The Fun of a Program Manager
One of the secret formulas to make "better software"
Better Software - 2009 - Firenze
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About me
Entrepreneur, Managing Director, Evangelist, Networker, Father and Program Manager.
• Open Source
• Business Models
• Web Content Management
• Web Marketing
• Agile Management
•
•
Social Software
StartUps
?
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Web Project Manager
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A very temporary job.
Frustration, confusion
Not really quality driven
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About the FUN
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The program manager
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Similar to a Project Manager but with
very different approach and experience.
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What does a program manager
do?
1. Design UIs
2. Write functional specs
3. Coordinate teams
4. Serve as the customer advocate
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Beyond the single project scope
• Strategic insight
• Positive thinking
• Learning process
• Trust building
Production - (c) 1988 Michael Bedard
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A vision
focus, goal, objectives:
discuss, get into the context, ask
the broad picture, understand,
and review.
The failure of capitalism - (c) 1989 Michael Bedard
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User Interaction
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Wireframing
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Visual design
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Architecture
and refactoring
Source: www.architectour.net
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Functional specs donts
• Focus on what
• Keep it simple for the development
• Mess with the technical implementation
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Functional specs dos
• Focus on how
• Keep it simple for the user
• Share with customer and match expectations
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A good team
•one program manager for every
four programmers
•a program manager doesn’t care
how the development team
implements things internally
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Role of the Program Manager
“it’s absolutely critical that the program
• peer managers and developers be peers”
• facilitator
• motivator
• shall NOT be the
manager of the
developers
Stranger in paradise - (c) 1998 Michael Bedard
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Trust and respect
• debates
• conflicts
• criticals
• ...build consensus and
bring people together
Mondo Sumo - (c) 1998 Michael Bedard
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Love and
Frustration
The delicate balance of owning a
project without really owning it.
Sitting Duck- (c) 1982 Michael Bedard
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Credits & Resources
• How to be a program manager - by Joel Spolsky
(www.joelonsoftware.com)
• Francesco Merlo (Reflab - technical leader with a wierd
passion for User Interfaces)
• ChangeThis! (www.changethis.com)
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Thanks
Francesco Ciriaci
francesco@reflab.com
Twitter: fciriaci
Diigo: francescociriaci
Skype: fciriaci
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