Resources for Clients

How we work, and how it makes our clients’ project stronger.

Choosing the Right Software Partner, Part 2: Evaluating for Great People

Engaging with a service firm isn’t like buying a product. It’s about hiring a set of people to do work on your behalf. Yes, the company as a whole matters, but you also need to be confident that the people there have the right set of skills for your project. Read more on Choosing the Right Software Partner, Part 2: Evaluating for Great People…

Choosing the Right Software Development Partner (with or without an RFP), Part 1: Evaluating Longevity

Finding the right custom software development firm for your project is a tough job. Even a thorough RFP process won’t save you if you’re not looking for the right things.

Software projects are notorious for being late, over budget, and frustrating. Why? Making useful, valuable software products takes a lot more than technical know-how. Read more on Choosing the Right Software Development Partner (with or without an RFP), Part 1: Evaluating Longevity…

How to Set a Budget for Your Custom Software Project

Software is never done—there are always more features and functions you could add. So how much should you budget for a custom software project?

Some companies keep throwing money at the project without any budget at all. But they can miss out on early client feedback and end up wasting money on the wrong things. Read more on How to Set a Budget for Your Custom Software Project…

Is Your New Feature Worth It?

When you’ve created a successful application, it is tempting to relentlessly add new functionality. You think that if you stop building, you’ll fall behind. New features bring in new business. They show your existing users that you are still active and adding value.

However, it’s important to step back and consider how new features will affect your existing system. New features mean new complexity, both technically and for your business. So, how do you know if your new feature is worth it? Here are two questions to consider. Read more on Is Your New Feature Worth It?…

Project Team Roles and Responsibilities at Atomic Object

At Atomic, we expect every member of a project team to be a consultant. That means everyone should:

  • Understand the big picture and how their work fits in.
  • Collaborate with the client to help them make smart decisions.

Read more on Project Team Roles and Responsibilities at Atomic Object…

There’s No Such Thing as a “Massive MVP.” Build Releases Instead!

The idea of a “massive MVP” is an oxymoron. How can a Minimum Viable Product end up taking a team of up to ten people a year and over a million dollars to build?

And yet, I’ve seen a number of organizations—usually enterprise companies—building massive MVPs. Clearly, there’s confusion between how the term MVP is used colloquially vs. how Eric Reis and Steve Blank intended it to be used. Read more on There’s No Such Thing as a “Massive MVP.” Build Releases Instead!…

How to Reduce Duplication & Get the Most from Your Custom Software

You’re about to replace an old software system with a custom-built one that can do a whole lot more. Great! You’ll finally have software that truly fits the needs of your organization.

You want to get the most out of this new system, but you’re not sure how. My first piece of advice? Get rid of systems with overlapping data and functionality. They could turn into costly problems, as I learned recently. Read more on How to Reduce Duplication & Get the Most from Your Custom Software…

What Challenge Will Your Company Face Next? Check the Predictable Success Framework

As each company grows, it faces different challenges. Some of these hurdles follow known patterns related to where the company is in its evolution. For example, early-stage companies founded by a strong entrepreneur often get to a point where the founder becomes overwhelmed with too many competing demands. Companies that have experienced rapid growth can suddenly stall out. Very mature companies face a different challenge where it never feels like anything gets accomplished. And companies like Radio Shack eventually slide into obsolescence when they can’t re-evolve into something new. Read more on What Challenge Will Your Company Face Next? Check the Predictable Success Framework…

Test your Software Rewrite with a Pilot Release

Rewriting your organization’s current software is a huge undertaking. It can be intimidating and cause uncertainty, especially for those who are more averse to change.

A pilot is a helpful exercise during any software development process, but especially so during a rewrite where the scope is very large. A pilot allows you to test the software within a group or location without fully rolling it out to all users. Read more on Test your Software Rewrite with a Pilot Release…