December 29, 2010 11:36 AM
Posted by: Jaideep Khanduja
business process,
project management,
software development,
Software ProjectA famous quote by Norman R. Augustine goes like this - "Software is like entropy. It is difficult to grasp, weighs nothing, and obeys the second law of thermodynamics; i.e. it always increases."
This one or two liner quote says a lot about the practical world of...
October 20, 2010 10:30 AM
Posted by: Jaideep Khanduja
project management,
release management,
Software ProjectThe risk management and change management are two major players in whole release management process. Release management in itself demands a complete product transformation lifecycle management.
The risk mitigation plan depends on how critical the application is for business and also on how much...
October 19, 2010 11:01 AM
Posted by: Jaideep Khanduja
project management,
release management,
Software ProjectOnce the assessment is validated, the product is ready to be installed in a separate server to run if for real business in real-life scenario. This server is supposed to support the business transaction in real terms. The configuration and other parameters are selected keeping all these factors in...
October 19, 2010 10:54 AM
Posted by: Jaideep Khanduja
project management,
release management,
Software ProjectAs the test team finishes the testing process, submits the report to development team, and finally ensures that all test cases pass, the final code is installed in a different server termed as staging server.
This is the server for the purpose of UAT (user acceptance test) for the purpose of...
October 15, 2010 9:18 AM
Posted by: Jaideep Khanduja
project management,
release management,
Software ProjectThough many development teams do not understand the importance of testing the product on their own, but it definitely helps both teams (development and testing) to a large extent in refinement of the product.
A regression test is performed by testing team going...
October 15, 2010 9:13 AM
Posted by: Jaideep Khanduja
project management,
release management,
Software ProjectRelease Management is a journey of software product starting from requirement gathering, product conceptualization, prototyping, coding, testing and finally landing to production server. This product inception and production journey starts with developer’s machine to development...
October 5, 2010 8:59 AM
Posted by: Jaideep Khanduja
product support,
project management,
Software Project,
software support,
Support centreGenerally in a product support group the end user call is closed by a support executive. This sort of process misses out two important factors – the customer or end user and the quality group. A call closed by the support executive neither mostly gets it vetted by the end user...
October 5, 2010 4:50 AM
Posted by: Jaideep Khanduja
product resolution,
product support,
project management,
Software Project,
software support,
Support centreA geographically scattered user base requires a well equipped support or call resolution centre to cater to their problems. A well launched product will never give troubles will be a misnomer. Any level of users at any stage keep encountering issues, problems, doubts, and usage...
September 29, 2010 6:25 AM
Posted by: Jaideep Khanduja
project management,
project support,
Software Project,
support function,
support managementSupport or handholding phase starts in a project after the project is handed over to the customer for real-life business usage. The end users start exploring the strengths in the software by performing their respective functions on the product. During this exploration period they...
September 28, 2010 12:10 PM
Posted by: Jaideep Khanduja
project management,
Software Project,
software quality1. Always strive to perform better manual testing (in the manual testing area).
2. Code and Testing are not two separate entities. A Coder can and should take as much care as possible of not embedding bugs (knowingly, unknowingly, carelessly or for whatsoever...
September 24, 2010 11:37 AM
Posted by: Jaideep Khanduja
product support,
project management,
project signoff,
project support,
Software ProjectSupport function in a project after the completion of the project. Project sign off includes a successful ending of a journey beginning with business requirements study, development phases, testing, training and implementation. But the actual journey does not end here. After the...
September 23, 2010 7:32 AM
Posted by: Jaideep Khanduja
end user,
project management,
Software application,
Software Project,
tester,
testing,
usabilityA newly built Software application has to pass through one very interesting testing phase known as Usability Testing. This testing is more focused on finding non functional issues related to the application. The focus is more towards the end user who is going to...
September 22, 2010 8:38 AM
Posted by: Jaideep Khanduja
project management,
project manager,
Software ProjectIt depends exclusively on you whether you are driven by your circumstances or take command of your circumstances. We all encounter negative forces around us from various persons, situations, circumstances, and failures. Do we get bogged down by these negativities surrounding us or...
