Hi, I'm Michael.

I believe we’re in the midst of an astounding revolution driven by software, which will profoundly influence society for centuries to come. In this future, software quality will dictate quality of life in ways we can't yet imagine. However, achieving high software quality requires energized teams, the right rules, and purpose-driven technology. I started tinkering with computer technology in the early '80s because I like solving problems with technology. I'm still in the field because I believe that changing quality of life is within our grasp.

how I help

I assist firms in implementing new processes and technologies to deliver solutions and maintain a stable production environment. My case studies illustrate my work on projects such as

• Supporting new business lines with technology architecture, development and deployments.
• Transforming software delivery processes from ad-hoc to efficient and repeatable.
• Integrating risk and audit-driven controls with existing software processes.

it's all culture

I believe that delivering technology successfully is about fostering a culture that is adaptive and robust enough to adapt to changing conditions. I focus on creating an environment where:

• Decision-making and the ability to take risks resides with the engineers closest to the solutions.
• Automated processes enhance testing and stable software delivery.
• Technical debt is recognized and addressed as a barrier to innovation.
• Issues and incidents are viewed as health signals and are recognized as opportunities for collaboration and problem-solving.
• Mentorship and empowerment develop well-rounded, capable professionals.

tools

The software delivery field is evolving into a professional discipline. I utilize established practices and tools to reduce mistakes and frustrations, including:

• A change program to ensure the attainment of strategy through blending the urgent with the important, no matter the time frame.
• Work breakdown structures, schedules, and regular checkpoints to manage projects.
• Transparency about priorities and the rationale for not doing the urgent-but-unimportant, the impossible, and other red herring ideas.

None of this is rocket science!

getting there

With a focus on understanding risk, I find that agility is key. My approach involves a simple loop:

• Assess your current position.
• Orient toward your goal and take a small, actionable step.
• Learn from new information.
• Repeat.

Have Questions?

If you have any questions or would like to discuss your specific needs, don’t hesitate to get in touch!