Interview question: If you could run your own commercial software company, how would you run it?

The "proper" answer: Determine mission statement for the product via stakeholders and customer profiles. Scope project resources and timeline based on market conditions. Stage a sign off meeting. Hold the team accountable throughout the rest of the dev cycle and give them what they need to succeed.

The "whoa, no hire" answer: 1) Treat the development cycle like a film shoot. Take people on location. Immerse them in their work. Relieve them of distractions. Then give them months off. 2) Get real people to pose as the voice of your customers to come with you on your retreat. Involve them in all key decisions. Never speak for them, let them speak for themselves. 3) Write some kick-ass collaboration software and then do a few test projects just to test out process. Yes, that's right, write some software that you plan to throw away, such as a really nice mad libs app, or whatever. This is to test out your process, your milestones, your collaboration software. Then do a post mortem and do your real project. 4) Have carts rolling by with hot towels every day at 3:00 like at the japanese restaraunts.

comment []3:53:44 PM