An Introduction

Before we start this journey together, I feel an introduction is in order. Let me tell you a little about myself.

I have been in the IT or software industry for over 20 years. I started in programming and eventually moved into management, having been a CTO for the last six years in my current position. I have had experience with various technologies over the years - mainframe, client/server, networking, hardware, wireless, web, open source. I also have worked in several different capacities - in-house IT, in-house development, staff augmentation and outsourcing. I have worked in many different industries - retail, health care, financial, publishing, and automotive aftermarket. That's my credentials in a nutshell.

I am also not new to blogging. I started another blog, Random Thoughts from a CTO, in February 2005. That blog focused mostly on management and leadership topics and was moderately successful. Last October, I decided that I had said what I wanted on those topics and took a break from blogging. I wasn't sure that I was going to get back to it. But here I am!

This blog will focus more on the work itself than how to manage the work and people. Over the last few years, I have gained a lot of knowledge with Agile and experimented/implemented it in my current organization. In the last year, I have also gained exposure to Lean Product Development starting with the Toyota Production System trying to determine how the principles and practices could be applied to software development. I have learned a lot. I want to share my journey with you to this point. I want to share my quest towards an agile and lean organization. I believe that I will expand my knowledge through this blog and your feedback and support. I will not call myself an expert, but will share what I know with those not familiar with either Agile or Lean. I am not here to sell products or services, but to talk about the realities of life and to work in it. I am not here to talk theory, but will try to provide application to those theories.

Though the focus will be on how to apply to software development or IT, since that is my experience, I believe that much of what is discussed can be applied to other industries. I also believe that there is application to your personal life in addition to your professional life. "How you are" in addition to "what you do".

I look forward to the experience with each of you!
Skip