Book Recommendation: “Turn the Ship Around!: A True Story of Turning Followers into Leaders”

One of my all-time favorite reads on business agility and leadership is “Turn the Ship Around!” by L. David Marquet. This book brilliantly chronicles the true story of how Marquet, a former nuclear submarine commander, transformed the USS Santa Fe from one of the worst-performing submarines in the fleet to one of the best. Thankfully, … Read more

Celebrating World Usability Day 2015

World Usability Day “occurs annually to promote the values of usability, usability engineering, user-centered design, universal usability, and every user’s responsibility to ask for things that work better. The day adopts a different theme each year”. 2015 is the Ten Year Anniversary for World Usability Day, themed “The Year of Innovation”. Innovation can take many … Read more

Reflecting on the Evolution of Product Design and Usability

In the mid-90s, Alan Cooper’s About Face introduced a compelling narrative on product design, one that placed the end-user experience at the heart of software development. For me, that book was pivotal, galvanizing my early views on how products should bridge the gap between technology and human experience. As someone fortunate enough to lead within … Read more

Tom Peters: 20 Years Later – A Visionary Still Leading the Charge

June 2015 marks 20 years since I had the privilege of meeting Tom Peters in London, during his visit to the pioneering Usability Group at Reuters. A select few of us invited to attend his conference, which brought the book to life. At the time, our virtual Reuters team was at the forefront of transforming … Read more

Leading with Integrity: Balancing Ethics and Profit in Agile Environments

In the fast-paced world of Agile and agility, leaders often face the challenge of balancing ethical considerations with the drive for profit and performance. As we navigate this complex landscape, it’s crucial to remember that running a responsible business goes beyond financial success—it encompasses a strong ethical framework, sustainable practices, and a commitment to stakeholder … Read more

Agile and Predictability

A few weeks ago, I wrote about a hybrid of Crystal Clear, DSDM, XP, and Scrum; the most common Agile methodologies, but seeking to improve things for non-software teams. I sat on the train earlier, commuting to the office, looking out of the window into the dark (yes again), and began to ponder. Curiosity got … Read more