KDAB-Agile and Reliable · Matthias Kalle Dalheimer President, KDAB Group . Agile & Reliable: happy...

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Square pegs through a round hole - how to be agile and reliable at the same time Matthias Kalle Dalheimer President, KDAB Group

Transcript of KDAB-Agile and Reliable · Matthias Kalle Dalheimer President, KDAB Group . Agile & Reliable: happy...

Page 1: KDAB-Agile and Reliable · Matthias Kalle Dalheimer President, KDAB Group . Agile & Reliable: happy developers & happy customers Overview • Achieving ISO certification at KDAB •

Square pegs through a round hole - how to be agile and reliable at

the same time

Matthias Kalle Dalheimer President, KDAB Group

Page 2: KDAB-Agile and Reliable · Matthias Kalle Dalheimer President, KDAB Group . Agile & Reliable: happy developers & happy customers Overview • Achieving ISO certification at KDAB •

Agile & Reliable: happy developers & happy customers

Overview

•  Achieving ISO certification at KDAB

•  Lessons learned

•  “Old industry” vs IT – what can we learn from each other?

•  Is there a “right size” for a software company?

•  Where is Qt in all this?

Page 3: KDAB-Agile and Reliable · Matthias Kalle Dalheimer President, KDAB Group . Agile & Reliable: happy developers & happy customers Overview • Achieving ISO certification at KDAB •

Agile & Reliable: happy developers & happy customers

What did KDAB do? During 2013 we at KDAB set ourselves the target of becoming certified to ISO9001 (an internationally recognised standard for quality management) before the year end. ‘Quality’ for us means the ability to create something (coding, consulting, training) that meets the requirements set for it (usually by a customer). And the ability to do it repeatably...

Page 4: KDAB-Agile and Reliable · Matthias Kalle Dalheimer President, KDAB Group . Agile & Reliable: happy developers & happy customers Overview • Achieving ISO certification at KDAB •

Agile & Reliable: happy developers & happy customers

What did KDAB do? At KDAB, our quality management system simply documents ‘the way we get things done’: It is aimed at everyone in KDAB. It sets out KDAB’s principles, it describes what is covered, responsibilities and how to do things. It is, at its simplest, the place people go if they want to know something, whether it be about vacation policy, coding standards, dress code when meeting clients or what to do in the event of beer/beverages running low in the office fridge… It is not set in stone – it changes/improves to reflect the current situation.

Page 5: KDAB-Agile and Reliable · Matthias Kalle Dalheimer President, KDAB Group . Agile & Reliable: happy developers & happy customers Overview • Achieving ISO certification at KDAB •

Why did KDAB do it? 1. We wanted to ensure that as we grow, we remain true to our philosophies (what makes us a great place to work). At the same time continuing to work effectively and share knowledge with new KDABians, We wanted Happy Developers...

Agile & Reliable: happy developers & happy customers

Page 6: KDAB-Agile and Reliable · Matthias Kalle Dalheimer President, KDAB Group . Agile & Reliable: happy developers & happy customers Overview • Achieving ISO certification at KDAB •

Why did KDAB do it? 2. Customers (and potential customers) want reliable, predictable, documented software development (Quality). We wanted Happy Customers... So that we continue to grow and win more interesting, challenging work – which takes us back to point 1!

Agile & Reliable: happy developers & happy customers

Page 7: KDAB-Agile and Reliable · Matthias Kalle Dalheimer President, KDAB Group . Agile & Reliable: happy developers & happy customers Overview • Achieving ISO certification at KDAB •

Challenges KDAB faced?

u Some initial skepticism from developers who didn’t like to be told how to do their work.

u How could we build a quality management system that actually increases productivity rather than stifles it.

u How to do all this in a relatively short period – around 6 months.

Agile & Reliable: happy developers & happy customers

Page 8: KDAB-Agile and Reliable · Matthias Kalle Dalheimer President, KDAB Group . Agile & Reliable: happy developers & happy customers Overview • Achieving ISO certification at KDAB •

What KDAB did next u Early on we decided to create our quality management system where possible using existing material and systems - rather than creating a system that would dictate how software development should be done.

u This led to faster progress and using familiar systems gave an opportunity to change and improve on what had gone before.

