Category Archives: Business
Responding to RFP’s
Jul
22
2008
At Refactr we don’t often get RFP’s (Requests for Proposals). Most of our consulting project work comes from word of mouth and referral where we help brainstorm what is to be created at the outset. It is the only time … Continue reading
Posted in Agile Processes, Business
Tagged collaboration, communication, documentation, projects, sales, Web 2.0
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Nine things developers want more than money
Jun
25
2008
This is a little bit older, but pretty interesting: Nine Things Developers Want More Than Money. It should be inherently obvious, but seeing lists like this every once in a while is a good reminder that creating and maintaining high-performing … Continue reading
Best Buy tries its hand at being small.
Jun
13
2008
Much has been written in blogs and in the news media about Best Buy’s Results Only Work Environment (ROWE). And while the idea (do whatever you want, work however you like, as long as you get your work done.) is … Continue reading
Posted in Agile Processes, Business, Software Development
Tagged embracing change, employees, entrepreneurism, incentives, innovation, risk-taking, starups
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Getting risky in Minnesota
Jun
11
2008
Minnesotan technologists are working hard and giving their time and energies inside big companies that have sparse ability to innovate. Similarly talented people on the coasts, meanwhile are starting companies and changing the roles technology plays in our lives. Why can’t the Minnesota tech scene produce equally cool and inspiring technologies. The answer may be the extreme aversion to risk we cultivate next to our corn here in the Midwest. Continue reading
Posted in Agile Processes, Business
Tagged barcamp Minnesota, entrepreneurism, Local, minnebar, Minnesota, start-up, startup, starups, venture
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New Refactr world headquarters
Jan
4
2008
Yes, we have moved into new offices in Minneapolis. North East Minneapolis at 4th Street NE and Hennepin to be exact. We have a suite on the top floor of a three story building. The space has high ceilings, ample … Continue reading
Congratulations to Graeme & Guillaume
Oct
11
2007
G2One is a new company founded by Grails lead Graeme Rocher, Groovy lead Guillaume LaForge, and Alex Tkachman of IntelliJ IDEA. Here is Graeme’s post about it. Refactr wishes them good luck but they won’t need it with that team … Continue reading
Startup Pitfall #1: Top-Heaviness
Sep
25
2007
On some level it seems to make sense, when building your startup staff, to want your “generals” in place before you start drafting your soldiers. That way plans can be made, hierarchies established, and processes put in place. But, it … Continue reading
Posted in Agile Processes, Business
Tagged just do it, meetings, overhead, people, simplification, Small Teams, starups, teams
1 Comment
Pitching Agile to senior management
May
8
2007
With many parallells to the Selling Agile to the Enterprise presentation Ross and I gave at last month’s MinneBar (un)conference, Scott Ambler, goes a bit further by providing specific language (like diminishing returns* or, my favorite, opportunity cost**) to use … Continue reading
Posted in Agile Processes, Business
Tagged agile dangers, communication, embracing change, transparency
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Selling Agile to the Enterprise.
Apr
27
2007
I wrote a longish follow-up to MinneBar over at Alt Text but wanted to make mention here of the presentation that Ross Niemi of Thoughtworks and I gave this year, titled: You can do that? Selling agile to the enterprise. … Continue reading
Posted in Agile Processes, Business
Tagged community, grails, groovy, Local, minnebar, Rails, Refactr, scaling agile
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Adobe switched to agile methods develop their flagship CS3 product
Mar
12
2007
Having spent a good part of the past several months talking to companies about agile methods and what it means to be agile, we have found people to be very receptive to the benefits of working in ways designed to … Continue reading
Posted in Agile Processes, Business
Tagged lean, scaling agile, software development model
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At refactr we believe in the value of connection, the utility of agile processes, and the power of great ideas. We are creating the next generation of software for people who expect more from their web applications.
