Ask HN: As a team lead how to handle project going off the rails? • Hacker News Board

Re: Ask HN: As a team lead how to handle project going off the rails?

#21

Post by kimdotcom » Thu, Jul 12, 2018, 7:24 AM UTC

trm42 wrote: post #15

Sounds kind of familiar. We started a mvp/prototype that was handed to one guy without that much of a planning. That guy is really good coder but not a product owner/manager, documentor or planner. You see where this is going? This was about empowering team members with responsibility. Without a concrete plan it was really hard for the rest of us to help or say what's really important. And so began the feature creep…

So, have a plan?

Re: Ask HN: As a team lead how to handle project going off the rails?

#22

Post by [deleted] » Thu, Jul 12, 2018, 7:30 AM UTC

[deleted]

Re: Ask HN: As a team lead how to handle project going off the rails?

#23

Post by kimdotcom » Thu, Jul 12, 2018, 7:30 AM UTC

If it is written in JS, port it to Elixir.

Otherwise, rewrite it in JS.

Re: Ask HN: As a team lead how to handle project going off the rails?

#24

Post by kimdotcom » Thu, Jul 12, 2018, 7:33 AM UTC

Chyzwar wrote: post #12

I suspect that you did not managed expectations. PO was not really working as the proper owner and have no clue about progress and effort being put. Your direct manager does not care as it can always blame everything on you. And the team is not so great if they have problems with "comfort zone". First get PO on board. Choose the process that will push PO into the central role: Kanban, Scrum, XP(anything really). Work…

This is the best advice here.

I would work for you.

Re: Ask HN: As a team lead how to handle project going off the rails?

#25

Post by benbristow » Thu, Jul 12, 2018, 7:36 AM UTC

Split the project into sub-tasks and order them on a kanban board (Physical/Digital). Figure out which sub-tasks are most important and work through them. Assign them to people if need be. Take time out to do a standups around this board at the start/end of the day to figure out where you're at. Higher ups will be able to see this too and probably will appreciate the clarity.

Even if you don't hit your full deadlines you'll have a more complete 'product' this way

Re: Ask HN: As a team lead how to handle project going off the rails?

#26

Post by d--b » Thu, Jul 12, 2018, 7:40 AM UTC

A company is a company, your manager is in your team, the product owner is in your team, the salesman is in your team, the CEO is in your team. Talk to your manager, and your manager will talk to the stake holders to see what to do about it. Delays happen all the time. No biggie. Just try and understand what went wrong (to make sure the next one doesn't suffer the same) and how much time it will be costing. They'll be asking you anyways...

If you're in one of these companies where people are not allowed to screw up, then I would recommend you start looking for a healthier work place.

Good luck

Re: Ask HN: As a team lead how to handle project going off the rails?

#27

Post by tobyhinloopen » Thu, Jul 12, 2018, 7:43 AM UTC

boffinism wrote: post #19

> we're not going to make the release > At what point should I start sounding the alarm? Immediately. IMMEDIATELY

This was also my thought, hah :)

Re: Ask HN: As a team lead how to handle project going off the rails?

#28

Post by tobyhinloopen » Thu, Jul 12, 2018, 7:44 AM UTC

mikekchar wrote: post #20

Words I've used with success before: "I've got some bad news. I've been running the numbers and based on our current progress, it doesn't look like we're going to hit our release schedule. Now, it's possible that we've just hit a slow patch and we will pick up steam later on, but my experience has been that this rarely happens. Everybody on the team is still really optimistic and we're working very hard to hit the re…

  > If the response is, "You'd better hit the dates or heads will roll", then respond with, "Of course we'll do our absolute best!" and start looking for a new job.

Hah

Re: Ask HN: As a team lead how to handle project going off the rails?

#29

Post by tobyhinloopen » Thu, Jul 12, 2018, 7:46 AM UTC

kimdotcom wrote: post #23

If it is written in JS, port it to Elixir. Otherwise, rewrite it in JS.

Something > JS > Elixir > JS > Elixir > JS > Elixir > JS > Elixir > JS > Elixir > JS > Elixir > JS > Elixir > JS > Elixir > JS > Elixir > JS > Elixir > JS > Elixir > JS > Elixir > JS > Elixir > JS > Elixir > JS > Elixir > JS > Elixir > JS > Elixir > JS > Elixir > JS > Elixir > JS > Elixir > JS > Elixir > JS > Elixir > JS > Elixir > JS > Elixir > JS > Elixir > JS > Elixir > JS > Elixir > JS > Elixir > JS > Elixir > JS > Elixir > JS > Elixir > JS > Elixir > JS > Elixir > JS > Elixir > JS > Elixir > JS > Elixir > JS > Elixir > JS > Elixir > JS > Elixir > JS > Elixir > JS > Elixir > JS > Elixir > JS > Elixir > JS > Elixir > JS > Elixir > JS > Elixir > JS > Elixir > JS > Elixir > JS > Elixir > JS > Elixir > JS > Elixir > JS > Elixir > JS > Elixir > JS > Elixir > JS > Elixir > JS > Elixir > JS > Elixir > JS > Elixir > JS > Elixir > JS > Elixir >

OutOfTimeException

Re: Ask HN: As a team lead how to handle project going off the rails?

#30

Post by mudiaga » Thu, Jul 12, 2018, 7:48 AM UTC

You should have the talk with the product owner already. It's always better to be open about these things early. Discuss the possibiltiy of completing only the core features first.