Agile & Reliable: happy developers & happy customers

Page 9: KDAB-Agile and Reliable · Matthias Kalle Dalheimer President, KDAB Group . Agile & Reliable: happy developers & happy customers Overview • Achieving ISO certification at KDAB •

What KDAB did next u We needed to do more than achieve buy-in from developers – we needed to make it a goal of theirs to actively contribute to evolving and improving the system to achieve our goals of happy developers & happy customers

Agile & Reliable: happy developers & happy customers

Page 10: KDAB-Agile and Reliable · Matthias Kalle Dalheimer President, KDAB Group . Agile & Reliable: happy developers & happy customers Overview • Achieving ISO certification at KDAB •

Not rocket science: u Adapt what you have already as much as possible

u Involve everyone

u Keep communicating when necessary, but…

u Don’t get in the way of the day job – this should follow not lead

Agile & Reliable: happy developers & happy customers

Page 11: KDAB-Agile and Reliable · Matthias Kalle Dalheimer President, KDAB Group . Agile & Reliable: happy developers & happy customers Overview • Achieving ISO certification at KDAB •

ISO 9001 has its roots in manufacturing industry. It has proven to be a fruitful addition to KDAB's 'tool-chest'. Are there other things we can learn or borrow from 'traditional industry' and vice versa?

Agile & Reliable: happy developers & happy customers

Page 12: KDAB-Agile and Reliable · Matthias Kalle Dalheimer President, KDAB Group . Agile & Reliable: happy developers & happy customers Overview • Achieving ISO certification at KDAB •

What can software companies learn from other industries? Good, old fashioned business principles:

• Planning • Professionalism • Economics

For some things you don’t need to re-invent the wheel.

Agile & Reliable: happy developers & happy customers

Page 13: KDAB-Agile and Reliable · Matthias Kalle Dalheimer President, KDAB Group . Agile & Reliable: happy developers & happy customers Overview • Achieving ISO certification at KDAB •

Agile & Reliable: happy developers & happy customers

What can other industries learn? • The joy of agile?

• Openness/sharing

• Fewer layers/hierarchies

• More collaboration – internal and external

• Embrace risk-taking

• Reduce blame

Page 14: KDAB-Agile and Reliable · Matthias Kalle Dalheimer President, KDAB Group . Agile & Reliable: happy developers & happy customers Overview • Achieving ISO certification at KDAB •

Agile & Reliable: happy developers & happy customers

Rightsizing? Is there an argument for not growing too far – from the perspective of the work environment, the people and the culture - not the shareholders. Is there an ‘optimal size’ for a software (or any) company? Above which some of the essence that made it great are lost? All the solutions put forward to ‘keep companies true to their roots’ as they grow are at best, sticking plasters and address the problems created rather than avoiding them. Should there be a conscious decision that ‘X’ is the right size for this business?

Page 15: KDAB-Agile and Reliable · Matthias Kalle Dalheimer President, KDAB Group . Agile & Reliable: happy developers & happy customers Overview • Achieving ISO certification at KDAB •

Agile & Reliable: happy developers & happy customers

Think Small, Act Big?

Page 16: KDAB-Agile and Reliable · Matthias Kalle Dalheimer President, KDAB Group . Agile & Reliable: happy developers & happy customers Overview • Achieving ISO certification at KDAB •

Agile & Reliable: happy developers & happy customers

What if… The Qt Project were to be ISO-certified? There is quite a bit of process (“open governance”), and that bit is also well-documented. However… Many critical topics not covered/addressed! •  Business continuity •  Customer response handling/defect tracking/corrective

action •  No unified QMS – not always easy or obvious where to look

for documentation

Page 17: KDAB-Agile and Reliable · Matthias Kalle Dalheimer President, KDAB Group . Agile & Reliable: happy developers & happy customers Overview • Achieving ISO certification at KDAB •

Agile & Reliable: happy developers & happy customers

Thank you very much for your attention! Questions… Discussion… Feedback… Very welcome! … even afterwards – find me on the show floor or contact me at kalle.dalheimer.kdab.com!