Better Software - May 2008 - (Page 33) as Lancelot in ye olde movie Camelot, sang: “A knight of the Table Round should be invincible, Succeed where a less fantastic man would fail. Climb a wall no one else can climb, Cleave a dragon in record time, Swim a moat in a coat of heavy iron mail. No matter the pain, he ought to be unwinceable. Impossible deeds should be his daily fare.” While we do not think our team members need to be able to cleave a dragon in record time and most would look strange in a coat of heavy iron mail, we do think the ancient code of chivalry serves as an excellent code of conduct for team members on today’s complex software projects. Our demons are no longer dragons, fair maidens in distress, or a wicked cousin (next in line for the throne!). Yet, certainly, given the schedules that many are asked to meet, impossible deeds are often our daily fare. Hang on—before you think we’re crazy or that we’ve spent too much time watching Robin Hood: Men in Tights, allow us a moment to plead our case. Ancient knights were chosen as much for their personal traits as for their strength and agility. We suspect you hire team members as much for their personal traits as for their technical knowledge and experience. We prefer team members who are dependable, communicate well, are flexible in their preference for technologies or tools, generous in sharing their time with others, and loyal to the team are preferable. In fact, many of the sought-after attributes for knighthood in “auld times” are still desirable in team members today. www.StickyMinds.com MAY 2008 BETTER SOFTWARE I n seeking to improve how we develop software, we continually inspect and adapt. While thinking recently about the characteristics of the ideal team member, we found similarities between the best-performing software teams of today and the Knights of the Round Table. Robert Goulet, 33 http://www.StickyMinds.com
Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Better Software - May 2008 Better Software - May 2008 Contents Mark Your Calendar Contributors eLightenment Technically Speaking Code Craft Test Connection Management Chronicles Cover Story: It's A Bug! The Chivalrous Team Member Let's Talk Agile Product Announcements 10 Things You Might Not Know About... The Last Word Ad Index Better Software - May 2008 Better Software - May 2008 - (Page Intro) Better Software - May 2008 - Better Software - May 2008 (Page Cover1) Better Software - May 2008 - Better Software - May 2008 (Page Cover2) Better Software - May 2008 - Better Software - May 2008 (Page 1) Better Software - May 2008 - Better Software - May 2008 (Page 2) Better Software - May 2008 - Contents (Page 3) Better Software - May 2008 - Mark Your Calendar (Page 4) Better Software - May 2008 - Mark Your Calendar (Page 5) Better Software - May 2008 - Contributors (Page 6) Better Software - May 2008 - Contributors (Page 7) Better Software - May 2008 - eLightenment (Page 8) Better Software - May 2008 - eLightenment (Page 9) Better Software - May 2008 - eLightenment (Page 10) Better Software - May 2008 - eLightenment (Page 11) Better Software - May 2008 - eLightenment (Page 12) Better Software - May 2008 - Technically Speaking (Page 13) Better Software - May 2008 - Technically Speaking (Page 14) Better Software - May 2008 - Technically Speaking (Page 15) Better Software - May 2008 - Technically Speaking (Page 16) Better Software - May 2008 - Code Craft (Page 17) Better Software - May 2008 - Code Craft (Page 18) Better Software - May 2008 - Code Craft (Page 19) Better Software - May 2008 - Test Connection (Page 20) Better Software - May 2008 - Test Connection (Page 21) Better Software - May 2008 - Management Chronicles (Page 22) Better Software - May 2008 - Management Chronicles (Page 23) Better Software - May 2008 - Management Chronicles (Page 24) Better Software - May 2008 - Management Chronicles (Page 25) Better Software - May 2008 - Cover Story: It's A Bug! (Page 26) Better Software - May 2008 - Cover Story: It's A Bug! (Page 27) Better Software - May 2008 - Cover Story: It's A Bug! (Page 28) Better Software - May 2008 - Cover Story: It's A Bug! (Page 29) Better Software - May 2008 - Cover Story: It's A Bug! (Page 30) Better Software - May 2008 - Cover Story: It's A Bug! (Page 31) Better Software - May 2008 - The Chivalrous Team Member (Page 32) Better Software - May 2008 - The Chivalrous Team Member (Page 33) Better Software - May 2008 - The Chivalrous Team Member (Page 34) Better Software - May 2008 - The Chivalrous Team Member (Page 35) Better Software - May 2008 - The Chivalrous Team Member (Page 36) Better Software - May 2008 - The Chivalrous Team Member (Page 37) Better Software - May 2008 - Let's Talk Agile (Page 38) Better Software - May 2008 - Let's Talk Agile (Page 39) Better Software - May 2008 - Let's Talk Agile (Page 40) Better Software - May 2008 - Let's Talk Agile (Page 41) Better Software - May 2008 - Let's Talk Agile (Page 42) Better Software - May 2008 - Let's Talk Agile (Page 43) Better Software - May 2008 - Product Announcements (Page 44) Better Software - May 2008 - Product Announcements (Page 45) Better Software - May 2008 - 10 Things You Might Not Know About... (Page 46) Better Software - May 2008 - The Last Word (Page 47) Better Software - May 2008 - Ad Index (Page 48) Better Software - May 2008 - Ad Index (Page Cover3) Better Software - May 2008 - Ad Index (Page Cover4) Better Software - May 2008 - Ad Index (Page Survey1) Better Software - May 2008 - Ad Index (Page Survey2)
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