in 2015 as a CEO, and even transforming a universal bank into a consumer specialist as a supervisory board member – change is a constant.

This holds true on a personal level as well. Transforming from an amateur athlete to a banker, from being single to being married and a father of two, requires embracing new realities and adapting personal habits.

It's said that changing a character trait takes 5 to 10 years, and changing an organizational culture takes even longer. My experience confirms this. It requires daily discipline and routines. Besides discipline, what do these professional and personal changes have in common that allows for efficient and effective mastery?

For me, it's "Focus on the NEW."

Don't fight old habits or processes. Instead, focus on nurturing the desired new habits and processes day by day. Over time, they will naturally replace the old ones.

#change #personal #culture #discipline #habits

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http://www.FrankSchwab.de

Published in SundayThoughts, all on 24.11.2024 9:30 Uhr. 0 comments • Comment here

Low / No Code Technology

Low-code/no-code development platforms have been around for years, quietly gaining traction.

In fact, I built this very blog and website using a no-code application on my Mac. This experience has solidified my belief that the biggest question surrounding this technology is not if it will become mainstream, but when it will reach its tipping point.

These platforms are already empowering individuals without coding expertise to build applications and automate tasks, democratizing access to technology and fostering innovation. Driven by the need for speed, agility, and cost-effectiveness, low-code/no-code solutions allow businesses to respond rapidly to market demands and reduce reliance on specialized developers.

As large organizations increasingly adopt these tools to drive digital transformation, and as AI and automation further enhance their capabilities, the tipping point seems closer than ever. This shift promises to unlock a wave of creativity, enabling a new generation of "citizen developers" to shape the future of technology.

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#nocode #lowcode

http://www.FrankSchwab.de

Published in SundayThoughts, all on 17.11.2024 9:30 Uhr. 0 comments • Comment here

“No risk, no return”

The phrase "No risk, no return" captures the essence of decision-making in various fields, from business to personal development. It suggests that without taking risks, it is impossible to achieve significant rewards. However, while this concept is widely accepted, it is often misunderstood. People are aware that risk-taking can lead to great returns, but they sometimes overlook the fact that one risky event can wipe out all potential gains. This delicate balance between innovation, risk, and return is at the heart of success, but it requires careful management.

In a world where innovation drives progress, it’s tempting to dive headfirst into uncharted territory. Yet, innovation without thoughtful risk assessment can be disastrous. Risks must be calculated, and the pursuit of new ideas should be grounded in strategic thinking. When innovators take on too much risk without safeguards, a single failure could destroy not only their return but also their chances of recovery. For example, in the financial world, over-leveraging or pursuing speculative investments can result in catastrophic losses that outweigh previous gains.

Therefore, the key to harnessing the benefits of risk is to experiment in a controlled way. This means testing new ideas on a small scale before fully committing to them. Whether in business or in life, controlled experimentation allows individuals and organizations to assess the potential risks and rewards of an innovation before making a significant investment. This approach doesn’t eliminate risk, but it minimizes the chance of an irreversible loss.

Ultimately, balancing innovation, risk, and return requires discipline. It involves a willingness to take chances but also the wisdom to recognize when a risk is too great. By embracing calculated risks and experimenting thoughtfully, one can enjoy the rewards of success without falling prey to the devastating effects of unchecked risk.

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http://www.FrankSchwab.de

Published in SundayThoughts, risk, return, innovation, all on 10.11.2024 9:30 Uhr. 0 comments • Comment here