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Using Data to Tune a Software Team

Jonathan Alexander, VP of Engineering at Vocalocity, shares insights on enhancing software team performance using data analysis. With a team of 35 engineers in Atlanta, he emphasizes the importance of observation in identifying bottlenecks and areas for improvement. By employing strategies that track performance through various systems, teams can uncover valuable insights regarding efficiency, quality, and innovation. Alexander discusses essential qualities contributing to team success and provides actionable steps to gather and analyze data effectively, leading to informed adjustments in team structure and processes.

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Using Data to Tune a Software Team

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  1. Using Data to Tune a Software Team • Jonathan Alexander • VP Engineering, Vocalocity

  2. Speaker Bio: Jonathan Alexander • VP Engineering – Vocalocity • Leading US provider of hosted VoIP PBX for small businesses • Cloud based software Java/C++, Linux, HornetQ, Memcached, MongoDB, PostgreSQL • Team of 35 engineers (development and test) all based in Atlanta • Agile methodology, bi-weekly sprints and releases • Project management tools: JIRA, Greenhopper, SVN, Google Docs, MS Exchange • Past experience: vmSight (acquired), Epiphany, Radnet (acquired) • Author of Codermetrics (O’Reilly 2011) and various related articles

  3. Question #1 • If you want to improve something, where do you start?

  4. Question #1 • If you want to improve something, where do you start? • Answer: Observation • Example: • If we want to find bottlenecks in our software, we test and gather performance statistics • A historical record of observations produces data that we can analyze to improve • Observations from multiple perspectives may help • The process of observation and analysis is nothing to fear • Self-reflection can be painful but useful

  5. Question #2 • What is worth observing and paying attention to?

  6. Question #2 • What is worth observing and paying attention to? • Answer: We can’t be sure • Example: • Slow application UI could be due to a problem at any layer • Good strategy is to observe and track anything that might be relevant • Partially depends on what our goals are and how we measure success

  7. What Qualities Might You Want to Improve on a Team? • Efficiency • Quality • Innovation What Factors Contribute to Success of a Team? • Skill and Experience • Morale • Teamwork and Communication • Focus and Effort • Creativity and Inspiration • Lack of Distraction

  8. What Qualities Might You Want to Improve on a Team? • Efficiency • Quality • Innovation Know How to Get Data What Factors Contribute to Success of a Team? • Skill and Experience • Morale • Teamwork and Communication • Focus and Effort • Creativity and Inspiration • Lack of Distraction Not Sure How toGet Data

  9. Where Do You Get Data about a Software Team? Obvious Places • Task Management System • Bug Tracking System • Customer Issue Tracking System • Version Control System

  10. Where Do You Get Data about a Software Team? Obvious Places • Task Management System • Bug Tracking System • Customer Issue Tracking System • Version Control System Less Obvious Places • Calendar and Email System • Phone System (Call Logs) • Performance Reviews • Social Networks and Forums • Survey System

  11. How Do You Get Data about a Software Team? • Pull from active systems (automated or manual) • First-hand observation (self-observation gathered through reports or surveys) • Second-hand observation (gathered through reports or surveys)

  12. Data Gathering and Data Analysis for Software Teams • Can lead to new discoveries and understandings • Helps increase focus – the 7% Rule

  13. Seek to Categorize, Not Measure • Identify individual and team strengths and weaknesses • Statistics: look at standard deviation (bell curve) or relative rank more than raw numbers

  14. Performance Review Data

  15. Performance Review - Department Analysis

  16. Performance Review - Team Analysis

  17. Self-Rating Survey

  18. Self-Rating Survey - Department Analysis

  19. Self-Rating Survey - Team Analysis Dev Team 1 Dev Team 2 QA Team

  20. The Future – More Tools for Data Gathering & Analysis

  21. Putting Analysis to Work to Tune a Software Team • Mentoring • Align individuals with desired strengths with others who seek to develop • Training • Consider training and development beyond just technical areas • Shifting • Possibly re-align teams or roles to achieve better balance • Hiring • Align and analyze hiring to strengthen team weaknesses

  22. Questions? • For more resources visit codermetrics.org

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