September 20, 2010 10:35 AM
Posted by: Jaideep Khanduja
hardware,
hardware management,
project hardware,
project management,
Software ProjectLet us look at a practical scenario. A project manager of a mid-sized company (under its expansion plan) is given a responsibility to manage the hardware requirements of its new team at a new location. The new team is to be recruited and each team members is to be provided...
September 17, 2010 9:59 AM
Posted by: Jaideep Khanduja
project activity,
project focus,
project management,
project process,
project result,
Software ProjectThere are two options to focus upon during your project. Either Focus on results without bothering on the activities going on during the different phases of your project. Or focus on the activities of your teams without bothering about the results.
When you focus only on...
September 17, 2010 6:55 AM
Posted by: Jaideep Khanduja
development management,
Development Manager,
product development,
product management,
product manager,
Project Lifecycle,
project management,
project manager,
software development,
Software Project,
testingAny product development requires extensive testing process before it is launched for production. A great effort is put by the software development company to launch the product for its customer in its perfect working condition. The goal is to provide the customer with an equivalent...
September 10, 2010 9:53 AM
Posted by: Jaideep Khanduja
developer,
Development Manager,
product development,
product manager,
project management,
software development,
Software Project,
testerA product manager during the product lifecycle has various options of selecting a pair of shoes to wear. It depends on his choice whether he wants to cover the journey in comfort and feel the pinch later or wears a not-so-comfortable pair of shoes felling for a pinch during the...
September 8, 2010 10:23 AM
Posted by: Jaideep Khanduja
product knowledge,
product management,
product manager,
project management,
software product,
Software ProjectWhen it comes to product building, a product manager is the person who is whole sole responsible person to own its success or failures, whatever the outcome results into. The product manager needs to carry some hot properties in his kitty to win over the situation.
His...
September 7, 2010 6:37 AM
Posted by: Jaideep Khanduja
customer requirement,
product development,
product management,
project management,
project manager,
Software ProjectImagine yourself as a commercial builder. You are contracted for building a multi-storeyed building by the owner of that plot. The owner is too busy to concentrate on the job himself. He finds you as an expert in this line. The conceptualized model has been described to you by the...
August 31, 2010 10:43 AM
Posted by: Jaideep Khanduja
change management,
development management,
issue management,
Project Lifecycle,
project management,
requirement management,
Software ProjectProject Management is not everything related to the management of a project. It is absolutely not the end of the road. If you have a well defined project management methodology (or different methodologies for different project types actually), it never means that just the regular...
August 31, 2010 10:01 AM
Posted by: Jaideep Khanduja
project management,
project manager,
project team,
Software ProjectWithout a vision, project can never be managed. Without management a project has all chances to go out of control. To have full control over the project during all its phases certain visionary tools are required to overcome obstacles. Different teams are engaged during different...
August 30, 2010 10:12 AM
Posted by: Jaideep Khanduja
project management,
project philosophy,
Software ProjectA project never goes smooth. It brings unexpected problems during the execution of any phase that marks a difference between the planned activities and actual executions. The deviations enforce re-planning of further activities so that the extra budget and time spent on previous...
August 30, 2010 9:12 AM
Posted by: Jaideep Khanduja
Leadership,
project leader,
project management,
project manager,
Software ProjectBoth accept challenges. Both have an ability to drive the situation. Both have knowledge and experience to handle a deadlock. What varies is their style of thinking and working. A project manager and a project leader both have a mixed blend of all qualities. What varies is the way...
August 20, 2010 11:41 AM
Posted by: Jaideep Khanduja
project management,
Software Project,
test manager,
tester,
testingA tester must be visible to the test manager most of the time. The visibility comes through many ways. By means of communication – verbal, mail, status updation, discussions etc. Visibility helps a tester in many ways.
Some of the benefits to the tester by keeping himself...
August 17, 2010 11:10 AM
Posted by: Jaideep Khanduja
Leadership,
project leader,
project management,
project manager,
Software ProjectBroadly a project manager and a project leader seem to carry a similar profile – that is of managing a project and leading it to success in stipulated time period. But if we seek a distinct clarification between the two roles – there comes a demand of a wide gap – as wide as...
