Autopsy 2
Posted on December 3rd, 2009 by Paul McArdle – 18 Comments.
For those who have been regular readers of the blog, you will realise, by now, that I am a keen advocate of life-long-learning, and improvement (both for individuals within our company, and for the company as a whole).
Given we are fast approaching our 10th birthday, and that we have disappointed ourselves in terms of a number of key initiatives, it has been timely to spend some focused time on introspection.
1) What was Autopsy 1?
Back on Tuesday 28th July 2009 we held Autopsy 1, which was a one-day planning session in our offices in Milton.
During the day we dissected the company (as best we were able in the single day) and drew out of this a number of changes that were required.
Two records were provided:
1) A public post was produced the week afterwards that gave a high-level overview of what had gone on.
2) A restricted post, which was only partially finished but which I have uploaded anyway (only recently) as it does provide some added value as a record.
Four months later and we see that some changes have been implemented, and some not (yet). We also see that some changes have been successful, whilst some have delivered only mixed success.
We have a long way to go – hence we have commenced an Autopsy 2 process.
2) A description of Autopsy 2
Unlike Autopsy 1 (which was only a single day) our Autopsy 2 is really a series of inter-related reviews and analysis that are being conduced in a variety of manners, by a variety of people – specifically to provide us a broader perspective of where our business is at, and what needs to be done next to help it continue to improve.
The following listing is not comprehensive:
1) We have had a review conducted of our business by a seasoned software marketer. His insights will be considered in the first part of 2010 as we update our marketing strategy for the company, and we will investigate options for how this person might remain involved in some way.
2) Our current Product Managers put together a document “Software Development Direction” and provided this to staff on 5th November. This was requested as an output at Autopsy 1, and timed to be 3 months following the autopsy.
3) We have contracted one business coaching firm (Shirlaws) to assist us in terms of strategic business direction, and structure (with a particular view to the structure we will need to implement if we are to meet the growth targets we have set for ourselves).
4) We have contracted another business coaching firm (Sound Reasoning) to assist us at a more tactical level, with the focus being on the delivery of “quick wins” that can be implemented with our current resource mix.
5) We have initiated a coaching arrangement with Ted Scott to assist in our transition from “warm” through “cold” to “hot” ( or “exit”) and the establishment of effective self-managed teams.
6) We have engaged Cogent Consulting to assist us in understanding more aspects of Agile Software Development, prior to the appointment of our “GM 3D WCW”.
7) We are also meeting with a number of other people (and speaking with several authors of books we have reviewed) to learn what we can from everyone.
As such, the Autopsy 2 process is a more involved process that will continue into 2010 in the implementation phase.
Stay tuned to the blog to hear more…
[...] Business Autopsy in July (which we’re now starting to think of as Autopsy 1 - as distinct from the current Autopsy 2), was the fact that our software development processes were not [...]
[...] Being a small company, it is essential that everyone is involved (to varying degrees, and in different ways) in also “working ON the business”. This is especially important, given that each person has accepted responsibility for some aspects of business improvement, at least at a tactical level, as a result of one of the planning sessions conducted as part of Autopsy 2. [...]
[...] We had been thinking about attending this year, enroute to Toronto (to pay our clients there an overdue visit).
[...] As part of Autopsy 2, we have all accepted personal responsibility for a range of tactically-focused projects designed [...]
[...] 2010, as a result of our Autopsy 2 process, we have identified that we need to make two key appointments in 2010: GM of Design, Development [...]
[...] interesting – especially given the navel-gazing we have been doing recently: 1)
[...] and too slowly, towards really embracing the “three perspectives” that has led us into the Autopsy 2 process – and has necessitated our search for a Chief Software Engineer (which will begin, in earnest, in [...]
[...] One of the guys in the office found this, and it stimulated a bit of discussion internally about where our bus is headed (on a restricted post). This was good, as we had commenced our Autopsy 2 process. [...]
[...] part of the Autopsy 2 process, I have been working one-on-one with the firm [...]
[...] improvements, but it became clear we could not get where we are going on our own.
[...] central part of the changes we’re making internally, stemming from the Autopsy 2 process, is that we’re aiming to get very clear about “why?” Why does our company exist in the first [...]
[...] machinations at work in our company over the past 6-12 months (through the Autopsy 1 day, and the Autopsy 2 process) will recognise that we’re [...]
[...] that the business delivers to its potential.
[...] of the work I have been doing as part of the autopsy 2 process has included upgrading our entire recruitment process.
[...] were going to attend this conference in 2009, but it clashed with the commencement of our Autopsy 2 process, and as such we had to give it a miss.
[...] part of our Autopsy 2 process, we have brought in a number of coaches who have been working with a number of us to ensure we can [...]
[...] noted previously, we’re continuing the ongoing Autopsy 2 process to give some consideration about how we’re perceived in the marketplace, and (to the extent that [...]
[...] have done this (with the help of a couple external coaches) in a process which I initially termed as an “autopsy” – but which could have been more correctly termed a “retrospective”, given the currency of [...]