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A Non-Techie Tries to Build a Tech Company

boss.blogs.nytimes.com

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Re: A Non-Techie Tries to Build a Tech Company

#3

Post by ironchef »

"I’ve also discovered that nothing is more motivating than a high profile, non-negotiable deadline." Sweet jesus no. If you don't understand what is required do NOT sign your team up for that. That's what causes death marches. Now if you had the team already analyze the opportunity and prototype "the hard parts" then by all means go for it :)

Re: A Non-Techie Tries to Build a Tech Company

#4

Post by leonatan »

Domenic_S wrote: post #2

TL;DR: Founder makes mistake after mistake, blames other people, then finds a famous & rich engineer, suddenly stops making mistakes.

Isn't this always the case? A company that has at its top someone not familiar with the field of the company is almost always doomed.

Re: A Non-Techie Tries to Build a Tech Company

#6

Post by hga »

ironchef wrote: post #3

"I’ve also discovered that nothing is more motivating than a high profile, non-negotiable deadline." Sweet jesus no. If you don't understand what is required do NOT sign your team up for that. That's what causes death marches. Now if you had the team already analyze the opportunity and prototype "the hard parts" then by all means go for it :)

I found that bit suspect as well, but I think this guy is more flexible, e.g. look at her discussions on features vs. making things sold.

The one deadline she mentioned was implicitly a decision, "we will launch at X event". That eliminates the first general problem with these, they're usually artificial (vs. what I like to refer to as the "pesky" customer challenge). It also allows for the right sort of deadline bargaining, what shall we present then? Vs. the "I think I can do this in 4 weeks" which the worst managers take as a starting negotiating position.

Re: A Non-Techie Tries to Build a Tech Company

#8

Post by hga »

Domenic_S wrote: post #2

TL;DR: Founder makes mistake after mistake, blames other people, then finds a famous & rich engineer, suddenly stops making mistakes.

In all fairness, she also learned a lot of important things, some before that point. Including the very important lesson that if you don't understand the web site your contractors have developed, your potential customers probably won't either.

Getting the UI stuff right is just as important as implementing it solidly.

Re: A Non-Techie Tries to Build a Tech Company

#9

Post by binarysolo »

ironchef wrote: post #3

"I’ve also discovered that nothing is more motivating than a high profile, non-negotiable deadline." Sweet jesus no. If you don't understand what is required do NOT sign your team up for that. That's what causes death marches. Now if you had the team already analyze the opportunity and prototype "the hard parts" then by all means go for it :)

The followup text:

"Our team performed brilliantly in the month leading up to our launch at the South by Southwest festival; they worked day and night. Now I look for major events that we can all work toward every three months. It’s a great way to keep everyone pointing in the same direction and working fast."

Ugh, I'm really not sure this founder learned the right lesson here either. I'm hoping there's an unspoken here that deadlines are being set in a less-arbitrary method grounded with a technical reality check.

Re: A Non-Techie Tries to Build a Tech Company

#10

Post by hagbardgroup »

ironchef wrote: post #3

"I’ve also discovered that nothing is more motivating than a high profile, non-negotiable deadline." Sweet jesus no. If you don't understand what is required do NOT sign your team up for that. That's what causes death marches. Now if you had the team already analyze the opportunity and prototype "the hard parts" then by all means go for it :)

More wisdom from the "Talent Management Secrets of Joseph Kony."
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