TSPSMLeading a Development Team

Part IV. Relating to Management

Sharif’s team had finished development ahead of schedule, and the members had all done such a great job of managing quality that the testers had found no defects in system test. Instead of the planned six weeks of testing, they were done in a week and a half. In the final management review meeting, they saved the best for last. When Sharif finished describing their cost and schedule results, he proudly announced that the team had done such a superb job that the system had passed system testing with no defects being found.

The team expected some kind of enthusiastic reaction from management, but the general manager just sat there with a blank look on his face. He obviously had no idea how significant the team’s ...