August 13, 2010 10:33 AM
Posted by: Jaideep Khanduja
project management,
project manager,
Software Project1. No problem is small.
2. Never look for Shortcuts.
3. Never Jump to Solutions.
4. It is not true that a larger problem will have a higher risk.
5. Seek for value addition in any task you perform.
6. Build a...
August 12, 2010 10:56 AM
Posted by: Jaideep Khanduja
project management,
Regression Testing,
Software Project,
testerRegression Testing takes lot hell of time out of overall time provided for testing of a product in any software project. Though it takes longest duration for complete product coverage but somehow or the other lot of things remain untouched or unnoticed during this testing. This...
August 5, 2010 11:50 AM
Posted by: Jaideep Khanduja
delivery process,
development process,
process management,
project governance,
project management,
project metrics,
project optimization,
project team,
project traceability,
software development,
Software Project,
team managementDelivery Process: Delivery rate and delivery volume is directly proportional to productivity of various teams. Delivery of product depends on rate of development and testing, delivery of implementation depends on speed of implementation and so on. A process for delivery will focus...
August 3, 2010 11:14 AM
Posted by: Jaideep Khanduja
communication management,
communication process,
project communication,
project management,
Software ProjectLack of communication, during any Project, forces team members to assume. This happens due to lack of clarification and shortage of time. The product built on assumptions stands nowhere for a useful purpose. Assumptions in turn create confusions and confusions lead to...
August 2, 2010 10:15 AM
Posted by: Jaideep Khanduja
collaboration,
communication,
Leadership,
project control,
project management,
project quality,
Software Project,
Team building,
time-planAs discussed in previous post Identifying Hiccups During Project Lifecycle the identification of the showstoppers or hiccups in a project is very crucial. An...
August 2, 2010 8:20 AM
Posted by: Jaideep Khanduja
business continuity,
collaboration,
project approach,
project management,
project organization,
project quality,
project size,
project stakeholders,
Software ProjectA project of any nature or size, demands collaborative and systematic approach, from all teams, stakeholders. The teams engaged in various activities and tasks need to tackle hiccups and abruptions arising out of any internal or external turmoil.
The time-bound...
July 29, 2010 11:47 AM
Posted by: Jaideep Khanduja
business analyst,
business requirement,
developer,
Development,
project management,
Software Project,
software requirement,
Stephen Covey,
tester,
testing”We simply assume that the way we see things is the way they really are or the way they should be and our attitudes and behaviours grow out of these assumptions.”. This quote is from the author of the famous book “Seven Habits of Highly Effective People”, Stephen Covey....
July 29, 2010 10:14 AM
Posted by: Jaideep Khanduja
process management,
project management,
Software ProjectA Process is the key parameter or metrics to establish the health and status of a project at any stage. Without established process, a method to measure it or its metrics and a continuous effort to re-establish it in terms of improvisation and enhancement, any drive in project...
July 27, 2010 7:30 AM
Posted by: Jaideep Khanduja
collaboration,
project management,
Software ProjectUser Training, Product Demo, UAT all require visit to customer site and a face to face interaction with the end users and customer management. Worldwide scenario is changing now. Organizations in wake of going green and cutting costs prefer alternate ways to avoid travel expenses...
July 26, 2010 9:58 AM
Posted by: Jaideep Khanduja
process chart,
project management,
Software ProjectLet us, for example, take a scenario of changing existing functionality in software, by changing some part of the code, to enhance its performance and applicability. The enhanced or re-designed code is supposed to give better performance thereby giving higher level of user/customer...
July 26, 2010 9:51 AM
Posted by: Jaideep Khanduja
process chart,
project management,
Software ProjectA well defined process is a key performance tool for any project. Keeping in mind that any defined process required a life-long enhancement and improvisation helps project management team and management to strive for excellence in each stage of the project. If processes are...
