A Software release Today

Our team released some software this evening and it was a completely smooth process. Everything just worked! There were absolutely no hiccups. Everything that we expected to happen happened. Nothing unexpected happened, or if it did, we were prepared for it because we thought it might happen.

It is an indescribably satisfying feeling when things go according to plan! Now I know what Hannibal Smith meant when he said "I love it when a plan comes together".

To give some background, we had been planning this release for 2 weeks. I had an hour by hour runbook all set up. It was edited countless times & reviewed in several meetings. I also emailed everyone under the sun about the release.

The email was a point of contention. I felt that emailing EVERYONE would invite unnecessary questions about the release and possible interference by people who needn't be concerned but just wanted to put in their 2 cents; this was remedied by my mailing instead a select few who really did need to know AND by putting in full assurances about how much we tested this and that there were no issues in testing AND that we anticipate none after go-live AND how we will be in heightened alertness mode at business open. The result: "Thanks for letting me know." Problem solved. Lesson Learned: If you show confidence in your product, then people will believe. You just better deliver.

The beauty of being the PM is that all the work that I did in the planning, I witnessed the execution of at go-live. I didn't have much of a role in the release. I just asked a few questions but basically watched the event unfold. It was like being a movie director at the premiere of the movie.

It really does go to show that planning through a project pays dividends. There is a mentality of 'winging it' where some people pay lip service to planning, and might think through only a few things and leave the rest to chance. This experience has proven to me w/o a doubt that you can really execute according to a plan and be successful, as long as you have sufficient time to think things through.

37 Signals Stuff

From the guys who created BaseCamp, here is a link to their book "Getting Real" on software development. Completely free on the web!

Getting Real

They also have a new book called Rework which I aim to read soon.

These guys are on the money with their stuff. Very readable, very applicable, very excellent!

For instance,

Get something real up and running quickly

Running software is the best way to build momentum, rally your team, and flush out ideas that don't work. It should be your number one priority from day one.

Click on the link above to read more...