head scratching

Empowering Developers: The Software Estimation Hotseat

Software estimation is notoriously difficult. Developers loathe estimating because it puts them in a losing situation. If they underestimate a project, they risk an unhappy client or loss of profit. However, if they overestimate a project or add a bunch of ‘safety padding’ to the schedule, they run the risk of scaring off the client

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Four Reasons Expat-Run Software Teams Aren’t Always Best

If there is one type of offshore development team that always gets my attention, it’s the expat-run software team. In theory, this model combines the savings of offshore development with familiar western leadership and management – a perfect combination. That is, except when it’s not.  Over the years I’ve had the pleasure of meeting and

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clock

Overdue Project: 4 Types of Contractors

It’s not a secret that any project may last longer than it was planned. And everything is quite simple if this is entirely your project: it is only you who should be blamed. But what will happen if it is your contractor who fails to deliver the project on time? The question becomes crucial when

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software standup

Holding Agile Stand-Up Meetings with Offshore Teams

A winning approach to handle this is to have two meetings, one for each location, and then elect a person to act as liaison between the teams. This allows both teams to have the standup meeting on their own terms, at a convenient time, and realize the efficiency that standup meetings can bring. The liaison from both sides as tasked with making sure that everyone across the entire team is made aware of everyone’s progress and issues, if any.

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