secrets of world class software organizations - … view of world class software executive summit...

Secrets of World Class Software Organizations

www.construx.com

Copyright Notice

These presentation materials are © 2008 Construx Software Builders, Inc.

All Rights Reserved. No part of the contents of this presentation may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without the written permission of Construx Software Builders, Inc.

3

Views of World Class

4

My View of World Class

Software Executive Summit 2004

Can you have a world-class software organization inside a mediocre business?Can you have a mediocre software organization inside a world-class business?

5

My View of “World Class”

6

Software Development Success

Providing software that is…1. On time…2. On budget…3. With desired functionality…4. At the defined quality level…5. In a sustainable way…

7

Overlap with 10x …

Some of the most replicated research results in software engineering:10x differences between different developers working on same/similar systems10x differences between different organizations working on similar products

Background on Selection of World-Class Software Organizations

9

Background: Construx Activities

Consulting: Dozens of companies each yearTraining: Hundreds of companies each yearEvents: Executive SummitIndustry participation

IEEEOMGSeaSPINECSEEtc.

Other ResearchSurveysDiscussion/focus groupsForum discussionsReading other people’s and companies’ researchEtc.

10

Construx Consulting and Training Clients

AerospaceAlaska AirlinesBoeing CompanyFAANorthrop GrummanRockwell United Space Alliance

TelecommunicationsMotorolaNokiaQUALCOMMRIMSymbianVerizon

Computer Hardware and Manufacturing

AppleATi Technologies Inc.Cisco SystemsDellHewlett-PackardIntel Texas Instruments

Entertainment and MediaAOLElectronic ArtsGoogleMSNBCWalt Disney CompanyYahoo

Financial ChubbFidelity InvestmentsMerrill LynchTIAA-CREFWashington MutualWells Fargo

HealthcareCardinal HealthEli LillyIDX Philips UltrasoundRoche DiagnosticsSpacelabs Medical

RetailAmazonCostco WholesaleExpediaNordstromStarbucksWalmart

Software Products and Systems

AdobeEMCIntuitMicrosoftRealNetworksSymantec

GovernmentLawrence Livermore National LabLos Alamos National LabNational Security AgencyNaval Sea Systems CommandNOAA

11

Which Companies Can We Talk About?

Sample of World-Class Software Organizations

13

Microsoft (circa 1990)

14

“The goal is NOT to write code. If we could ship products and make all this money without writing any code, we would. Your job is to ship products EXACTLY on time. It doesn’t matter whether you’re a developer, tester, program manager, product manager—whatever. Everybody’s job is the same.”

—Chris Peters, Excel 3.0

Microsoft (circa 1990)

15

Microsoft (circa 1990), cont.

Post-It Notes are on This

Floor

(Paperwork for the Post-It notes is on

this floor too.)

16


17


18

Google

19

Google, cont.

20

Google, cont.

“The goal is to strip away everything that gets in our employees' way. We provide a standard package of fringe benefits, but on top of that are first-class dining facilities, gyms, laundry rooms, massage rooms, haircuts, carwashes, dry cleaning, commuting buses—just about anything a hardworking employee might want. Let's face it: programmers want to program, they don't want to do their laundry.”

– Eric Schmidt, CEO Google

Cocomo View

Interlude: What Factors Really Matter?

22

Development Flexibility

Team Cohesion

PrecedentednessProgrammer Capability (general)Architecture and Risk Resolution

Process Maturity

Effort Multipliers & Scaling Factors(at 5M LOC)

1.31

1.40

1.42

1.43

1.46

1.49

1.50

1.51

1.52

1.54

1.54

1.56

1.59

1.59

1.63

1.70

1.76

1.83

1.94

2.00

2.38

Developed for ReusePlatform Experience

Database SizeLanguage and Tools Experience

Storage ConstraintPlatform Volatility

Use of Software ToolsApplications Experience

Documentation Match to Lifecycle NeedsRequired Software Reliability

Multi-site DevelopmentPersonnel Continuity

Time Constraint

Analyst Capability (general)Product Complexity

23Development Flexibility

Team Cohesion

PrecedentednessArchitecture and Risk Resolution

Process Maturity

Effort Multipliers & Scaling Factors(at 100K LOC)

1.26

1.29

1.31

1.33

1.38

1.40

1.42

1.43

1.43

1.46

1.49

1.50

1.51

1.52

1.54

1.56

1.59

1.63

1.76

2.00

2.38

Developed for Reuse

Platform ExperienceDatabase Size

Language and Tools Experience





Time ConstraintProgrammer Capability (general)


24Flexibility of Requirements

Team Cohesion

PrecedentednessArchitecture and Risk Resolution

Process Maturity

Where Can Organizations Improve?

1.26

1.29

1.31

1.33

1.38

1.40

1.42

1.43

1.43

1.46

1.49

1.50

1.51

1.52

1.54

1.56

1.59

1.63

1.76

2.00

2.38

Developed for Reuse

Platform ExperienceDatabase Size

Language and Tools Experience





Execution Time ConstraintProgrammer Capability (general)


Within the organization’s control

Within the project’s control

Largely uncontrollable

Sample of World-Class Software Organizations Continued

Discipline of Market Leaders

Interlude: What Factors Really Matter?

28

Discipline of Market Leaders

Three value dimensions:

OperationsProduct LeadershipCustomer Intimacy

Leading companies excel in one area and suffice in other areas

29

NASA SEL

NASA SEL Do’sCreate and follow an SDPEmpower project personnelMinimize bureaucracyDefine the requirements baseline and manage changes to itTake periodic snapshots of project health, and replanwhen necessaryReestimate system size, effort, and schedules periodicallyDefine and manage phase transitionsFoster a team spiritStart the project with a small, senior staff

30

Boeing

31

Boeing cont.

“If you can’t find the time to do it right, where are you going to find the time to do it over?”

32

Symantec

Conclusion

34

Attributes of World-Class Software Development Organizations

Top talentSupport for top talent

Strong sense of missionHigh degree of alignment with the mission

Real business accountabilityCommitment to quality (variously defined)Frequent introspection (learning from mistakes)“Standard” practices become highly adapted to local environmentHigh degree of staff commitment, but as an effect of the other factors, not as a cause

Construx Software is committed to helping individuals and organizations improve their software development practices. For information about our training and consulting services, contact [email protected].

Seminar Schedule: www.construx.com/calendar

10900 NE 8th Street, Suite 1350Bellevue, WA 98004+1 (866) 296-6300www.construx.com

secrets of world class software organizations - … view of world class software executive summit...

Documents