July 23, 2010 12:25 PM
Posted by: Jaideep Khanduja
business requirement,
customer requirement,
project management,
software product,
Software ProjectLet us consider a simple scenario of writing code for a new application for a customer. The process starts with a clear understanding of customer business, key user’s expectations and customer management’s expectation regarding business benefits driven out of this application....
July 22, 2010 11:05 AM
Posted by: Jaideep Khanduja
developer,
project management,
QC,
software development,
Software Project,
software testing,
tester1. Showstopper: Product manager always has the perception that the development team wants the progress of work whereas QC or testing team jams the progress. They even try to project in the way of showing development team sitting idle when the product is lying with testing team for...
July 22, 2010 10:31 AM
Posted by: Jaideep Khanduja
project management,
software development,
Software Project,
software quality,
software testing,
testerThere is always a hide and seek game between Product Manager and QC Manager when a product is being built. Project Manager, Management and Customer on one hand stress on complete involvement of testing team during product building. On the other hand product manager keeps playing tricks to bypass...
July 21, 2010 12:10 PM
Posted by: Jaideep Khanduja
project management,
Software Project1. Confidence: The confidence level at any stage of all team members, project manager, QC manager and all other stakeholders right from the beginning starts narrating the direction and overall health of the project. The clarity of requirements, goals, direction etc. all reflects...
July 9, 2010 9:54 AM
Posted by: Jaideep Khanduja
outsourcing,
project management,
project success,
Software Project,
Software vendorOutsourcing is not an unfamiliar term. We keep doing that in our day to day life for our personal and home needs. The same is done in corporate world. All activities or work can’t be performed by a single person. Similarly all corporate functions may require outsourcing depending...
June 30, 2010 9:45 AM
Posted by: Jaideep Khanduja
project management,
Project Plan,
Project Risk,
Software Project5. Benchmark: To rate each of your selection criteria points for each vendor you will be required to benchmark each criteria with the best possible value available across the globe. Against this best possible value for each point your assessment for each vendor will give you a...
June 30, 2010 9:28 AM
Posted by: Jaideep Khanduja
project management,
Project Plan,
Project Risk,
Software Project1. Understand Complete Requirements: Customer requirements for the whole project play a very crucial role in building a new product. The whole requirements are shared by many teams for various purposes – viz. development, testing, implementation etc. A foolproof process of...
June 22, 2010 11:45 AM
Posted by: Jaideep Khanduja
project management,
project manager,
Software Project
5. Harvesting: Plants are ready for harvesting at different timescales. The crop decides the period of harvesting unless some negative impacts the growth. Same is with the people. Some grow fast, some take their own sweet time to grow and establish their...
June 22, 2010 11:29 AM
Posted by: Jaideep Khanduja
project management,
project manager,
Software ProjectA gardener is not a simple job, rather is a most tedious job of growing and nurturing nature. The similar job is that of a project manager who has to manage different teams in a project. The team members comprise of different ages, cultures, geographies (sometimes), experiences, backgrounds,...
June 18, 2010 11:57 AM
Posted by: Jaideep Khanduja
change management,
process optimization,
project management,
Software Project5. Drive with a top down approach: If the project command is shared with one of the top management member of customer end, it gives a catalytic thrust to the project progress and becomes a winning note for the product.
6. Don’t pass a stupid message that...
June 18, 2010 11:35 AM
Posted by: Jaideep Khanduja
change management,
process optimization,
project management,
Software ProjectSometimes business applications die an unnatural death even if the application is built with state-of-the-art technology fulfilling all relevant business requirements.
The reason of failure does not lie with the application but the people and processes...
June 14, 2010 10:00 AM
Posted by: Jaideep Khanduja
project management,
project team,
Software ProjectProject performance encompasses performance of each individual member of each team working for a project. Each team members requires an environment around him that facilitates him to work towards his goals.
The components of an environment for a team member...
June 11, 2010 1:03 PM
Posted by: Jaideep Khanduja
project management,
six sigma,
Software ProjectSix Sigma is more of common sense and facts based analysis of real data to arrive at an action plan. The basic steps to perform a six sigma project are as below:
1. Identify a problem
2. Set goals to resolve this problem and define the result in terms of...
