Business
Resolution: Talk to Users in 2018
In 2018, make it a goal to interact with as many users of your application as possible. Even better, start a formal practice of testing your...
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Business (8)
Artificial Intelligence
The Four Quadrants of IoT Revenue Streams
The next decade will bring a society-changing transformation to smart, connected things throughout our personal, professional, and public lives....
Artificial Intelligence
How wasted inventory shows up in software development
In software, a feature backlog is no different than a warehouse of slowly rotting, unused goods. When you think of software features, think of...
Artificial Intelligence
The 3 Paths for Digital Transformation
There's a lot of talk about digital transformation these days. I think undoubtably this movement - transforming as many processes from analog to...
Artificial Intelligence
There are no estimates, only budgets
The challenge of estimating software projects is that software is a creative act: you can paint a line, or you can paint a Monet. Every person...
Machine Learning
Building an Expandable IoT Data Pipeline - Part 1
Background and problem description In late 2016 we were approached with an opportunity to build a data pipeline for one of our large clients.
Business
Be a Partner, not a Vendor
Years ago, I received a frustrating email from a disappointed client. I was confused – from an engineering perspective, this should have been a model...
Business
Push the publish button already
The most important measure of progress in building blogging expertise is not word count, it’s how many times you hit the publish button.
Business
Momento Mori
In April of 2017 I put a widget on my phone that reminds me that I’m going to die. This is how it improved my life. A long time ago I learned about...
Artificial Intelligence
The Art of Sprinting: It’s Not Just for Software Development
As a sequel to the article I wrote last month about the process and technology i
Artificial Intelligence
Maximizing the Value of a Small Team by Maturing Processes and Technology
One of the things that I do is help companies and business people implement a people, process, and technology golden triangle so that there is a...
Business
Open Source HR, because we need this.
Open Source HR brings tech HR professionals together to tackle challenges, share resources, and foster collaboration with meetups and the...
Artificial Intelligence
Is your company going to be digital or not?
A month after opening our 2nd office and meeting with people in Los Angeles, CA, one thing is
Artificial Intelligence
Introducing Our L.A. Office
We are thrilled to formally announce the opening of a new Metal Toad office in Los Angeles!
Artificial Intelligence
The Value of a ScrumMaster
I went to ScrumMaster training a few weeks into my first job in an Agile project management environment.
Artificial Intelligence
History of Computer Girls, Part 3: Dorothy!
I've been going around town giving a talk on the history of women in computers.
Artificial Intelligence
What I Learned Going from the College World to the Real World
As a recent graduate from Portland State University, the inclination to write this blog has been an ongoing dilemma.
Artificial Intelligence
Why Culture is So Crucial at Metal Toad
Since the start of my finance and accounting internship at Metal Toad, the first thing that I noticed is its unique and influential culture.
Business
The Importance of Tchotchkes
One of the most interesting things about agency culture is the freedom for employees to show their personality.
Business
Mentorship (It's Not Just For Twenty-Somethings)
I arrived in Portland two years ago with the intention of rebooting my career.
Business
"It Matters”: Design, Leadership, and Living By a Different Code
Recently as a leadership exercise, our COO Tim Winner asked the leadership team to “come up with the title of your book.” This book, he explained,...
Artificial Intelligence
Top 5 Ways Executives Destroy Agile Companies
A few months ago, a senior executive of a large company asked me, “With our Agile transformation, how am I going to screw it up?” The question shook...
Business
The Vulnerable Leader
I am scared. I am scared to write this and I am intimidated because my writing will be out in public to be read, critiqued and, in my mind, judged.
Business
Why I Love Being of Service at Metal Toad
It may be selfish, I’ll admit it — but I love pleasing others through acts of service.
Business
Celebrating Everyone Through the Power of Design
At Metal Toad, inclusion is important to us.