Hi, I'm Michael.

I believe that we’re in the midst of an astounding revolution that will change the face of society for centuries to come. This revolution is fueled by software. In the centuries to come, I believe that software quality will dictate quality of life in more ways than we can imagine today. But software quality doesn't happen in the absence of a team that has skills, tools, and the clarity of purpose. I enjoy working on building such teams.

how I help

I assist firms by implementing new processes and technologies in delivering software and a stable production environment. As my case studies show, I tackle projects such as:

• Supporting new business lines with technology architecture, development and deployments.
• Taking software delivery processes from the ad-hoc to the repeatable and efficient.
• Blending risk- or audit-driven control requirements with existing software processes.

it's culture

I've come to believe that the key to delivering technology is not striving for a perfect solution but rather adopting a culture that responds rapidly as requirements change. To this end I put a lot of energy into establishing a culture by which:

• Decision-making and risk-taking ability resides where it is most impactful: with the engineers tasked with the solutions.
• Efficient automated processes speed testing and stable software delivery.
• Technical debt is recognized for the innovation killer it is and is eliminated with every opportunity.
• Issues and incidents are opportunities for problem-solving, not for finger-pointing.
• Well-rounded, able people are developed through mentoring, empowerment, and fair dealing.

tools

The software delivery field is becoming a profession. Established patterns with proven track records are emerging that are taking a lot of the mistakes, rework, and frustration out of the experience. The tools I employ include:

• DevOps practices for eliminating the old, false build/run dichotomy.
• Work breakdown structures, schedules, and regular checkpoints to manage projects.
• Transparency in dealings with management, peers, and subordinates.

None of this is rocket science!

getting there

I have studied risk in an effort to understand the complexity and uncertainty that pervade so many business initiatives today. I find agility is key. By this I don't mean "Agile(tm) software practices" but rather a simple loop:

• Find out where you are.
• Orient toward your goal and take a small step toward it.
• Understand any new information that came to light.
• Repeat.