How to Avoid Screwing Up Technology @ DPS Europe, 2/5/15

How to avoid

screwing up

technology...

Paul Lomax, CTO, Dennis Publishing

@PaulLomax

The problem with

technology is

people.

Product Managers

Requirements

Discovery

Do I buy, build or

rent?

“If it flies, floats or fornicates, always rent it..

It's cheaper in the long run.”

– Felix Dennis (1947-2014)

Writing code

should be a last

resort.

"We'll just build our own..."

How much

work your

developers

think is

involved.

Stuff they

haven't

thought of.

Pragmatism

Technical debt.

Sunk costs.

Legacy systems.

"We've already got one of

those."

Be lean &

agile.

1. Eliminate waste

2. Amplify learning

3. Decide as late as

possible

4. Deliver as fast as

possible

5. Empower the team

6. Build integrity in

7. See the whole

Adopt lean principles

Adopt agile principles

www.agilemanifesto.org

But beware half-arsed agile!

While the items on the top sound nice in theory, we’re an

enterprise company, and there’s no way we’re letting go of the

items on the bottom…www.halfarsedagilemanifesto.org

Fear commitment

Enterprise

Recap

● It's about people, not technology.

● Empower product managers.

● Ban 'requirements'. Focus on objectives.

● Write code as a last resort. Rent it (cloud).

● Look out for the iceberg under the water.

● Ensure pragmatism and collaboration.

● Avoid 'sunk cost' issues. Fear commitment.

● Avoid waste, test & learn, embrace change.

● Act like a start-up not like an enterprise.

Paul LomaxChief Technology Officer,

Dennis Publishing

t: @paullomax

e: paul_lomax@dennis.co.uk

Picture credits

Men's Fitness: http://www.mensfitness.co.uk/

Product Management Venn diagram: http://www.mindtheproduct.com/

Iceberg: http://ralphclevenger.com/portfolios/earth/

I'll Know What I Want When I See It: http://sharpsuits.net/Home

Baby Squirrels: http://www.flickr.com/photos/_crazysanman/2391480258/

Lean Startup: http://lean.st/

Agile Manifesto: http://blog.theworkinggroup.ca/

Dilbert on Requirements: http://dilbert.com/strips/comic/2006-01-29/

XKCD on Arbitrary Condiments: http://xkcd.com/974/