niksilver.com
Latest Post
Deploy first, build after
There’s a lesson I learned a long time ago, and which I still find useful: deploy first, build after. Many years ago, when I was working with Mat Wall, we were building a system which, er, did something. I can’t remember exactly what it was, but I think it probably involved an FTP server, which … Continue reading
Featured Posts
When someone introduces a process it’s usually to help them. If top-level management introduces a process for people on the ground then there’s a danger it will help the top team at the expense of the people on the ground delivering effectively. In our organisations we all want comprehensible processes. We want to be able … Continue reading
A programme manager colleague once told me about the report he created to keep his programme board up to date with progress. It was a room. On the walls of the room were all kinds of charts and pictures which collectively told the story of the work in progress. It showed the context, the high … Continue reading
Among all the noise about Brexit, one line I keep hearing is that “businesses need certainty”. We can read this message from the British Chambers of Commerce, from the Confederation of British Industry, and it’s a message the Chancellor has repeated, too. Undoubtedly certainty is helpful. But those who run businesses deal with uncertainty all … Continue reading
Welcome
Hi. I'm Nik Silver. I've been leading software teams for years. My specialism is helping organisations work effectively with their technical teams, to deliver business value frequently and consistently. Take a look at my experience.
If you want to talk about turning talented people into brilliant teams then get in touch. I'm nik@niksilver.com on e-mail, and I'm @pigsaw on Twitter.
Recently spotted
- Elon Musk wants to crowdsource truth, but that’s not how the internet works - The Verge"[Elon Musk's] Pravda is not just a bad idea; it’s a dangerous one for the internet, truth, and democracy. Let me explain why."
- Carillion - Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and Work and Pensions Committees - House of Commons"Carillion’s rise and spectacular fall was a story of recklessness, hubris and greed. Its business model was a relentless dash for cash, driven by acquisitions, rising debt, expansion into new markets and exploitation of suppliers."
- Let’s play the blame game! Never In The Office"Dammit, I’m the boss. I’m in charge and I’m in control! If I say we don’t have a blame culture, we don’t have one. If you don’t agree, then you’re the problem. In other words it’s your fault!"
- In the lab with Xbox’s new Adaptive Controller, which may change gaming forever | Ars Technica"When it came to designing a more accessible controller, though, members of the design team had to get into a mindset outside of the standard controller use cases they were familiar with. Thus, again and again, a mantra was repeated during the preview event: by leaving any gamers in the cold, the standard controller just wasn't good enough."
- The journey to an agile organization at Zalando | McKinsey & Company"We evolved a simple prioritization model to focus on the customer, on company priorities, and on local priorities; this was an incredible unlocking mechanism, allowing people to make decisions without needing to align. Simultaneously through that, we managed to significantly reduce work in progress."
