people management

Better Software Magazine Articles

The Ariane 5: A Smashing Success

On June 4, 1996, the maiden flight of the Ariane 5 satellite launcher ended spectacularly after only forty seconds, with bits of the $67 billion vehicle and its payload spread over a fairly large part of French Guiana. The report issued July 19 by the International Inquiry Board noted that the fiery crash was due to a "chain of technical events." The details of that particular chain of events are reviewed here.
Les Hatton
June 26, 2002
Interviewing Your Interviewer

Job interviews are stressful. Often, people are so eager to impress the interviewer that they don't find out critical information about the company and the position. But it's just as important for you to be convinced of the position's suitability for you as it is for the company to be convinced of your suitability for the position. If you ask the right questions, interviews can be much more productive at helping you avoid poorly managed, unhappy projects and zero in on well-run, professional projects.
Joe Yakich
June 26, 2002
Do Your Interviewing Homework

In the nerve-wracking world of job interviews, a little preparation can go a long way toward a positive experience. In this article, we'll examine some pointers for doing the research that can mean the difference between a shot in the dark and a sure thing.
Joe Yakich
June 26, 2002
Testing and Quality: Are You As Bored As I Am?

The next time someone says to you something like, "You can't test quality into a software project," you might reply, "Well, you can't manage it in either." There may be a pregnant pause, but perhaps it will lead to thoughtful discussions about testing and quality. At the very least, it'll make those twin subjects a whole lot less (shh!) Dullsville and boring!
Robert Glass
June 26, 2002
How to Ensure that Your Configuration Management System will Function Fully and Correctly

No matter what the origin of your CM software, improper installation, poor training, and program defects can lead to disaster. This article discusses how to make the most of your current CM tools, and how to ensure that your CM system will do what it's supposed to do.
Bob Johnson
June 26, 2002
It's January 1, 2000 . . . What Have You Overlooked?

You have a Y2K effort in place, and it's all about preparation for an event you know is coming. What have you overlooked that’s going to bite you? This article will help give you 20-20 foresight to anticipate potential "gotchas."
Robin F. Goldsmith
June 26, 2002
Packaged-Software Indigestion

Vendor reviews are a wonderful technique to taste before you swallow commercial, off-the-shelf software. They're also a great way to build a partnership with your business decision-makers on packaged-software projects, instead of being brought in late or left out completely. Here are some important things to consider when conducting a vendor review.
Eileen M. Strider
June 26, 2002
Anticipating Human Error

This article makes three points. First, errors happen. Second, systems can encourage errors. Third, a basic understanding of the kinds of errors humans make can help us design better systems. Here are some suggestions to help avert trouble.
 
Ramon M. Felciano
June 26, 2002
A Recipe for Success: Ingredients for Building a Great Software Team

Great people, interesting work, and smart referees make for a successful software team. Bobbie Patnode recommends some ways to keep your team engaged, including treating them well, paying them well, and training them well.
Bobbie Patnode
June 26, 2002
Application Integration

Building an integrated suite of applications can be complicated, especially when several groups are working on the project in different locations. Here are some risks, as well as recommendations for allowing planning, development, and testing artifacts to be shared between disparate groups.
Sam Guckenheimer
June 26, 2002

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